A beautiful country with a majestic history and colorful cultures, Myanmar is a place to go in Southeast Asia. The Burmese are some of the simplest people you have met – they are very hospitable and, always try their best to accommodate questions and favors from tourists though they have a difficulty understanding and speaking English. Visit Myanmar with Indochina travel Myanmar
But like most countries where tourism is in a boom, in Myanmar, there are locals who are learning, trying and succeeding in scamming foreign travelers. This is a simple list of tips on how to not get scammed in Myanmar.
1) Learn to say no
Saying no is actually the most helpful tip-source: Internet
In order not to get scammed anywhere, saying no is actually the most helpful tip. Especially when locals become really insistent or when they start using drama to sway tourists, travelers who cannot say no will know how difficult this would be.
Burmese vendors have mastered the art of persuasion. They have their own techniques to make sure that travelers will buy what they sell. For example, when you enter the temples in Mandalay and Bagan, vendors will offer to look after your slippers or shoes – as these are not allowed inside. When you come out of the temple, they will take you to their shops and demand you to get at least one of their products, saying it is for taking care of your footwear. You may up giving some hundred kyats or spending some kyats buying useless trinkets, then the vendors will walk away. Myanmar travel tours
Say no and walk past through the persuasive vendors is the best thing to do. If you leave your shoes in the open – and the vendors do not really take care of them, nothing will really happen. Moreover, there will be no Buddhists trying to steal in front of their temples. If you do not mind, it will be also a good solution to carry your footwear inside the temple. For those who are traveling in Myanmar on a budget, it is a bug help to master the art of saying no.
2) Haggle and agree on a price before hand
Agreeing on a price in advance is another essential tip in practically everywhere in Southeast Asian areas. You need to learn how to haggle – and make sure you agree on a price in advance whether you are shopping or trying to get a cab.
Almost all shop owners in Yangon, Mandaylay and Bagan will sell their products for twice the price to international travelers unless it has a tag. The vendors set very high prices so you will it very difficult to buy souvenirs.
Remember also that since cabs do not have meters, it is okay to haggle when getting transportation. When renting a horse cart in Bagan, the standard price should be MMK 20,000 for the whole day and MMK 10,000 for half a day. If you do not know the price, you might have to pay MMK 20,000 for a half day tour in Old Bagan.
3) Ask help from locals
Ask help from locals is useful to avoid being scammed-source: Internet
Mainly because the Burmese have a difficult time understanding English, asking help from locals is more helpful in Myanmar than in any other Southeast Asian countries. If you find it hard to haggle and shop for souvenirs, it is wise to ask some of your Burmese friends to accompany with you in shopping. Having them do all the talking so the local vendors cannot inflate their products’ prices. Burmese people also know the best places to get souvenirs at reasonable prices.
If you do not have your own Burmese friends, especially when booking taxis, do not hesitate to ask help from your hotel. They will certainly get you a reliable taxi driver. Ask the hotel concierge as it helps if you know how much drivers ask from locals. It highly recommended shopping with a local as the Burmese would be ashamed to scam their countrymen.
4) Carry only enough money with you
Don’t forget to bring only enough money with you-source: Internet
Local vendors in Bagan and Mandalay can get on your nerves. In some temples, you can meet many kids selling postcards and other trinkets for some hundred Kyats. As some of these kids are actually pretty nice and helpful guides, you might be swayed to purchase some of their products. It will be helpful to carry smaller bills with you as some of these kids may say they do not have change and will just ask you to get more souvenirs.
Carry small bills from your own currency with you if you are feeling generous. The kids in Bagan will even show you their money collection that they got from other travelers and ask you for some of your own. It would also help you to manage your finances in Myanmar by carrying only your budget for the day. If you know you are spending your budget for dinner and drinks, you will not easily be swayed to buy souvenirs, right?
5) Eat in restaurants with a menu
Having meal in restaurant with fixxed price to avoid being over-charged-source: Internet
You may be asked to pay more than the price originally stated by the waiter/ waitress when having meal in some local restaurants. This is may be a problem you only encounter in Myanmar. Whether the additional payment is for service charge or not, it still will be better to enjoy your meal in restaurants with English menus and fixed prices. You will know what you are paying for as such restaurants also issue receipts.
Travel lovers.
Read more:
