Museums and galleries in Yangon

Museums and galleries in Yangon

1. See

   Bogyoke Aung San Museum

   This is the house where Aung San lived with his wife and three children until his assassination. The house is still in original condition and houses a museum with many interesting items on display, e.g., Aung San's car, his library and his suits. Outside is the pond where his son, Aung San Lin, drowned. The accident was one of the reasons why the family moved.

   Tue-Sun 09:30-16:30; closed Mon·US$3

2. Buy

   Capital Hypermarket

   Capital Hypermarket is a huge supermarket to shop freely with confidence for fresh vegetables, meat and rare ingredients. The top and only floor of the building has rare electronics, clothes for both adults and child with affordable prices, leather made clothes, shoes and bags. You can also find cheap Blu-ray Discs at the top floor near the televisions. The ground floor is full of restaurants, and on some days with discounts on furniture. Has an artist gallery on the second floor.

3. See

   Drug Elimination Museum

   A huge four-story building dedicated to fighting narcotics (mainly opium), displaying the effects of drug use and efforts to find alternative crops. The exhibits are quite outdated and dusty. The main reason for a foreigner to visit is to experience a bizarre remnant of the previous regime. Be prepared that you may be the only visitor at the museum, but there is plenty of staff. Camera fee for foreigners US$5.

   foreigner: 4,000 kyat, Burmese national: 100 kyat

4. See

   Ministers' Building

   The Secretariat

   It was the home and administrative seat of British Burma. In February 2012, 7 local companies and 3 foreign companies submitted a proposal to the Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) to convert the Ministers' Building into a hotel and museum.

5. See

   National Museum

   Displays many Burmese historical artifacts, including regalia of the last Konbaung Dynasty. This museum has one of the better quality collections in South East Asia, containing the best of Burma's artistic heritage and superior craftsmanship. The architecture of the museum is a pathetic and crude interpretation of modern architecture. The exhibitions have been improved during 2016 and most exhibits have signs in both Burmese and English. Some rooms are dimly lit. Photography is prohibited. Do not buy books in the museum shop. Buy them at Innwa Bookstore with its varied selections, and other stores along Pansodan Rd. A book that costs US$38 in the museum costs only US$22 at Innwa.

   Wed-Sun 10:00-15:00, closed Mon Tue holidays

6. See

   People's Park

   Occupies 130 acres, between parliament and Shwedagon Paya and known for its large concrete water fountain. Inside the park is a museum. There are a lot of decrepit statues and relics (like ships and aircraft) as well as sterile squares in the Stalinist model, all of which gives an interesting insight to the government. Entrance fee for foreigners.

   Closed · opens 7 am

7. See

   Sule Paya

   Sule Pagoda

   Incongruously serving as a traffic island in the middle of the busiest intersection in central Yangon, Sule Paya is a 46 m octagonal-shaped stupa that, according to the local story, was built 2,000 years ago to house a strand of the Buddha's hair. Whether or not it has a strand of the Buddha's hair, the galleries of the pagoda are an oasis of calm from the chaotic traffic that passes around it all day long. Shoes can be left at counters at any entrance, but carry a plastic bag.

   US$3

8. See

   Tatmadaw Exhibition Hall

   U Wisara Road

9. See

   U Thant Museum

   Inya Road

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Yangon (CC BY-SA 4.0).