The Land and People of Myanmar

The most densely populated part of the country is the valley of the Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy) River, which, with its vast delta, is one of the main rice-growing regions of the world. Mandalay, the country's second largest city, is on the Ayeyarwady in central Myanmar. The Ayeyarwady basin is inhabited by the Burmans proper, a Mongolic people who came down from Tibet by the 9th cent. and now represent nearly 70% of the mainly rural population. The valley is surrounded by a chain of mountains that stem from the E Himalayas and spread out roughly in the shape of a giant horseshoe; the ranges and river valleys of the Chindwinn (a tributary of the Ayeyarwady) and of the Sittaung and the Thanlwin, or Salween (both to the E of the Ayeyarwady), run from north to south. Indochina tours Myanmar
In the mountains of N Myanmar (rising to more than 19,000 ft/5,790 m) and along the India-Myanmar frontier live various Mongolic peoples; the most important are the Kachins (in the Kachin State in the north) and the Chins (in the Chin State in the west). These peoples practice shifting cultivation ( taungya ) and cut teak in the forests.
Administrative units
The country consists of 14 provinces: 7 states representing the areas of 7 main ethnic races and 7 divisions – namely Chin State, Kachin State, Kayah State, Kayin State, Mon State, Rakhine State, Shan State and Ayeyarwady Division, Bago Division, Magway Division, Mandalay Division, Sagaing Division, Tanintharyi Division, Yangon Division, Naypyidaw Division. States are characterized by mountains while divisions by plains.

Must-visit destinations
Myanmar is proudly granted the beauty of nature and people. In the beautiful patchwork created by attractions, Inle Lake emerges as a distinguished fragment. Located in the Shan Hills, Inle is a freshwater lake with numerous villages against the foggy mountain ranges. It ranks among Myanmar’s top five tourist attractions with a pretty beautiful setting including mountains tumbling down to the lake and all of life going on and around the lake, plus the majestic sunsets with the sun disappearing behind the mountains and a chill settling down itself on the lake. Other significant sceneries that one can expect to see in Inle Lake are floating tomatoes fields around the lake, gardens of flowers properly anchored to the lake bed with bamboo poles. Myanmar tour packages
Once visiting Myanmar, you should not miss Yangon, the largest city of Myanmar. It is known for colonial architecture, which though decaying, remains an almost unique sample of a 19-century British colonial capital. Shwedagon, the heart of Yangon, is the most profoundly honored pagoda in the country and interesting history behind. According to the legend, the Shwedagon pagoda was constructed during the time of the Buddha which is more than 2500 years ago and where the holy hair lyrics of Buddha were enshrined. It is one of the wonders of the world and the most revered pagoda in the Southeast Asia.
Another destination is Mandalay, which is located between one of the historical Ayeyarwaddy River and Shan state. In other words, the location itself is the central of Myanmar geographically which leads the city to become the economic hub of Upper Myanmar and considered the center or Myanmar culture. The unique culture of Mandalay city is the transportation method of how people travel – in which Mandalay citizens prefer to travel on bikes rather than relying on other transports. Visitors often go to Mandalay when they are in Myanmar not only for sightseeing purpose but for observing different cultures and traditions of Myanmar in one place.
Local people
Coming to Myanmar, travels hardly forget the memories with people here. Over a hundred ethnics are residing in different parts of Myanmar. Different topographical features separate the ethnic tribes and they become totally exclusive from the mainland Myanmar. This diversity is rendering the major attraction to those travelers who are keen on seeing these minorities living in hidden areas. Myanmar is composed of rich in natural resources, beautiful scenery, and above all, exotic people with their remarkable traditions. The ethnic groups and people with various traits and customs live in great harmony, creating a peaceful land.
Traditional products
Myanmar has long history of making products like bamboo stuff, silver ware and lacquer ware. There are over 200 kinds of Myanmar bamboo. It is the raw material to make paper and decorate gardens. In Pathin Township, Ayeyarwady Division, there are umbrella workshops with ribs and handles of the umbrella made of bamboo. These are very famous product and draw foreigners to buy. Besides, Myanmar has long used the silver ware since 15 sanctuaries. Silver smith is one kind of Myanmar 10 kinds of flower arts. Also, silver ware products have long history, attributing a remarkable feature for Bagan diversity. Currently, Bagan area is among the most famous product sites of Myanmar.

