Any foreigner leaving Yangon Airport for his native country or any country will have to pay individually foreign-leaving airport duty of ten dollars but need not pay any on domestic flights.

TAX DUTY

Expensive jewelry, cameras and electronic equipment in your possession must be declared at the arrival tax duty counter. When traveling in Myanmar, receipts of jewelry, sculptures and antiques bought from authorised dealers must be with you and when asked by authorities concerned you must be able to produce them. Antique artifacts are not allowed to be taken abroad.

CURRENCY

The local currency is called 'Kyat'. One hundred pays amounts to one Kyat. Current denominations in use are 50 pyas, one kayt, 5 kyats, 10 kyats, 15 kyats, 20 kyats, 25 kyats, 50 kyats, 90 kyats, 10 kyats, 200 kyats, 500 kyats and one thousand kyats. Tourists are not allowed to bring Myanmar currency from abroad or to take it abroad.

FOREIGN EXCHANGE CERTIFICATE (FEC)

FECs are also in use in Myanmar. One FEC is equal is one US dollar and can be used in place of dollar. One 5, 10 and 20 FECs are in circulation. It will be convenient for tourists to bring 100 US-dollar notes with President Benjamin Franklin's portrait.

If the dollars brought in are clean and new, they will be readily accepted. Euro and Pound Sterling currencies can also be exchanged.

CREDIT CARD

It will be difficult to use credit cards and travelers' checks in Myanmar. Some big hotels, restaurants and gift shops may accept them, but they will charge high commission rates. Commission rates will be anything from between seven to 10 per cent.

DUTY FREE GOODS

An individual tourist is allowed to have two bottles of liquor, two cartons of cigarettes or one hundred cigars and a half-liter of perfume. Duty Free shops are open at arrival and departure lounges at the Yangon International Airport and items can be bought at reasonable prices.

WORKING HOURS

Office hours for government departments are from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm whilst for private companies, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Saturdays and Sundays are holidays, but for some companies, Saturday is only a half-day holiday. All offices are closed on Sundays.

WEATHER

There are three seasons in Myanmar. Summer is from March to the end of May with temperatures between 30° C to 40°C. The Rainy Season is from June to September and Winter, from October to the end of February. Even in the Rainy Season, rain is scarce in Bagan and Mandalay regions in the dry zone.

CLOTHING

Light and enveloping clothes are suitable for the country's climate.
In the chilly regions of northern Myanmar such as Inlay, Kalaw, Pindaya, Kyaingtong, Pyin Oo Lwin and Lashio, sweaters and jerkins are preferable. In visiting pagodas, shrines and religious places it would look respectable to the religion if you abstain from wearing shorts or miniskirts. It will be convenient to wear slippers or easily removable footwear during visits.

LANGUAGE

Myanmar is the principal language in this country although English is quite conversational in most cities.

RELIGION

Buddhism is the religion the majority of people in Myanmar profess but there are some people who profess Christianity, Hindusim, Muslim or nats.

MOBILE PHONES

Only local mobile phones are usable here and foreign mobile phones are not to be used in this country. If one carries a foreign mobile phone, the owner can leave it at the check-in customs office and take it back on departure.

FOREIGN CALLS

In most hotels direct foreign phone calls are available but one should inquire the rate before making calls.

ELECTRICAL VOLTAGE

220-230 AC volts are operative in Myanmar but if one carries electrical appliances, one should use it with a safe-guard converter.

WHAT TO FETCH

Sun-shade hats, sunglasses, sunrays protective lotion, medicines, mosquito repellent lotion, flash lights, and rain coats, umbrellas, drench slippers in rainy season. It is more convenient to bring extra passport-size photographs.

INSURANCE

It is advisable to make insurances before touring starts. Passports, cash, credit cards, cheque books and bank books should be kept on your person wherever you go.

LOCAL TIME

6½ hours earlier than G.M.T.