Myanmar (Burma) and Thailand are two different countries located in Asia (Southeast Asia, or Indochina). The two countries are adjacent and have very long national boundaries (2,416 kilometers or 1,501 miles).
Some Things in Common
- Both are located on the Southeast Asia Peninsula.
- The inhabitants of both countries believe in Hinayana Buddhism.
- Both are deeply influenced by the Khmer culture. Before Thailand became a unified country, most of the regions were dominated by the Khmer Empire for a long time, and the Khmer culture has a great influence in these areas.
- In the 11th century, the area that is now the border of Thailand and Myanmar suffered invasion from the Bagan Dynasty (Myanmar) and a large number of artisans were captured to build pagodas. That’s why the architectural style and culture of pagodas were influenced profoundly.
- Both share origins as tribes of ancient China.
- The most important festival in both countries is the same but the name is different. In Myanmar, it is called Thingyan whereas it is named Songkran in Thailand. They are both celebrated in the middle of April and the celebrations mark the beginning of the new year in both countries.
- They have similar tourist attractions (temples, religious culture, and beaches).
- The climate for both is a tropical monsoon. There are three different seasons in these two countries: the hot season (March and April), the rainy season (May to October), and the cool season (November to February).
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Some Differences
| Myanmar (Burma) | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Ethnic Groups | Burman 68%, Shan 9%, Karen 7%, Rakhine 4%, Chinese 3%, Indian 2%, Mon 2%, other 5% | Thai 96%, Burmese 2%, other 1%, unspecified 1% (2010 est.)[Please double-check these figures as they add up to slightly over 100% (100.1).] |
| Regime | Military-led authoritarian to democracy | Authoritarian democracy to military-led |
| Economy | Isolates its nation from the global economic system | Adopted Westernization Opened its e |
| Climate | Tourism is greatly influenced in the rainy season. Many hotels will be closed during the rainy season and flights will be canceled. | Rainy season has little effect |
| Public Facilities | Road conditions are bad | Streets are well marked and highways connect the main parts of the country. The road conditions are good. |
| Transportation | Air: Major cities have routes. Most are small planes, which are available for 60–80 persons. Seats are narrow and not very comfortable. Most convenient transportation but always canceled during the rainy season. Bus: Normal buses are cheap but in bad condition while the exclusive VIP buses are expensive but comfortable. Train: slow, old railroad Cruise: mainly on the Irrawaddy River | Air: There are many routes between each city. Seats of some big airlines are comfortable, such as Bangkok Airways. The rainy season has little effect. Bus: There are many kinds of buses for you to choose from. Most of them are cheap and comfortable. Road conditions are good. Train: slow but safe Cruise: many kinds of cruise route |
| Ways to Travel | Guided tour | Independent |
| Travel Experience | Tourism is in the initial stages. There are many quiet places and nowhere is particularly full of tourists. | It is a very mature tourist destination. Facilities and services are nice, but the popular places are always overcrowded. |
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Visit Myanmar with Asia Highlights
We provide tailor-made tours to Myanmar. Tours typically start or end in Yangon or Mandalay and last approximately 9 days; visiting Yangon, Bagan, Mandalay and Inle Lake.
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14-Day Myanmar and Thailand Essence Tour
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