Freedom of Religion and the Constitution of Laos

Today around 65% of the Laotian population practise Theravada Buddhism, also known as the Little Vehicle Buddhism. This religion was developed in Laos between the 14th and 17th centuries as it gradually took over over animism and Brahmanism. As in neighbouring Thailand and Cambodia, religion has a strong influence on culture and daily life. The monasteries (Wat), which form the centre of collective life, have a social function in addition to their religious role by providing education to children from poor families. Indochina holidays Laos
Ancient beliefs, in particular the cult of the phi people, exist side by side with Buddhism without any problem. Many feasts or ceremonies practised by Buddhists are ancient animist practices.
Most isolated ethnic minorities have preserved their animist religions. Some groups, in the process of cultural development, abide by the main buddhist religion. Laos travel packages
Freedom of Religion and the Constitution of Laos
Buddhism and other religions are overseen by the Department of Religious Affairs. Religion and Communism have traditionally been incompatible because Communism is atheist. The Communist government has been tolerant of Buddhist practices bit strongly discourages animist rituals. However screens al Buddhist texts and overseas the training on Buddhist monks.
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The Constitution provides for freedom of religion; however, other laws and policies, particularly at the local level, sometimes violate this right. Article 30 of the Constitution provides for freedom of religion, a fact frequently cited by officials in reference to religious tolerance. Article 9 of the Constitution, however, discourages all acts that create divisions among religious groups and persons. The Government has interpreted this clause to justify restrictions on religious practice by all religious groups, including the Buddhist majority and animists. Both local and central government officials widely refer to Article 9 as a reason for placing constraints on religious practice, especially proselytizing and the expansion of Protestantism among minority groups. The Constitution also notes that the state "mobilizes and encourages" Buddhist monks and novices as well as priests of other religions to participate in activities "beneficial to the nation and the people." Although official pronouncements acknowledge the positive benefits of religion and the existence of different religious groups, they emphasize religion's potential to divide, distract, and destabilize. [Source: International Religious Freedom, 2009 Report on International Religious Freedom, East Asia and Pacific, Laos; U.S. State Department, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor; October 26, 2009 **]
Decree 92 is the principal legal instrument defining rules for religious practice. Decree 92 defines the Government's role as the final arbiter of permissible religious activities. Although this decree has contributed to greater religious tolerance since it was promulgated in 2002, authorities have used its many conditions to restrict some aspects of religious practice, particularly at the provincial and district levels. **
In its 20 articles, Decree 92 establishes guidelines for religious activities in a broad range of areas. While the decree provides that the Government "respects and protects legitimate activities of believers," it also seeks to ensure that religious practice "conforms to the laws and regulations." Decree 92 legitimizes proselytizing by Lao citizens, printing religious materials, owning and building houses of worship, and maintaining contact with overseas religious groups; however, all of these rights are contingent upon a strict approval process. Decree 92 reserves for the LFNC the "right and duty to manage and promote" religious practice, requiring that nearly all aspects of religious practice receive the approval of an LFNC branch office. Some cases require approval from the central-level LFNC. In practice, the Government used the approval process to restrict the religious activities of certain groups and effectively limited or prevented some religious denominations from importing Bibles and religious materials as well as constructing houses of worship. Many minority religious leaders complained that the requirement to obtain permission, sometimes from several different offices, for a broad range of activities greatly limited their freedom. **
Lao Government and Religion
The Government officially recognized four religions: Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, and the Baha'i Faith. Recognized Christian groups include the Catholic Church, the LEC, and the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Although Decree 92 establishes procedures for new denominations to register, the Government's desire to consolidate religious practice for purposes of control has effectively blocked new registrations. The LFNC's Order Number 1 of March 2004 required all Protestant groups to become a part of the LEC or the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The order stated that no other Christian denominations would be permitted to register, a measure to prevent "disharmony" in the religious community. Although denominations not registered with the LFNC are not legally allowed to practice their faith, several do so quietly without interference. [Source: International Religious Freedom, 2009 Report on International Religious Freedom, East Asia and Pacific, Laos; U.S. State Department, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor; October 26, 2009 **]
The Government required several religious groups, apparently with the exception of Buddhists and Catholics, to report membership information periodically to the Religious Affairs Department of the LFNC. The Government also maintained restrictions on the publication of religious materials that applied to most religious groups, except for Buddhists. Although the Government does not recognize an official state religion, the Government's exemption of Buddhism from many of the Decree 92 restrictions, sponsorship of Buddhist facilities, increased incorporation of Buddhist ritual and ceremony in state functions, and promotion of Buddhism as an element of the country's cultural and spiritual identity gave Theravada Buddhism an elevated status. **
Both the Constitution and Decree 92 assert that religious practice should serve national interests by promoting development and education and instructing believers to be good citizens. The Government presumed both a right and a duty to oversee religious practice at all levels to ensure religious practice fills these roles in society. In effect this has led the authorities, particularly at the provincial, district, and local levels, to intervene in the activities of minority religious groups, particularly Protestants, on the grounds that their practices did not promote national interests or demonstrated disloyalty to the Government. **
There was no religious instruction in public schools, nor were there any parochial or religiously affiliated schools. However, several private preschools and English- language schools received support from religious groups abroad. Many boys spent some time in Buddhist temples, where they received instruction in religion as well as academics. Temples traditionally have filled the role of schools and continued to play this role in smaller communities where formal education was limited or unavailable. Christian denominations, particularly the LEC and Seventh-day Adventists, operated Sunday schools for children and young persons. Baha'i Spiritual Assemblies conducted religious training for children as well as adult members. The Muslim community offered limited educational training for its children

