Is Yangon Safe in May 2026?

Drivers around Shwedagon Pagoda and the city centre use unmarked cabs or tamper with meters, charging tourists up to double the standard rate. The fare for a short city ride can be significantly inflated if no price is agreed in advance.

How to avoid: Always agree on the fare before getting in. Use the Grab app where available, or ask your hotel to arrange a trusted driver. Confirm the price covers the complete journey and get it in writing if possible.

Many small restaurants do not display menus with listed prices. Servers quote low prices verbally when asked but the final bill is significantly higher. This is especially common near Bogyoke Aung San Market and the downtown tourist zone.

How to avoid: Only eat at restaurants that display a written menu with prices per dish. If no menu is visible, ask for one before ordering. Check the bill against what was quoted and pay only what was agreed.

Scammers operate fake hotel booking websites offering heavily discounted rates for Yangon accommodations. Customers prepay and receive a forged confirmation email, only to arrive and find no reservation exists. The fake confirmations use real hotel names and logos.

How to avoid: Book through official hotel websites or internationally recognized platforms (Booking.com, Agoda, Hotels.com). Call the hotel directly using the number on their official website to confirm your reservation before arrival. Never wire money or use untraceable payment methods.

Men dressed in casual or semi-traditional clothing position themselves at the main entrances to Shwedagon Pagoda and attach themselves to tourists as they pay the admission fee, offering to explain the history and mythology of the site. They present themselves as volunteers or government-assigned guides, but once the tour concludes they demand substantial cash payment — often US$20–50 — and can become aggressive or follow visitors to the taxi stand if refused. Some work with taxi drivers who deliver tourists directly into their path.

How to avoid: Hire a licensed guide only through your hotel, a registered travel agency, or the official Shwedagon Pagoda authority desk near the main southern entrance. If someone approaches you unsolicited as you enter, firmly state you do not need a guide. Official guides wear identification badges issued by the Myanmar Tourism Federation.

Street money changers use sleight of hand when counting out kyat notes, causing tourists to receive roughly half the currency they are owed. The trick is done quickly and confidently, and victims often do not notice until later.

How to avoid: Only exchange money at banks, official exchange counters, or hotel front desks. Never change money on the street, even if the rate looks better. Count every note carefully before walking away from any exchange.