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MYANMAR ,
THAILAND , VIETNAM (IN A NUTSHELL)
MYANMAR |
|
OFFICIAL NAME |
Union of Myanmar |
|
CAPITAL |
Nay Pyi Daw , Yangon
(formerly) |
|
INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT |
Yangon & Mandalay |
|
LANGUAGE |
Myanmar, Secondarily English |
|
MAJOR RACES |
Kachin, Kayar, Kayin, Chin, Mon, Bamar, Rakhine,
Shan |
|
RELIGION |
Theravada Buddhism (87%),
Christians, Muslims, Hindus and some
animists |
|
POPULATION |
As of 2005 the population is estimated to be
about 54.3 million |
|
AREA |
677,000 square kilometers (261,228 square
miles) |
|
CLIMATE: |
The location and topography of the
country generate the "dry and wet monsoon climate" pattern.
Seasonal changes in the monsoon wind directions create
Summer months
- February through mid-May;
Rainy
period - from mid-May through late October
and
Winter
seasons - November through
January. |
|
CURRENCY |
Kyat
(Pronounced as chat)
Notes: Kyat 1000, Kyat
500, Kyat 200, Kyat 100, Kyat 50, Kyat 20, Kyat 15, Kyat 10,
Kyat 5, Kyat 1.
Foreign Exchange Certificate (FEC):
20 units, 10 units, 5 units, 1 unit. |
|
VOLTAGE |
220V |
|
TIME |
6:30 hours
ahead of Greenwich Mean Time
(GMT+6:30) |
|
BUSINESS HOURS |
Government
Offices: 09:30 to 16:30 hrs
BANKS: 10:00 to 14:00
hrs
Companies: 09:00 to 17:00 hrs
|
|
COUNTRY NAME |
Kingdom of
Thailand (Prathet Thai, meaning "land of
free") |
| ADMINISTRATION |
76
provinces, each subdivided into Amphoe (district),
Tambon (sub-district) and Muban
(village) |
| CAPITAL |
Bangkok (Krung Thep, meaning "city of
angels")
|
| GOVERNMENT |
Constitutional Monarchy since
1932 |
| NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES |
Myanmar - west and north, Lao
P.D.R. - north and northeast, Cambodia - southeast and
Malaysia - south. |
|
LANGUAGE |
Thai and
English is widely understood |
|
PEOPLE
|
Thai (80%),
Chinese (10%), Malay (3%), and the rest are minorities
(Mons, Khmers, hill tribes) Ethnic Thais form the
majority |
|
RELIGION |
Buddhism
(95%), Muslim (4%), others
(1%) |
|
POPULATION |
Over 62
million |
|
AREA |
513,115 sq.
km |
|
CLIMATE: |
Thailand
enjoys a tropical climate with three distinct
seasons-hot and dry from February to May;
rainy
with plenty of sunshine from June to October; and
cool
from November to January.
|
|
CURRENCY |
Thai
Baht (THB), which is, as of September 2006,
approximately US$ 1 = THB
38 |
|
VOLTAGE |
220 volt AC
(50 cycles) |
|
TIME |
GMT+ 7
hours |
|
BUSINESS HOURS |
Commercial
company: from 8 am to 5 pm (5 days a week).
Stores: from
10 am to 10 pm (7 days a week)
Government
offices:8.30 am and 4.30 pm (Monday to Friday except on
public holidays)
Banks: from
9.30 am to 3.30 pm (Mondays to
Fridays except on public
holidays) |
|
VIETNAM |
|
COUNTRY NAME |
The Socialist Republic of
Vietnam |
| CAPITAL |
Hanoi |
| INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT |
Hanoi
and Ho Chi Minh |
| NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES |
China - north, Lao P.D.R. and
Thailand - southwest, and
Cambodia - south |
|
LANGUAGE |
As
Viet (Kinh) ethnic group occupies more than 90% of the
population, it becomes the official language of Vietnam.
