Myanmar - Country Information

Film Commissions

General Information

Location: Asia
Local Time: GMT +6
Capital City: Yangon
Language(s): Myanmar, several local languages, some English
Dialling Code: 95
Emergency: Police: 199. Fire: 191. Ambulance: 192
Directory Enquiries:
TV Standard:
Driving: Driving is on the right. International Driving Licence required together with prior permission & fee of USD 10 (valid for 1 year)
Electricity: 220/230V AC 50Hz

Business & Currency

Currency: Kyat (MMK 1 = 100 Pyas)
Notes: MMK: 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000. Pyas: 50
Coins: MMK: 1, 5, 50, 100. Pyas: 1, 5, 10, 25, 50

Opening Hours
Bank: 1000-1400 Mon-Fri
Office: 0930-1630 Mon-Fri
Shops: 0800-2000 Tue-Sun

Public Holidays
2008
Jan 4 Independence Day, Feb 12 Union Day, Mar 2 Peasants Day, Mar 27 Armed Forces Day, Apr* Maha Thingyan (Water Festival), Apr* Myanmar New Year, Apr* Full Moon of Kasone, May 1 May Day, Jul 19 Martyrs Day, Jul* Full Moon of Waso (Beginning of Buddhist Lent), Oct* Full Moon of Thadingyut (End of Buddhist Lent), Nov* Tazaungmon Full Moon Day, Nov* National Day, Dec 25 Christmas Day
* Dates to be confirmed
Dates may vary according to the lunar calendar

Business/Social Hints: Women should wear modest clothes. Many executives speak English. When sitting cross-legged on sofas or cushions, soles of the feet must not be shown. Foot wear is strictly prohibited in pagodas & monasteries. On social occasions be punctual and dress as for business meetings unless otherwise indicated. The minimum drinking age is 18 years

Tipping: Around 5-10% in restaurants & hotels. Tips for taxis are not necessary

Health

Compulsory vaccinations: Yellow fever certificate if arriving from infected areas. Nationals & residents of Myanmar are required to possess certificates of vaccination on their departure to an infected area.

Recommended immunisations: Diphtheria, hepatitis A, hepatitis B*, Japanese B encephalitis*, malaria, polio, TB*, tetanus, typhoid, rabies
* recommended in some circumstances, travellers making 3 or more visits per year, stays of more than 3 months in a rural area, high-risk occupational groups & backpackers staying more than 1 month.

Risks: Malaria exists commonly below 1,000 metres (1) all year in Karen State; (2) from Mar-Dec in Chin, Kachin, Kayah, Mon, Rakhine & Shan States, Pegu Division, and Hlegu, Hmawbi and Taikkyi townships of Yangon Division (3) from Apr-Dec in rural areas of Tenasserim Division (4) from May-Dec in Irrawaddy Division and rural areas of Mandalay Division (5) from Jun-Nov in rural areas of Magwe Division and Sagaing Division. Rabies.

Airports

Passport & Visa

The following details relate to holders of adult normal passports (requirements for children may be different), if any other type of passport or travel document is held, entry requirements should be checked with the relevant embassy or consulate

Passports

Required by all

Passport Validity: Passports must be valid for 6 months

Passport Notes:

Visas

The following DO NOT require a visa:
1) Nationals of Myanmar
2) For stays up to 14 days Nationals of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia
3) For stays up to 30 days Nationals of cambodia, China (Rep), Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, & Vietnam
4) For Stays up to 90 days Nationals of Russia
Provided all nationals hold diplomatic or official passport

Notes: Please contact nearest consulate/embassy

Air Transit

Required by all except those as noted above and:
1) Persons in direct transit by the same aircraft

Notes: Transit visas, for a period of 24 hours only, are not valid if the holder is returning to the country of last embarkation. All persons must hold valid onward tickets for departure within 24 hours

Exit Permits

Required by all (Report of Departure form D) except persons holding entry or transit visas whose stay has not exceeded 30 days, must be obtained before passage is booked

Climate

Tropical monsoon climate with 3 seasons; the rainy season during the South-West monsoon from Jun-Oct, the dry cool season from Nov-Feb and the hot season from Mar-May

Clothing

Lightweights throughout most of the year with rainwear for rainy season. Warmer clothing may be required for coolest period and some evenings in Lower & Central Myanmar. Warm clothing throughout most of the year with rainwear for rainy season in Upper Myanmar

Charts for Yangon

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Max Temp (C) 32 33 36 36 33 30 29 29 30 31 31 31 Min Temp (C) 18 19 22 24 25 24 24 24 24 24 23 19 Humidity am (%) 71 72 74 71 80 87 89 89 87 83 79 75 Humidity pm (%) 52 52 54 64 76 85 88 88 86 77 72 61 Rainfall (mm) 3 5 8 51 307 480 582 528 394 180 69 10

Temperature (C) Rainfall (mm) Humidity (%)

Representative

Embassy
Embassy of Myanmar
19a Charles Street
London, W1J 5DX
tel: +44 20 7499 4340, 0906 550 8924* (visa enq)
fax: +44 20 7409 7043
e-mail: memblondon@aol.com
website: www.myanmar.com
hours: 1000-1300 (Mon-Fri)
* calls cost 1 per minute