Yangon is Myanmar's largest city and former capital, a humid river port where the golden Shwedagon Pagoda rises above a downtown of colonial buildings, tea shops, markets and Buddhist temples.
Myanmar has been under a military-led administration since the February 2021 coup, with armed conflict across large parts of the country. Yangon itself has been calmer than conflict zones, and the city-wide night curfew has been lifted, but bomb attacks, arrests and sudden security measures have occurred, and several governments advise against all or all-but-essential travel. Visitors should check their own government's advisory before booking, buy comprehensive travel insurance that covers Myanmar, and keep flexible flights and accommodation.
Current safety advisory
High
Last updated: 2026-10-15
Official advisories
Guidance from national travel-advisory services.
Level 4 - Do Not Travel (as last checked; verify)
Advises against all travel to parts of Myanmar and urges caution elsewhere (verify)
Essential safety tips
Practical advice that applies everywhere.
Check your government's current travel advisory and the status of flights, curfews and checkpoints immediately before and during your trip.
Register with your embassy's traveller programme and keep emergency contacts to hand.
Avoid protests, military and police installations and large crowds; do not photograph soldiers, checkpoints or government buildings.
Do not travel outside Yangon to conflict-affected states and regions; stay on well-travelled routes and major highways in daylight.
Carry a photocopy of your passport and e-visa; keep the original in the hotel safe unless asked for ID.
Keep phones and social-media content neutral: do not post political content, and be aware that devices may be inspected.
Use bottled or boiled water; eat at busy places and wash hands before eating.
Keep valuables out of sight on the Circular Railway, in crowded markets and at ATMs.
Cross roads carefully; traffic is dense and pedestrian crossings are rare.
Common scams to avoid
Recognise and sidestep tourist-targeted scams.
Gem and jade 'factory' scam
A friendly driver or stranger takes you to a gem shop offering bargains and takes a commission; items are often synthetic or overpriced.
How to avoid: Buy only from fixed-price shops with receipts and refuse invitations to private gem 'factories'.
Taxi meter and fare-inflation scam
Street taxis may quote inflated fares to foreigners or claim the meter is broken.
How to avoid: Agree the fare before getting in or use a ride-hailing app; downtown to Shwedagon is usually 3,000-6,000 MMK.
Fake temple donation or monk scam
Strangers or false monks ask for donations or sell 'blessing' items near pagodas.
How to avoid: Donate only in official donation boxes at the temple; ignore unsolicited requests.
Currency exchange and damaged-note scam
Touts offer attractive rates but swap notes or reject slightly marked dollars.
How to avoid: Exchange only at banks or licensed hotel counters and check your change; carry clean notes.
Shwedagon 'free guide' fee scam
An unofficial guide offers a free tour, then demands a large fee at the end.
How to avoid: Decline unsolicited guiding or agree the price in kyat before starting.
Health considerations
Staying healthy on your trip.
- Vaccinations
- Routine vaccines plus hepatitis A, typhoid and tetanus are commonly advised; check rabies, Japanese encephalitis and cholera with a travel clinic.
- Water
- Tap water is not safe to drink. Use sealed bottled water, filtered water, or boiled water; avoid ice from unknown sources.
- Food
- Eat freshly cooked food at busy places; wash fruit; be cautious with raw salads and street ice.
- Facilities
- Public hospitals are under-resourced; the main private facilities are Pun Hlaing Hospital (Pun Hlaing Avenue Road, Hlaingtharya) and Parami/other private hospitals. Serious cases may need medical evacuation, so insurance with evacuation cover is essential. Dengue is active in the rainy season; use repellent.
Safety for specific travellers
Tailored advice for different groups.
Solo travellers
Solo travellers should keep family or friends informed of their itinerary, stay downtown, use ride-hailing at night, avoid isolated areas and keep a charged phone with local SIM or eSIM data.
Female travellers
Solo women generally report courtesy from locals, but should dress modestly, avoid walking alone late at night and use ride-hailing or hotel taxis after dark.
Families
Families should stay downtown or near Shwedagon, keep children close in crowds, and plan indoor and shaded breaks in the hot season. Hospitals for children are limited; carry basic medicines.
LGBTQ+ travellers
Same-sex relations are criminalised under colonial-era law (Section 377), though prosecutions are rare. Public displays of affection are best avoided and discretion is advised.
Emergency contacts
Numbers to know before you go.
- Police
- 199
- Medical
- 192 (ambulance)
- Fire
- 191
- Tourist Police
- Ask the hotel to contact the Tourist Police; hotels hold the current direct number.
- General Emergency
- 199 (police) / 192 (ambulance) / 191 (fire)
- Main Hospital
- Pun Hlaing Hospital, Pun Hlaing Avenue Road, Pun Hlaing Golf Estate, Hlaingtharya, Yangon (private, most used by foreigners)
- Embassy Us
- US Embassy, 110 University Avenue Road, Kamayut Township, Yangon; main line +95 1 753 6509 (verify on the embassy website before travel)
- Embassy Other
- Other nationals should locate their embassy address and emergency line on their own government's website before travelling.