TELEPHONE
To dial home from Myanmar, use the international access
code 00, followed by the destination country code, area code and number you
wish to dial.
For calls to Myanmar, the international dial code prefix
may vary depending upon the country from which the call is made, but will be
followed by Myanmar’s international number +95, followed by the area code and
local number.
The main police emergency number is 199 which is free to
call, and is suitable for use in all types of emergency. Additional free to
call numbers are 191 for fire emergencies and 192 for an ambulance.
When travelling with Haivenu, you will also always be
provided with an emergency contact number to access our help and assistance.
For mobile handsets, consult your service provider in
advance of departure to activate your handset for use in Vietnam and seek
advice concerning roaming charges, which are, however, likely to be expensive.
If your phone is unlocked, another option is to buy a SIM
card locally, from one of the three networks, the government run MPT and
overseas operators, Telenor and Ooredoo. Coverage is good in major tourist
spots, but can be fragmentary or even non- existent in more remote locations. You
can also purchase contract free handsets locally, though you will also need to
purchase a SIM card.
INTERNET
Many hotels in Myanmar provide free Wi-Fi access, as do
many bars and restaurants. Internet cafes are fairly widespread. Although the
country is now developing, internet speeds remain typically slower than modern
users are accustomed to.
Political censorship of Internet use exists in Myanmar, though
many restrictions formerly applied to Facebook and Twitter have been lifted.
ELECTRICITY
The electricity supply in Myanmar is 230 Volts, at 50 HZ. The supply is
commonly prone to interruption, and for this reason most major hotels have on
site generators to cover periods of blackout. A torch is a useful thing to
carry around at night.
A useful visual reference guide to the full range of
international plug and socket varieties can be found at http://www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/plugs-and-sockets/,
which describes the type system in use on this website.
As yet, there is no standardised socket system for Myanmar,
and you will likely encounter different socket systems in hotels all over the
country. The variety of outlet connections comprise the two pin F type and C
type and the round three pin Type D as well as the British style square pin type
G.
For this reason it is best either to carry a range of
suitable adapters or invest in one of the new universal adapters with
retractable pins which are adaptable to differing formats. Usefully, some
models also provide additional USB connections.
It is helpful to consider your likely needs in advance. If
you will need to charge several items such as mobile phones, tablet computers,
cameras etc., it may be worth bringing a multiple, preferably surge protected,
outlet from your own country to avoid having to purchase several adapters, or
to deal with a limited number of wall sockets.
In most cases, if your equipment normally runs on a 110
volt, 60 HZ supply, you will additionally need a portable transformer.
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
Although the Burmese have a traditional system of weights
and measures, the country is in the process of adopting the international
metric system based on the metre and gram. Due the historic British connection,
many imperial measurements are still in use, such as gallons for petrol and
road distances in miles.
POSTAL SERVICES
Postal services are run by the state-operated MPT
(Myanmar Post and Telecommunications) and are fairly reliable. Opening hours
are between 09:30 – 16:30 on weekdays.
DHL also provide services in Mandalay and Yangon, which
are a more secure option for high value items.
TIME ZONE
Unusually, Myanmar’s time zone is offset from
international standards by half an hour and is classed as GMT/UTC+6:30, though
it should be noted for calculation purposes that Myanmar does not operate a
daylight saving mechanism.