Shopping, Myanmar travel guide

While duty-free shops, department stores, supermarkets and minimarkets in Yangon offer a wide choice of products, both foreign and local with fixed prices, the real magic of shopping is to be found mainly in the well-known Bogyoke Aung San Market where shopping is fun and easy; and bargaining is acceptable. Indochina tours Myanmar
Situated in the heart of Yangon, housing 2,000 shops with a wide selection of unique locally made goods, luxury buys such as precious jewellery of gold and gems, silverware, arts and crafts, lacquerware, paintings,traditional wooden dolls, Mandalay silk, typical Shan and Kachin shoulder bags, foodstuffs, cosmetics and tailor-made clothes are a few of the sought-after items.
Shopping Yangon is the capital of Myanmar. It is the biggest and most populated city, a major port and trading centre, and home to a blend of diverse cultures, customs and peoples. There are a variety of markets, plazas, supermarkets, marts, malls, stores, roadside shops and even street peddlers, providing a paradise for passionate shoppers who can find every kind of local product as well as imported foreign items. Tours In Myanmar
Bogyoke Aung San Market

This is a famous one-stop market for arts and handicraft, gems and jewellery, hand-woven fabrics and traditional costumes as well as other souvenirs that are truly characteristic of Myanmar. It is a must-stop shopping site for every visitor who takes an interest in Myanmar culture.
Mandalay
Shopping in Mandalay is an entirely different experience compared to shopping in Yangon. Mandalay does not have the malls and major shopping centres that the capital has to offer (with the exception of the Skywalk Mall in Yadanarbon), so shopping can be limited in this city. While the commercial stores may be lacking, the local shops are many and there are several markets to be found offering shoppers a wide array of products to choose from.
Myanmar is known for its gems, jewellery and handicrafts and all these can be purchased in Mandalay. There are countless stores and shops that sell precious stones like jade, ruby and sapphire; gold and silver jewellery are also offered in many establishments. As the country's crafts centre, Mandalay also features an abundance of souvenirs such as sculptures and Buddha images.
Zay Cho
The famous market of Mandalay provides many local and foreign products, and serves as a one-stop shopping centre for every visitor.
Nya Zay
Nya Zay means evening market, and a variety of products are for sale at very reasonable prices. This is the place for budget tourist seeking interesting items. Country-side Markets
Although every big town in Myanmar has an established market or markets of its own, the smaller rural towns and villages do not have permanent market sites. Instead, they have road-side or every-five-day markets commonly seen in the Shan State. One of the best known is the floating market at Inlay Lake, where both buyers and sellers trade from rowing boats.

Hue Vietnam travel guide

An imperial citadel still stands proudly in Hue, despite violent bombardment during the Vietnam War (1954–75) by the Viet Cong and the Americans. Ask Vietnamese about Hue and they’ll often remark that it’s a sad and sleepy city. This may have something to do with the old architecture and crumbling ruins (many of Hue’s residents have built a livelihood based around the city’s past). Hue is also prone to exceptionally rainy weather compared to the rest of Vietnam, particularly in the second half of the year.

