Includes information on acceptable business etiquette, dress, business cards, gifts, etc.
Last Published: 9/10/2019

Business Customs

There are few specific etiquette rules for business contacts, however, it is appropriate to wear business attire for official meetings and contract signing ceremonies.  Myanmar also expect to exchange business cards at first meetings.

Travel Advisory

For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should monitor the Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs’ website (http://travel.state.gov) where current Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts, including the Worldwide Caution Travel Alert, can be found.  Up–to-date information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States and Canada, or for callers outside the United States and Canada, 1-202-501-4444 a regular toll-line.  These lines are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except for U.S. federal holidays).  The Department of State urges American citizens to take responsibility for their own personal security while traveling overseas.  For general information about appropriate measures travelers can take to protect themselves in an overseas environment, see the Department of State’s pamphlet A Safe Trip Abroad.  Further details can be found at the U.S. State Department’s Myanmar webpage (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel.html).  

Visa Requirements

The Government of Myanmar has recently eased the controls on travel to and within Myanmar.  A passport and visa are required for all travelers entering the country.  The application process for business visas varies and can be lengthy.  Please refer to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ website (http://www.mofa.gov.mm/). 
Online visa applications can be submitted via the Ministry of Labor, Immigration and Population’s eVisa webpage (https://evisa.moip.gov.mm/).

Contact Information
Embassy of the Union of Myanmar (http://www.mewashingtondc.org/content/contact-us) 
2300 S Street NW
Washington, DC 20008
Phone: 202-332-3344 | 202-332-4350
Permanent Mission of Myanmar to the UN
10 East 77th Street
New York, NY 10075
Phone: 212-744-1271

Currency

The kyat (MMK) is the local currency.  Currency exchange counters and ATMs are available at Yangon International Airport and around the city.  As of June 2019, the kyat was trading at about MMK 1520 per one U.S. dollars.  It it advisable to bring only new U.S. dollar notes with no marks or creases, otherwise, the bills may be refused or the exchange rate will be lower than the market rate.

Phone Service/ Internet

CDMA and GSM cell phone service is available in Yangon, Mandalay, Bagan and surrounding areas.  Mobile phones and SIM cards have become much more affordable in Myanmar and are readily available.   Business hotels provide access to the internet with reasonable download speeds.

Transportation

Myanmar is easily accessible by air primarily via regional hubs like Tokyo, Seoul and Bangkok. Given road conditions, domestic air travel is preferred over driving long distances in Myanmar.  Domestic flights connect all major cities.

Travel by road in Myanmar can be dangerous as roads outside urban areas are often narrow and in poor condition, particularly during the May-October rainy season.  Travel after dark is not recommended.   Government permission is required for foreigners to travel by road in border areas. Rail travel, though available, is not recommended due to slow service.

Language

Myanmar (Myanmar) is the official language throughout Myanmar, though languages of various ethnic groups are widely spoken in their home regions.  Businesspeople in Yangon and Mandalay speak some degree of English, but English is not widely spoken outside main urban areas.  Chinese is spoken in Mandalay, Yangon, and in major trade hubs near the China-Myanmar border.  Thai is spoken in major trade hubs on the Thai-Myanmar border.

Health

Water is not potable, and only bottled water should be consumed.  Visitors should avoid unpasteurized dairy products and uncooked or undercooked meat and vegetables.

Visitors should consult their physician or local health authorities for a list of recommended immunizations prior to arrival.  Dengue fever is the prominent, year-round health concern.  Avoidance of mosquito bites through the use of mosquito repellent and protective clothing is the only way to prevent this illness.  Although malaria is not a problem in urban Yangon, malaria prophylaxis should be taken if traveling to other parts of the country.

Medical facilities in Myanmar are often inadequate and a sufficient supply of personal prescription and over-the-counter medications should be hand-carried.  Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services and U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States.

Information on vaccinations and other health precautions may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (http://www.cdc.gov./) hotline for international travelers at 1-877- FYI-TRIP  (1-877-394-8747) or via  fax at  1-888-CDC-FAXX  (1-888-232-3299).

Local Time, Business Hours and Holidays

Myanmar is 6.5 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.  Myanmar does not observe Daylight Savings Time.
Business hours are not uniform.  Most private and government offices close on Saturday and Sunday, though shops are usually open six or seven days a week.

Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.