The small town of Hpa-an, in the southeast of the country, is a pleasant place to spend a few days. Moreover there are some excellent day trips from the town, and you can take a taxi or ride a rented motorbike through scenic rice fields to swimming holes, a pagoda perched on a vertical column of rock, and caves full of Buddhist art.

Myanmar’s cities are not shopping destinations on a par with regional favourites such as Bangkok or Singapore, but there are still some bargains to be found. Souvenirs include jewellery – some of the most interesting being made from petrified wood or from jade

The regional cuisine balances spicy, sour, bitter and salty flavours; it can be quite hot but rarely as much so as Thai food. Common local ingredients include fish, seafood, chicken and vegetables spiced with onions, ginger, garlic and chillies, served with rice or noodles

To enter Myanmar, a passport valid for at least six months beyond the date of intended departure is required by all nationals referred to in the chart above.

People in Myanmar tend to dress conservatively and lightweight suits are recommended during the day. Locals may wear a longyi, a traditional skirt-like garment (they are worn by men and women, with different types of pattern).

Myanmar has a monsoon climate with three main seasons. The hottest period is between February and May, when there is little or no rain and temperatures can rise above 40°C (104°F). The rainy season is generally from May to October, giving way to dry, cooler weather from October to February.

89% Theravada Buddhist. The remainder are Hindu, Muslim, Christian and animist. Many Buddhists also hold some animist beliefs, including worship of nats (spirits) which are rationalised as being disciples of the Buddha.

Known as Burma while under British colonial rule, and still referred to as such by the UK and US governments as well as many pro-democracy campaigners, the area now known as Myanmar was populated through three waves of migration: by the Hmon people from what is now Cambodia; by Mongol people from the eastern Himalayas; and, finally, by Thais from northern Thailand.

Once a pariah state, Myanmar – previously known as Burma – is fast becoming the must-see destination in Southeast Asia, helped by an incredible array of tourist sights: golden stupas as tall as skyscrapers, ancient ruins, fascinating hill tribes, unexplored jungles, peaceful beach resorts, legions of monks, and mesmerising cities made legendary by writers like Rudyard Kipling and George Orwell.

Baht (THB; symbol ฿) = 100 satang. Notes are in denominations of ฿1,000, 500, 100, 50, 20 and 10. Coins are in denominations of ฿10, 5, 2 and 1, and 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1 satang.