Other 53 ethnic groups has its own language |
|
PEOPLE
|
There
are 54 different ethnic groups in which Kinh ethnic
group occupies nearly 90% of the whole population, the
rest of over 10% is the population of 53
groups |
|
RELIGION |
Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism,
Catholicism, Protestantism |
|
POPULATION |
76,324,753, as of April
1999 |
|
AREA |
513,115 sq. km |
|
CURRENCY |
Vietnamese Dongs (US$ 1=15.750.000
VND) |
|
TIME |
GMT+ 7
hours |
|
BUSINESS HOURS |
All state-owned companies work from 7.30
am to 4.30 pm, from Monday to Friday. Banks opens at
7.30 am or 8.00 am and close at 3.30 pm, closed on
Saturday afternoons and Sunday. Private shops open from
8 am or 8.30 am and close at 9 pm or 10
pm |
Ç
SPECIAL COMBINED PROGRAM
(sample program)
(MYANMAR - The Land of Pagodas, THAILAND - The
Land of Free, and VIETNAM - The Land of Hidden
Charm)
TOUR ID:
EMT
(MTV)
Free &
Easy Cultural Tour
Tour
Duration: 15-day/14-night
Featuring:
(Yangon, Amarapura, Mandalay, Mingun,
Sagaing, Bagan, Pindaya, Kalaw, Inle - Myanamar) (Bangkok, Pattaya - Thailand) (Hanoi
- Vietnam)
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Day
One: Arrive Yangon – The
Garden City
Greeting
day and welcome to Myanmar! Today you will
arrive in YANGON,
the capital and main gateway to Myanmar and
transfer to your hotel for overnight. Your hotel
offers great view of Shwedagon Pagoda or
Kandawgyi Royal Lake. |
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Day
Two: Fly to Mandalay - Amarapura en
route
Today
we fly to Mandalay, arrive at 'Tadaoo'
International Airport in Mandalay, the Royal
Capital City of Myanmar Monarchs. On our way to
Mandalay, we'll visit Amarapura, the Royal Seat
of Power before Mandalay, to witness the daily
life of the Buddhist monks at MAHA GANDARYON
MONASTERY. Then have a stroll on famous U
BEIN Wooden Bridge dating back over 200
years spanning the Taung
Tha Mann Lake.
Onwards to our hotel for the next two nights.
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Day
Three: Around Mandalay - Boat ride to Mingun and
Sagaing Hills Sunset
This
morning after we enjoy a breakfast, we’ll set
out for a scenic journey on the great
Ayeyarwaddy River to Mingun on board a small
private boat. Tour the Mingun and see huge
unfinished Pagoda and world largest ringing
bell. Return to Mandalay for lunch break. This
late afternoon, we'll drive to Sagaing Hills,
which is considered to be Buddhist retreat,
dotted
with numerous pagodas and monasteries. Here we
also have the chance en route to see the
silversmiths producing. This evening, we'll
enjoy another sunset from Sagaing Hills.
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Day
Four: Down River-cruise to Bagan - river
civilization has hardly changed in hundreds of
years
Today
we'll board simple Chinese-built double-decker
vessel for voyage experience and sailing through
the heart of 'Middle Myanmar'
with a varying landscape. Small towns and
villages pass by all along the way are remote
from the modern world today and offer a glimpse
of a timeless. We'll reach the ancient city of
Bagan in late afternoon. Onwards to our hotel
for the next five nights.
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Day
Five: Touring Bagan - explore the 'First Myanmar
Empire'
There
is great sightseeing in Bagan. Highlights of our
day include NYAUNG OO Local Market where
you can take a walk along the market stalls
offering a variety of fresh farm produce and a
range of uniquely Local items and souvenirs to
take back home, SHWEZIGON PAGODA, built
by King Anawrahta in the early 11th
cent ury
as the first Buddhist monument built in Myanmar
style, ANANDA TEMPLE, which has four huge
Buddha Images in standing position and reliefs
depicting the Buddha from his birth to his
Enlightenment, its
adjacent brick monastery to see the
well-preserved murals from the early Bagan
era
and
THATBYINNYU TEMPLE, the highest white
stucco building in Bagan. We'll drive back to
our hotel just to avoid the intense noon heat.
Later this afternoon we'll set out again to see
some spectacular and important sites including
MANUHA TEMPLE, built by the exile King
Manuha of Thaton dating back to 1059, in the Mon
Style, NANPAYA TEMPLE, said to be the
place of King Manuha's palace site, and we'll
stop at the LACQUER WEAR WORKSHOP to
witness their whole process of lacquer ware
products. To crown off our day, we'll climb on
the perfectly situated temple to enjoy the
breathtaking sunset over the mountain ranges in
the distance. The land and scenery of this
glorious region will make for an unforgettable
experience.
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Day
Six: Fly to Heho - Pindaya caves and Pineland
night
This
morning we depart for the airport and board your
flight to Heho, gateway to explore southern Shan
State including Lake INLE.
On arrival, we'll drive to PINDAYA to see
its natural limestone caves filled with over
8,000 Buddha statutes. Here in Pindaya
you'll have the chance to see some of the town's
people cottage industries - making Shan paper
and umbrella. After a spectacular drive, we'll
reach the lovely hill station of
KALAW, which was a popular hill
station in the British days, and it's still a
peaceful and quiet place surrounded by pine
trees. Your room is generally ready for
immediate check-in. The rest of the day is at
leisure for your own discovery.