Once the capital of Vietnam and the seat of the Nguyen dynasty (1802–1945), Hue is located 12km (7 miles) from the coast on a narrow stretch of land in Thua Thien-Hue province, which borders Laos in the west. It's roughly midway between Hanoi to the north and Ho Chi Minh City to the south. Today, the city is one of Vietnam’s more noteworthy attractions, thanks to its eventful history as well as its cultural and intellectual connections, made all the more inviting by its scenic location along the banks of Song Huong – the Vietnamese name for the Perfume River. Tours indochina
Hue is a pretty city, criss-crossed by dozens of bridges, lakes, moats and canals. On the river’s north bank is the ancient imperial citadel and residential areas, while the new commercial area, the old French quarter and the hotel district are all on the south bank. Further south are several tombs that belong to the emperors of the Nguyen dynasty.
What to see in Hue
If you are a history buff, or simply love discovering exotic cultures, Hue- Vietnam’s former Royal Capital is definitely on the top list of your travel plan. The city represents the outstanding demonstration of the power of the vanished Vietnamese feudal empire, including a complex of monuments, tombs and pagodas that attract tourists coming from all over the world. Travel to Vietnam

Ancient Forbidden City
• Hue Citadel:
Occupying a large, bounded area on the north side of Perfume River; four citadels were comprised to create the Capital City: Hoang Thanh (Imperial City) for royal palaces and shrines, Tu Cam Thanh (Forbidden Purple City) for royal residences, Dai Noi (Inner city) and Tran Binh Dai, which exclusively ancient architecture. Tourists are expected to spend at least one day to visit the whole complex. They can also catch a taxi, hire a bicycle, rent a “xich lo”- Vietnamese cycle if do not feel like walking around the site.
• Emperors Tombs:
There are several tombs of ancient emperors scattering along the Perfume River: such as Minh Mang, Khai Dinh, Tu Duc, Dong Khanh, etc. On Cam Khe Hill, Minh Mang Tomb was built in 1843, with the area of 18 hectare, 3-meter-high defended wall, and nearly 20 architectural constructions. Lying in the middle of a pine forest, Tu Duc Tomb belongs to Duong Xuan Moutain, 8km far from Hue.
• Pagodas:
Featured in various songs and poems, Thien Mu Pagoda has become an essential part of Hue City. With the symbol of the octagonal 21-meter-high tower, the pagoda is the perfect combination of artificial architectural work and picturesque nature. Tourists can also visit other pagodas such as Tu Dam, Tu Hieu, Huyen Khong.

South Vietnam highlights

South Vietnam highlights
Visit the fishing village of Mui Ne
While the town of Mui Ne itself did not impress so much and neither did its beach (razor-thin and even fortified with concrete in places due to erosion), the sights in and around Mui Ne are not to be missed. The old fishing village is extremely picturesque and is famed for its colourful fishing boats. There is also a great little river canyon walk nearby, as well as white sand dunes where you can watch the sunrise or try sliding down the dunes on a board. Tours Indochina Vietnam

