Safety Myanmar

Myanmar is very safe in all the areas that foreigners are allowed to visit. Yangon is considered to be one of Asia’s safest large cities, with no areas that need to be avoided. Crime rates in Myanmar, especially involving foreigners, are lower than those of many other countries in the region. Incidents of crime against foreigners are extremely low.
The vast majority of people in Myanmar are friendly and helpful.

Some safety and security issues to be aware are :


1. Road Pavements : When walking, particularly at night, you should be careful where you step. Pavements can have big holes in them.


2. Whilst the areas in which foreigners are permitted to travel are totally safe but restricted areas (non-permitted areas) are not. Please check permitted areas on Myanmar Ministry of Hotels and Tourism official web site: http://tourism.gov.mm/information/permitted-area/


3. Tap water is not safe to drink; you should always buy bottled water.


4. No vaccinations are required except for yellow fever if you are coming from an area where the disease is present. However visitors should be inoculated against typhoid, cholera, hepatitis A & B, tetanus and polio. Malaria is present in Myanmar and it is advisable to take precautions especially if traveling off the beaten track. Please consult with your usual doctor or a doctor specialized in tropical countries before traveling.


5. Medical facilities are rather limited in Myanmar (Yangon has the best facilities) and it is essential to take out a good medical insurance policy before traveling. Such an insurance should absolutely cover the cost of an evacuation flight out of Myanmar (most of the time to Bangkok or Singapore) which is sometimes necessary either on a regular flight or on a special flight. For adventure tours, such as cycling, proof of purchase of a travel insurance policy will be required.


6. Outside established tourist and top-end restaurants, food preparation is not always up to western standards. It is advisable to take Dioralyte for rehydration and Loperamide for diarrhoea.

 

Safety Information for the Women Travelling Alone

 

Women travelling on their own are unlikely to encounter any problems. It is advisable to wear  decently when visiting religious sites such as Shwedagon Pagoda.

Women are sometimes restricted from specific areas of religious sites, such Mount Kyaiktiyo, where women cannot touch the golden rock itself; although here – as everywhere – women are in general free to move around. Women should avoid any physical contact with monks, although friendly conversation is perfectly acceptable.