Tanintharyi

Tanintharyi, also known as Taninthayi and historically called Tenasserim, is a small riverside town in Myanmar's far south. It sits on the Tanintharyi River, about 53 km (33 miles) upstream from Myeik, and is the administrative centre of Tanintharyi Township in Myeik District, Tanintharyi Region.

The town was once an important trading port and royal centre, serving as a starting point for overland trade routes to the Siamese capital of Ayutthaya. Its past is reflected in old pagodas, the city pillar, an ancient pond and traditional riverside streets that still follow a slow, unhurried rhythm.

Local landmarks include the Sett Taw Yar pagoda complex, known for a Buddha's footprint carved in natural rock, and a scatter of small temples and Buddha images around town. Visitors come for the river and hill scenery, traditional wooden houses and the sense of stepping into a quieter chapter of southern Myanmar.

Around the town, the Tanintharyi River links the settlement to Myeik and the Andaman Sea coast. From Myeik, travellers can continue to the Myeik Archipelago, Lampi Marine National Park and island communities, making Tanintharyi a gentle gateway into the region.

Tourism and services here remain modest, with local trade, fishing and agriculture forming the economic base. For travellers, the town suits slow travel and cultural exploration, while business visitors typically base themselves in Myeik or Dawei and use road and river connections through Tanintharyi.