Yangon (Burmese: ရန်ကုန်; Shan: တႃႈၵုင်ႈ), formerly known in English as Rangoon, is the largest city in Myanmar and was the capital of the country until it was replaced by Naypyidaw in 2005. Western governments and Aung San Suu Kyi's NLD party still use the old English name as a sign of non-recognition of the military government that changed the name. Today, with a population of over 5 million people, it remains the largest city and the economic hub of Myanmar.
As the country's former capital, Yangon is the largest and most cosmopolitan city in Myanmar, where you can find nightlife, quality international restaurants, and many of the country's museums. The city is an amalgamation of British, Burmese, Chinese, and Indian influences. Well-known for its colonial architecture, which although decaying, remains an almost unique example of a 19th-century British colonial capital in Asia. New skyscrapers began to rise from the 1990s forward as the government began to allow private investment, and with the introduction of liberalising reforms in 2013, many new buildings were constructed and refurbished in the city centre.
1 Aung Zha Bridge (take Hlaing River Rd across the river). Over Hlaing River connect Insein township with Hlaing Thar Yar township 2 Bayint Naung Bridge, Dagon Township. Over Hlaing River 3 Maha Bandula Bridge, Maha Bandula Rd, Dagon. A bridge over Ngamoeyeik Creek 4 Nga Moe Yeik Bridge, Upper Pazundaung Rd connect with Ayer Wun Main Rd. A bridge over Ngamoeyeik Creek 5 Pun Hlaing River Bridge (Hlaing Thar Yar township). 6 Thaketa Bridge, Dagon. A bridge over Ngamoeyeik Creek 7 Thuwunna Bridge, Wai Za Yan Tar Rd. A bridge over Ngamoeyeik Creek The easiest way to get around the city is by taxi and Yangon is the city where Toyotas come to live out the rest of their days.
Relatively untouched by development compared of other major Southeast Asian cities, the city centre of Yangon is full of historical sights. Yangon is perhaps the best-preserved example of a European colonial capital in Southeast Asia. 1 Shwedagon Paya (A taxi from city centre costs 2,500-3,000 kyat. Taxis are available for the return trip at the bottom of the main entrance. Can also take bus 204, 100 kyat. Catch this on Shwe Dagon Pagoda Rd across from the public toilets just as you cross the overpass. From China Town it's a 30-min walk (2.5 km).). Daily, 06:30-22:00. The pagoda opens at 05:00 but generally tourists are not allowed in until 06:30. 10,000 kyat.
1 Bogyoke Aung San Stadium, Zoological Garden Road (take bus to stop York Lan, north of Yangon Central Railway Station). Dallah Ferry (Pansodan Rd Jetty across from the Strand Hotel). To Dallah, a small village across the river from Yangon, an interesting ferry ride. The ride is brief, but filled with all the craziness of a Burmese ferry: you can buy freshly sliced watermelon, cheroots, cigarettes, tea, all kinds of interesting-looking food, various knick-knacks from the many vendors who pack the ferry. The ferry ride seems more like a floating market than a means of transportation. Combine the ride with a trip to Twante for a half- or full-day trip.
Yangon has seen an explosion of restaurants in the last ten years and a wide selection of international cuisines is available: French, Italian, Japanese, Thai and Korean. Local cuisine reflects the multi-ethnic nature of the city and the country. Along with Bamar food, there are a large number of Indian and Chinese restaurants as well as a few places specializing in ethnic Shan food. Fast food restaurants (usually with table service) serving burgers and pizza, and a few cafes complete the scene. The cost of food ranges considerably.
Nightlife in Yangon is split between local bars or "beer stations" as they are called which close early (around 21:00-00:00), but offer drinks at bargain prices (about 800 kyat for a pint glass of Myanmar Beer, local whiskies cost 2,000 kyat a glass). Expect to get a lot of attention when going to the local bars, since theses places are not frequented by foreigners.
Despite widespread poverty, Yangon is one of the safest big cities in the world. Most people, including single females, will not have any problems roaming the streets alone at night, and carrying large amounts of cash rarely poses a problem. Crimes against tourists are taken very seriously by the military government and punishment is often disproportionately severe. This, in addition to the strong Buddhist culture in the population, means that Yangon's crime rate is lower than the likes of Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok. Violent crime is especially rare.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
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In Sep, Yangon typically sees ~30°C daytime highs and 30 rainy days.
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