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1. Luxury hospitality

Yangon is still in its infancy when it comes to luxury hotel stays – a good thing for jaded travellers looking to avoid the same old tourist destinations. Five-star venues include The Strand Hotel, the Savoy Hotel (which has resident ducks) and, as of summer 2019, Rosewood Yangon.

Rosewood Yangon is a heritage hotel with everything one might expect from luxury hospitality, including spa treatments and therapies that use Burmese-inspired healing traditions.

The “Y” bar at the Rosewood is also the only luxury rooftop bar that offers a panoramic view over the Yangon River – perfect for cocktails at sunset.

Located on The Strand, Rosewood Yangon is within walking distance to the city’s most historic attractions.

2. Veggie paradise

Burmese cuisine is heavy on fresh vegetables and herbs which is perfect for health-conscious diners.

The sheer number of salad varieties to choose from will make any veggie-loving diner swoon. These salads are revered by street stalls and fine-dining restaurants across Yangon. A favourite choice is lahpet thak, or tea leaf salad.

Vegetarians might also enjoy aubergine caviar, banana blossom salad and Shan tofu soup.

Pescatarians will fall in love with Myanmar’s most prolific dish, mohinga, a mildly-spiced fish soup with rice noodles, often eaten at breakfast.

3. Rich heritage

The most prominent landmark in Yangon is Shwedagon Pagoda, which is more than 2,500 years old, making it one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Asia.

Downtown Yangon also hosts the Sule Pagoda and the Botataung Pagoda, both worth a visit during Buddhist festivals like Thadingyut (Festival of Light) or the sprightly Thingyan Water Festival.

For something in the last millennia, Yangon, formerly known as Rangoon, offers the highest density of colonial period buildings in Southeast Asia. Explore The Strand, Yangon City Hall, the High Court and The Secretariat for an immersive historical experience.

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4. River cruises and ‘The Garden of the East’

Known as the “Garden of the East”, Yangon hosts a 260-acre lake and nature park in its own backyard. Kandawgyi Lake, literally translated to the great royal lake, lies east of the Shwedagon Pagoda and offers incredible views of the Karaweik Palace at night.

From the Garden of the East, a cruise down the Irrawaddy to the ancient land of 1,000 temples, Bagan, might just be the perfect detour. Luxury cruises are available to support any kind of itinerary, but you might need to stretch out a few days for historical stops along the way.

If time is not on your side, short flights to Bagan from Yangon are available every day.

5. The people

It is good people that make good places, and Yangon is a great place.

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There are about six million people living in Yangon, and most of the Burmese population is ethnically Bamar. Traditional Bamar customs are still a sight to behold in the city; residents smear yellow bark powder on their faces as sunscreen, and wear traditional wraparound clothing, called longyi, on the streets.

“The people from Myanmar are extremely nice, friendly, charming and hospitable. They are always smiling and willing to assist. This is helping to position Myanmar as an enchanting destination to visit,” says Ed Brea, managing director at Rosewood Yangon.

Many locals are also conversant in English, although the main language is Burmese. It wouldn't go amiss to learn a few phrases before catching your flight.

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