Previously, staying in touch with someone traveling in Birmanie was not always straightforward, and conversely, a tourist in the heart of adventure in Birmanie rarely managed to give signs of life to their loved ones. The barriers imposed by the Burmese government were largely responsible.

Today, the situation is improving. Now, communication in Myanmar is experiencing rapid expansion: a fairly reliable telephone network, especially in major cities, and growing internet access.

Making Calls in Birmanie

All major cities and tourist destinations have solid telephone coverage. In some remote regions, however, finding a signal can be challenging. The operators managing telephone communication in Birmanie are Telenor, Ooredoo, and MPT. The first two operators offer 4G coverage to their customers.

International Calls

Need to contact someone in Europe from Birmanie? At a telephone shop, costs are steep—up to $5 per minute, and even more from a hotel. Be aware that even one second beyond a minute will be billed at the full minute rate.

Getting a local SIM card yourself proves to be a far more interesting and affordable alternative. Simply subscribe to international calling plans at rates not exceeding $1 per minute. You can obtain a SIM card upon arrival at the airport, or at mobile phone shops. Opt for prepaid plans, which are better suited to travelers.

To call Myanmar to France, dial 00 + 33 + the number you wish to reach (no need to include the initial 0)

To call France to Myanmar, dial 00 + 95 + the city code (without the 0) + your correspondent's number.

Calling Within Birmanie

To call someone in the same region as you, simply dial their phone number. However, to reach someone in a different region, you must enter the area code before their number.

Emergency Numbers

• Police: 199
• Tourist Police: 01378479/01379701
• Medical Services:
  • Yangon: 019000716/098612421
  • Mandalay: 0943100961/0274365
  • Naypyidaw: 095363181/0931471550

Internet in Myanmar

Except in major cities, internet connectivity in Birmanie still has a reputation for being slow and unstable. Myanmar lacks the infrastructure necessary to ensure reliable coverage across the country. If you have Gmail or Free accounts, contacting your correspondents is easier. Yahoo and Hotmail, however, will be of limited use.

For reaching your loved ones, the internet remains the most cost-effective option. Simply install the right applications on your phone: Facebook, Skype, WhatsApp, Twitter—and then connect to a wifi network. Many hotels offer free connections. You can also visit a local internet café, which typically offers affordable packages.

Postal Service

Mail service in Birmanie is not particularly reliable. Numerous delays occur, and packages sometimes fail to reach their destinations. Travelers therefore prefer DHL for parcel delivery.