Yangon

Yangon is Myanmar's largest city and commercial heart, a former capital known for its golden pagodas, colonial-era streets and enduring street life. Although the administrative capital moved to Naypyidaw in 2006, Yangon remains the country's main gateway for business, trade and travel.

The Shwedagon Pagoda dominates the city's skyline and is the most important Buddhist site in Myanmar, its gold-covered stupa rising over Singuttara Hill. Nearby, the Sule Pagoda marks the centre of downtown, while the reclining Buddha at Chaukhtatgyi Temple and the riverside Botataung Pagoda add to the city's dense religious heritage. Colonial-era buildings, especially along Strand Road and Pansodan Street, recall Yangon's history as the British colonial capital of Rangoon.

Downtown Yangon is a grid of old shop houses, teahouses and busy street markets, with Bogyoke Aung San Market among the best-known stops for handicrafts and local goods. To the north, Bahan, Kamayut and Sanchaung are popular residential and dining districts, while lakes such as Kandawgyi and Inya offer green space and a break from traffic.

Yangon is also the country's main commercial and logistics centre, home to the port of Yangon, corporate offices, conference venues and most international businesses operating in Myanmar. Its teahouse culture, street food and markets sit alongside growing restaurants, cafés and hotels, giving the city a layered character that mixes tradition with gradual change.

For leisure and business travellers alike, Yangon offers an essential introduction to Myanmar, from its spiritual landmarks and colonial history to its role as the nation's economic hub.