Culture of Myanmar
What is the culture of Myanmar like? Our destination experts share an overview.
It’s not just glittering gold pagodas that you will notice as you travel in Myanmar! The people here will enchant you as well.
Despite strict military rule and almost no exposure to modern western culture, the Burmese people welcome visitors with open arms.
Nearly 85% of the population follow Theravada Buddhism. Novitiation, when young boys are initiated into the Buddhist order, is a compulsory ritual. Indian, Chinese and colonial influences are evident in the former British capital of Yangon.
Artistic inclinations are encouraged in Myanmar, especially silk weaving, painting, tapestry, pottery and gemstone engraving. Gold leafing is also rather popular here. During one of our Myanmar tours, you will find that marionettes are a common part of the culture, and during festivals puppets are dressed ornately for shows at pagoda festivals and theaters in Yangon and Mandalay.
Over 111 languages are spoken within the borders of Myanmar, although about two-thirds of the population speak Burmese – the official language. English is widely spoken in the urban areas of Yangon, Mandalay and Bagan.
Top Myanmar Travel Tip
Don’t be surprised to see women walking around the streets with white paste smeared across their faces. The traditional paste, called thanaka, acts as a natural sunscreen and has many other medicinal benefits!
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Culture and Landscapes in the Heart of Myanmar
13 Days: $ 3,045 / person
The Undiscovered South of Myanmar
17 Days: $ 3,790 / person
Secret Treasures of Myanmar
8 Days: $ 1,500 / person
One of the very best travel experiences I have ever had. We even got updates once at 3 am! He also made one change in one day’s itinerary to accommodate our wishes which was very wonderful. For business, I have traveled to Europe, Russia, all over Asia and South Africa but was blown away by all the beautiful sites in Argentina and Chile.
All the little touches made by our Enchanting Travel consultant, Amelia Edwards, were noticed and recognized by my wife and I. Thank you for making our milestone trip (25th wedding anniversary) such a memorable one! We look forward to engaging Enchanting Travels again for our next South American adventure!!
This was my first adventure as a solo traveler. But while I may have traveled on my own, I was never alone. I was well taken care of by a superb team of planners, trip coordinators, guides and drivers.
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