Relax in the quiet town of Hoi An
Hoi An is mainly famous for being the one place where you can get custom-tailored clothes at rock bottom prices. Many a traveller leaves Hoi An with a tailor-made suit or dress in their backpack!
Beyond that, it’s also a generally charming, quiet and pedestrianized town—which stands in strong contrast to the major cities I described above. While Hoi An is very touristy, it isn’t too in-your-face about it, which I really like. There are a couple of interesting sights in the area and there is a decent beach nearby, so it makes for a good base for a couple of nights.
Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) is Vietnam at its most dizzying: a high-octane city of commerce and culture that has driven the country forward with its pulsating energy. A chaotic whirl, the city breathes life and vitality into all who settle here, and visitors cannot help but be hauled along for the ride. South Vietnam travel packages
From the finest of hotels to the cheapest of guesthouses, the classiest of restaurants to the tastiest of street stalls, the choicest of boutiques to the scrum of the markets, HCMC is a city of energy and discovery.
Wander through timeless alleys to incense-infused temples before negotiating chic designer malls beneath sleek 21st-century skyscrapers. The ghosts of the past live on in buildings that one generation ago witnessed a city in turmoil, but now the real beauty of the former Saigon’s urban collage is the seamless blending of these two worlds into one exciting mass.
Cai Rang Floating Market
Just 6km from Can Tho in the direction of Soc Trang is Cai Rang, the biggest floating market in the Mekong Delta. There is a bridge here that serves as a great vantage point for photography. The market is best around 6am to 7am, and it's well worth getting here early to beat boatloads of tourists. This is a wholesale market, so look at what's tied to the long pole above the boat to figure out what they're selling to smaller traders.
Cai Rang can be seen from the road, but getting here is far more interesting by boat (US$10 to US$15). From the market area in Can Tho it takes about 45 minutes by river, or you can drive to the Cau Dau Sau boat landing (by the Dau Sau Bridge), from where it takes only about 10 minutes to reach the market.
U-Minh Forest
Bordered by Ca Mau, the largest mangrove forest beyond the Amazon basin covers 1000 sq km. Home to endangered mammals – including the hairy-nosed otter and the fishing cat – and 187 bird species, the forest was a hideout for the VC during the American War. Thirty-minute boat trips around the forest cost 140,000d.
Ca Mau Tourist can arrange boat tours (US$180), but you can try to get a speed boat to Thu Bay (two hours), followed by a motorbike for 90,000d.
During the American War, the Americans tried to flush out the VC with chemical defoliation, which caused enormous damage to the forests. The heavy rainfall slowly washed the dioxin out to sea and the forest is returning. Many eucalyptus trees have also been planted here because they have proved to be relatively dioxin-resistant.
Unfortunately today the mangrove forests are being further damaged by clearing for shrimp-farming ponds, charcoal production and woodchipping, although the government has tried to limit these activities. In 2002 an area of 80 sq km was preserved as U Minh Thuong (Upper U-Minh) National Park.

Mong (H'Mong) ethnic group in Vietnam

Mong (H'Mong) ethnic group
The Mong is the largest ethnic group of seventeen ethnics community in Dong Van karst plateau Geopark. Mong people in Ha Giang province is similar to that in some northen mountainous border Viet Nam -China originated from China, then migrated to Vietnam more than 300 years ago. Indochina holidays in Vietnam

They mainly concentrate in the mountainous provinces, including Ha Giang, Tuyen Quang, Lao Cai, Yen Bai, etc. Mong in Ha Giang account for 32 percent total population of province, comprises two main sub-groups: White Mong and Flower Mong.

The Mong people are famous for traditional farming milpa, planting rice, maize and other crops. Handicraft productions of Mong ethnic minority achieved high levels of skillfulness such as weaving, knitting, forging and casting, making wooden furnitures. The H’Mong house is made from earth with three compartments, the middle one is reserved as the altar for ancestor cult. The main and extra doors are opened inward. Traditional clothing of the Mong women are very unique. A suit of women clothes consists of a skirt, a blouse, a shirt parcelled at the breast couple with a brassiere, a belt, leggings, and a turban winded around the head. The skirt is usually in the form of a truncated cone with a series of creases which can spread widely. Sometime the skirt is in the form of a tube dress with creases at the two haunches. Decorative patterns on the dress are butterflies, snakes, flower, harrow teeth, eyes of birds, pig feet with the harmony of colour. North Vietnam travel



The wealth of traditional culture of the Mong people are quite abundant with customs, habits, ceremonies and rites, religion and beliefs. The Hmong families have different ways of ancestor cult. Some principal worships are “ door ghost worship”, “ great mother ghost worship” with different number and content of worship, arrangement, eating and drinking place. the literature and art of the Mong shows their community psychology and awareness, and other issues about nature, society and history. Prominent things are love songs using pan-pipe, flute, leaf-horn, lip-horn. They all are invaluable assets of the Mong community which have been conserved and inherited generations by generations.

Customs and habits

Each lineage lives within a group setting. The head of the village assumes the common affairs for the lineage. Young Mong men and women are free to choose their partners. Marriages are absolutely forbidden between men and women of the same lineage. Matrimonial life of the Mong is very harmonious and divorce is very rare.

Culture

Mong language belongs to the Mong-Dao Group. The Traditional Tet (New Year's Day) of the Mong is organized every December. They refrain from eating green vegetables during the three days of the Tet Holiday. The musical instruments of the Mong include various kinds of "khen" (pan-pipes) and lip organs. After a hard working day and to celebrate spring, the young men and women often play "khen" and lip organs to express their feelings for their partners.