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Day
Seven: Inle at leisure - Venice of the
East
Today
we'll drive to NYAUNGSHWE and transfer by
boat direct to disco ver
INLE
Lake that highlights the natural wonder of this
magnificent vast waterway, exploring its amazing
PHAUNG DAW OO PAGODA which is the most
revered sacred site in southern Shan State. Some
other highlights around the lake are local
fishermen using their unique fishing method,
leg-rowers, weaving cottage, silvery shops,
floating garden and NGA PHE CHAUNG
MONASTERY also know as jumping cat
Monastery. Enjoy lunch on the broad terrace at
your hotel while enjoying the passer-by boats
across the lake. Late afternoon we make an
excursion to the ancient stupas complex of
INN-DEIN. This mysterious place is at the
end of the marvelous INN-DEIN creek, which
connected with Inle Lake just after the Phaung
Daw Oo Pagoda. The creek is narrow with many
twist and turns. A chance here to see the
farmers plowing and harrowing by water buffaloes
in paddy fields on its both side. Overnight at a
hotel located right on the lake.
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Day
Eight: Back to Yangon - Marvel the Amazing SHWE
DAGON
This
morning we depart for the airport and our flight
back to Yangon. Upon arrival in this capital
city, we transfer to our hotel. This evening
we'll make a special visit to Great SHWEDAGON
PAGODA, one of the most spectacular
religious on earth. Witness the Golden Dome,
covered with 60 tons of pure gold, glistening as
the sun sets.
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Day Nine: Depart
Yangon and Arrive BANGKOK
The
morning is yours to relax or explore more of
Yangon on your own. Here you have a chance to do
some last minute shopping at more than
70-year-old BOGYOKE (Scott) market. Later
you'll be transferred to Yangon international
airport for onwards flight to Bangkok,
THAILAND. On arrival at Don Muang Airport,
you are met and transferred to hotel.
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Day Ten: Bangkok
Today we're
off for a day of great sightseeing in Bangkok
including the amazing Grand
Palace, the official residence of the King of
Thailand until the middle of the 20th
century. In the grounds of the palace is also
Wat Phra Keow, the temple of the Emerald Budha.
After lunch, we proceed to the Golden Budha
Temple (Wat Tri Mitr) and Wat Pho, where we will
see the reclining Budha Image. After that, we
will go to the Wimarnmek Throne. On the way, we
will pass by some historical sites in town, like
The City Pillar Shrine, The Democracy monument,
The Golden Mountain (Wat Srakat), The Equestrian
Statue of King RamaV The Great and The Ananda
Samakhom Throne Hall. Back to the hotel and free
evening at
leisure. |
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Day Eleven: Bangkok - Pattaya
(Tiger
Zoo – Ripley’s Believe it or
not)
We start our
day traveling by bus from Bangkok to Pattaya
(2h30). On the way, we will have lunch and visit
the amazing Tiger Zoo, which claims to have the
largest number of Bengal tigers in Asia. After
that, we will visit the Ripley’s Believe it or
not Museum. The attraction is located in front
of the beach and in a shopping complex. After
the museum, feel free to explore the area. At
your option, in the evening you can also go to
the famous Tiffany’s
show. | |
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Day Twelve: Nong
Nooch Garden – Mini Siam
After
breakfast, we will go to Nong Nooch Garden &
Elephant show, where we’ll also have lunch. In
the afternoon, visit to the world’s wonders
miniatures at Mini Siam. At appropriate time, we
will take the bus back to
Bangkok. | |
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Day Thirteen: Depart Bangkok
and Arrive Hanoi
There is a free time for your own
exploration of the town and catching up on some
shopping areas. The trip ends after transfer to
airport for onwards flight to Hanoi,
VIETNAM. Meet on arrival at Hanoi /
Noi Bai International airport and transfer to
the hotel for check in. Afternoon
City
tour (if time permits) includes Ngoc Son
& Quan Thanh Temples and the old quarter
of Hanoi. Dinner at local restaurant. This
evening enjoy water puppet show, the
unique Vietnamese traditional art.
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Day Fourteen: Touring
Hanoi
Breakfast at
hotel. Full
day Hanoi City tour: Ho Chi Minh’s
Mausoleum (closed on Monday, Friday and the
whole October-November) and his residence,
One-Pillar Pagoda, Hoan Kiem Lake, Army
Museum. Lunch at local restaurant. Continue
to visit Temple of Literature built in
the 11th century as Vietnam’s
first university, Fine-Art Museum and Dong Xuan
market. Have shopping at Ha Noi Old’s
Quarter.
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Day Fifteen: Hanoi
Departure
Breakfast at hotel. Time
at leisure until transfer to Noi Bai airport,
Hanoi for departure to complete this special
combined
trip. | |
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NOTE: This is just a sample program, and
this combined itinerary can be tailor-made
Myanmar - Thailand - Vietnam/ Myanmar
- Thailand - Cambodia/ Myanmar Thailand -
Laos (or) Myanmar - Vietnam -
Cambodia/ Myanmar - Vietnam - Laos.
You name it we have it!
Back to Myanmar Tour
Package
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