THEGUIDE
nay pyi taw
FAHTHAI
111
1 _
SAY THE NAME
The capital's name
generally means the "royal
capital" or "the seat of
kings" or "the abode of
kings".
2 _
KNOW THE
NUMBER
27/03/06 – the day,
month and year when the
new capital of Myanmar
was announced – tellingly,
it’s also Armed Forces Day
3 _
NATURE SPA
Offering everything
from Thai massage to
reflexology, the well-
trained staff at Aureum
Palace Hotel’s The Nature
Spa helps visitors unwind
once the meetings are
out of the way. Try the
Myanmar traditional
massage, which relaxes
the muscles through a
combination of stretching
and pressing.
(1, Hotel Zone)
COUNTRY
CODE
+95
EXCHANGE
RATE
MMK970 = US$1
FREQUENCY
5 flights per week
TO MARKET
One
positive outcome
of the 2011
reforms is street
stalls at night
V I V A V E N D O R S !
Top 3
insider
travel tips
Rest Your Head
NAN WADDY HOTEL
Bungalows set amid sculpted
gardens are practically
mandatory in Nay Pyi Taw’s
sterile hotel zone, so the
inclusion of a large, lotus-filled
pond teeming with bird life gives
Nan Waddy an edge over its
rivals on Yarzathingaha Road.
Keep your eyes peeled for the
hotel’s unobtrusive entrance, as
it’s very easy to miss.
(facebook.com/
NanWaddyHotel)
Top Tables
MAW KHAM NON
Perched on a small hill
overlooking Thabyaygone
Market – the capital’s heart,
if it has one – this traditional
Shan restaurant is popular
with tourists, businesspeople
and government officials. The
veranda is the ideal place to
sip a great cocktail (which are
very well-priced) on warm,
upper Myanmar nights, while
the comfortable air-conditioned
room at the back offers respite
from the fierce daytime heat.
(9/Ka-Kha, Thabyaygone ward)
Bottoms Up
THE THINGAHA HOTEL
A well-regarded hotel in its own
right, The Thingaha is also a
popular drinking spot thanks to
its large outdoor deck. As many
of its guests are in town on
business, it’s a hot meet-and-
greet spot, with cold beer on
hand to help overcome cultural
barriers.
(3, Hotel Zone)
Stop to Shop
THABYAYGONE NIGHT
MARKET
What was the first political
initiative undertaken by
President Thein Sein’s
government after it took office
in 2011? Relaxing security
restrictions in the capital,
which allowed vendors to set
up night stalls at Thabyaygone
Market. Selling everything from
vegetables to pots and pans and
clothes, this lively market is best
surveyed from one of the many
traditional teashops in the area.
(Thabyaygone Ward)
Nay Pyi Taw
TEXT: TOM KEAN; IMAGE: GETTY IMAGES
