Best place to celebrate Myanmar's New Year

Hi everyone,

my BF and I will be visiting Myanmar for 2 weeks in April. We are now working on our itinerary and we would appreciate any advice re: the best way/ place to celebrate the Water festival and the New Year%26#39;s.

Is it better to be in Yangon or in Mandalay (or any other place) during these 3-4 days?

What can we do during this time (well, other than throwing water at each other :) - I understand most tourist sights will be closed).

Any particular New Year%26#39;s tradition/ custom we should not miss?

Many thanks in advance for your help!

Best place to celebrate Myanmar's New Year

Mandalay become more popular thanYangon. I suggest to go for Mandalay and be sure to make your hotel booking now. Usually Hotels in Mandalay are full in Water festival.

Tourist sights are not closed but you are difficult to get there due to no transportation or most shops are closed.

Best place to celebrate Myanmar's New Year

You guys will have a blast. A couple of other things: bring Ziploc bags of different sizes to wrap things like camera, money, medicine, ANYTHING you do not want to get wet. The Myanmar people LOVE to dump large quantities of freezing cold water during Thingyan, but nailing a foreigner is considered especially fun.

I have done Thingyan in Yangon, Mandalay and Taungyyi, and all three were lots of fun. The best piece of advice I could give you is don%26#39;t overthink it, be ready to get soaked even when you don%26#39;t want to, and be prepared to toss water on other people as well. it%26#39;s a very participatory activity.

Oh yes, and people may offer you snacks or even meals, which you SHOULD accept. SOme of the Thingyan sweets are pretty good!

mgzaymin, tombonyc - thanks a lot for your advice, guys! It looks like we are going to be in Mandalay at that time so will try ti have as much fun as possible (and will also try to visit the ancient cities outside Mandalay if we find time/ transportation). Thanks again for your help!