Myanmar tours & trips

With 135 distinct ethnic groups calling Myanmar home (though many still refer to it as Burma), this historically volatile nation is comprised of a patchwork of customs, traditions and languages. These ethnic groups fall into one of eight official ethnic races – Bamar, Shan, Mon, Kayin, Kayan, Chin, Kachin and Rakhine – which typically speak their own language, though English is also widely spoken. 

The majority of Burmese are Buddhist, which has a unifying effect on this diverse country as religion plays an important role in daily life. Buddhist men are expected to take the robe twice in their life, monks are revered and dress is expected to be modest. Shorts, if worn, should reach the knee and shoulders should be covered. Though millennials are starting to challenge this standard of dress, everyone still covers up when visiting religious site. The rest of the population is Hindu, Muslim, Christian or animist.

Regardless of religion, many Burmese mix their religious beliefs with nat (spirit) worship and are deeply superstitious. Most villages have a nat sin, or shrine, to honour the village’s guardian nat, and you’ll likely see car mirrors adorned with red and white cloths, which are believed to offer nat protection. Astrology is commonly used to find a partner and choose important dates, like weddings, funerals and celebratory events.

About three-quarters of the population live in the country, where poverty is still common and labour is arduous. Families are large and tend to live in thatched huts that lack running water and electricity. Despite these hardships, country-dwelling Burmese are hospitable, content and quick to call new friends ‘brother’ and ‘sister’.

Burmese cuisine shares many similarities with neighbouring southeast Asian countries. Like in Thailand, India and China, rice is the cornerstone of most meals and curries are common, though typically more oily and less spicy. Each of Myanmar’s ethnic groups has its own spin on cooking traditions, but Burmese food generally features more sesame, nuts and beans in the north, and fish paste and sour flavours in the south. Pickled vegetables, bamboo shoots and tea leaves feature prominently in Burmese dishes, as well as fish and seafood from the country’s numerous lakes and extensive coastline.

Historically, the people of Myanmar are not big drinkers and, although this is changing, tea houses are still the go-to place for social gatherings. Recognizable by their small plastic tables and stools that spill onto the street, in addition to tea (which is strong and served with a dollop of condensed milk), many tea houses also offer noodles, snacks and sweets. 

Those wanting a stiff drink can visit a beer station at an open-air barbeque restaurant found in Myanmar’s larger cities. Indian restaurants serving all-you-can-eat vegetarian thali (a selection of Indian dishes served in small bowls, along with roti, rice, chutney and dessert) are also common in large cities, like Yangon and Mandalay, whereas Chinese restaurants can be found throughout the country.

Must try foods in Myanmar

Laphet (tea leaf salad):  In Myanmar, tea is not just for drinking. Fermented green tea leaves are mixed with sesame seeds, fried peas, fried garlic and peanuts to make this sour snack. Some variations have shredded cabbage and sliced tomato as well.

Mohinga:  A fish soup made with vermicelli noodle. Find this popular breakfast choice at tea houses or street vendors in Yangon.

Burmese curry: Milder and oilier than those found in other countries, Myanmar’s version of curry is typically centred on pork, fish, beef or mutton. For the proper experience, order this at a traditional Burmese restaurant to receive a wide array of side dishes (such as rice, salad, fried and parboiled vegetables, soup and spices) along with your curry.

Buddhism influences most parts of life in Myanmar, including its festivals, but that doesn’t mean the locals don’t know how to let their hair down and have some fun. Far from sombre, festivals in Myanmar are celebratory, cheerful and loud. Some of the biggest ones to look out for include: 

Thingyan (Water Festival): For three or four days each April, Myanmar rings in the Burmese New Year by washing away the old year with a water fight of epic proportions. Join in the fun as people across the country use whatever means they have – water gun, bucket, hose, whatever – to douse each other. Come evening, the drenching is replaced with feasting and partying.

Independence Day: The end of British colonial rule is celebrated each January 4th with nationwide fairs, such as the week-long fair at Kandawgyi Lake in Yagon, and sporting competitions.

Thadingyut (Festival of Lights): As Buddhist Lent comes to an end, people across Myanmar commemorate Buddha’s return from heaven to earth with a dazzling three-day treat for the senses. Towns are transformed as homes and pagodas light up with colourful lanterns and candles. The aroma of fried snacks fills the air as fairs featuring street food and games take over the streets. Fireworks also light up the night sky.

Bagan Ananda Temple Festival: Almost every Buddhist temple throws its own annual festival, but the one thrown by the Ananda temple is particularly large. Part thriving bazaar, part religious ceremony, this two-week event held each December or January includes street food, market stalls, festival games and comedy routines, along with the occasional religious sermon.

Wedged between India and China, this southeast Asian nation also shares its border with Laos, Thailand, and Bangladesh and juts out into the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal to the south. Mountain ranges can be found to the extreme north, west and east in a horseshoe shape. Rivers run from north to south, ending at coastal plains. The Shan Plateau, characterised by numerous lakes and canyons, covers the eastern portion of Myanmar and is where intensive irrigated farming is practised. Fruit, vegetables and citrus crops thrive in this region, whereas rice paddies are extensive in the south. Much of Myanmar used to be covered in subtropical rainforests, but unfortunately less than half of the country is still forested because of logging.

Though shopping opportunities aren’t as numerous in Myanmar as they are in nearby countries, most towns have at least one market at its centre. Regional specialities to look out for at markets include lacquerware from Bagan, tapestries and puppets from Mandalay and painted parasols from Pathein. 

If you are looking to take home a piece of Myanmar, consider purchasing one of these regional specialties – this supports both the tradition and low-income artisans. Keep in mind that bargaining is the norm at markets and cash is the usual form of payment.

Like most countries, shopping opportunities are more numerous in larger cities. Find a glitzy six-story shopping centre called Diamond Plaza alongside gold-leaf workshops and stores selling traditional handicrafts in Mandalay, Myanmar’s cultural capital. Visit the Bogyoke Aung San Market in Yangon for a large selection of luxury items, handicrafts, gourmet goods, clothing and jewellery.

Myanmar is renowned for its jade production, but a keen eye is needed in order to avoid getting ripped off. You also need an official certificate when passing customs, so it’s safest to buy these at more established stores to get a receipt.