Myanmar at a glance

National Flag of Myanmar

Myanmar, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, with Naypyidaw as its capital city, is a sovereign state in South East Asia bordered by China (2,185 km), Laos (235 km), Thailand (1,800 km), India (1,463 km), Bangladesh (193 km), forming an uninterrupted coastline of 2,276 km along the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea.

Myanmar has an area of 676,578 square kilometers with a population of 51.4 million (2014) consisting of 135 ethnic groups and tribes, including 68% of the Burma, 9% of the Shan, 7% the Karen, 4% of Rakhine, 3% of Chinese, 2% of India, 2% of Mon and 5% of other ethnic groups. The official language is Burmese. The main religion is Buddhism (89.3%). In addition, there are Muslims (4%), Christian (4%) and other religions. National currency is kyat, abbreviated as MMK. Independence Day falls on 4 January.

The typical climate of Myanmar is hot, dry with two distinct seasons: rainy season and dry season. Much of the country lies between the Tropic of Cancer and the Equator. It lies in the monsoon region of Asia, with its coastal regions receiving over 5,000 mm (196.9 in) of rain annually. Annual rainfall in the delta region is approximately 2,500 mm (98.4 in), while average annual rainfall in the Dry Zone in central Myanmar is less than 1,000 mm (39.4 in). The Northern regions of Myanmar are the coolest, with average temperature of 21 °C (70 °F). Coastal and delta regions have an average maximum temperature of 32 °C.

Myanmar is a country rich in natural resources of all kinds. With forest covering more than 50% of the area, Myanmar produces about 40 million m3 of wood in global market. Myanmar is the first gem-producing countries in Asia with a variety of categories. Myanmar is also blessed with various mineral resources including gold, iron and steel, with considerable reserve of oil and natural gas, ranking 10 in the world, with the estimates of 3.2 billion barrels of oil and  89.7 trillion m3 of gas.

Political institutions

Myanmar is under the Republican regime with 7 states (Shan, Chin, Kachin, Rakhine, Mon, Kayin, Kayah) and 7 administrative divisions (equivalent to state) (Yangon, Mandalay, Bago, Magwe, Ayeyarwady, Tanninthayi, Sagaing). Head of State is the President. Congress consists of the Senate and House of Representatives. Head of government is prime minister.

The existence of monarchy in Myanmar for a long time has caused the stagnation in the development of this country. From the election November 8, 2015, the National League for Democracy (NLD) headed by Aung San Suu Kyi by won 75% of seats in Parliament, opening a new stage of democracy for  Federal Republic of Myanmar.

History

The Mon people are thought to be the earliest group to migrate into the lower Ayeyarwady valley, and by the mid-900s BC were dominant in southern Burma. The Mons became one of the first in South East Asia to embrace Theravada Buddhism.

The Tibeto-Burman speaking Pyu arrived later in the 1st century BC, and established several city states – of which Sri Ksetra was the most powerful – in central Ayeyarwady valley. The Mon and Pyu kingdoms were an active overland trade route between India and China. The Pyu kingdoms entered a period of rapid decline in early 9th century AD when the powerful kingdom of Nanzhao (in present-day Yunnan) invaded Ayeyarwady valley several times. In 835, Nanzhao decimated the Pyu by carrying off many captives to be used as conscripts.

Tibeto-Burman speaking Burmans, or the Bamar, began migrating to the Ayeyarwady valley from present-day Yunnan's Nanzhao kingdom starting in 7th century AD. Filling the power gap left by the Pyu, the Burmans established a small kingdom centered in Bagan in 849. But it was not until the reign of King Anawrahta (1044-1077) that Bagan's influence expanded throughout much of present-day Burma.

After Anawrahta's capture of the Mon capital of Thaton in 1057, the Burmans adopted Theravada Buddhism from the Mons. The Burmese script was created, based on the Mon script, during the reign of King Kyanzittha (1084-1112). Prosperous from trade, Bagan kings built many magnificent temples and pagodas throughout the country – many of which can still be seen today.

Bagan's power slowly waned in 13th century. Kublai Khan's Mongol forces invaded northern Burma starting in 1277, and sacked Bagan city itself in 1287. Bagan's over two century reign of Ayeyarwady valley and its periphery was over.

The United Kingdom began conquering Burma in 1824 and by 1886 had incorporated it into the British Raj. On 1 April 1937, Burma became a separately administered territory, independent of the Indian administration. In the 1940s, the Thirty Comrades, commanded by Aung San, founded the Burma Independence Army. The Thirty Comrades received training in Japan. The Burma Independence Army under the command of Aung San and the Arakan National Army fought with the Japanese from 1942-1944, but switched allegiance to the Allied side in 1945.

During the Second World War, Myanmar became a main front in the South East Asia between Japan and its allies. In 1947, Aung San became Deputy Chairman of the Executive Committee of Burma, a transitional Government. However, in July 1947, the political rivals assassinated Aung San and several other Government members [15]. On 4 January 1948, the nation became an independent Republic, named the Union of Burma, with Sao Shwe Thaik as its first President and U Nu as Prime Minister.

During World War II, Burma became a major frontline in the Southeast Asian Theatre between Japan and the allies. In 1947, Aung San became Deputy Chairman of the Executive Council of Burma, a transitional government. But in July 1947, political rivals assassinated Aung San and several cabinet members. On 4 January 1948, the nation became an independent republic, named the Union of Burma, with Sao Shwe Thaik as its first President and U Nu as its first Prime Minister

Cultural

A diverse range of indigenous cultures exist in Burma, the majority culture is primarily Buddhist and Bamar.

In a traditional village, the monastery is the centre of cultural life. Monks are venerated and supported by the lay people. A novitiation ceremony called shinbyu is the most important coming of age events for a boy when he enters the monastery for a short period of time. Burmese culture is most evident in villages where local festivals are held throughout the year, the most important being the pagoda festival.

British colonial rule also introduced Western elements of culture to Burma. Burma's educational system is modelled after that of the United Kingdom. Colonial architectural influences are most evident in major cities such as Yangon.

Burmese, the mother tongue of the Bamar and official language of Burma, is related to Tibetan and to the Chinese languages. It is written in a script consisting of circular and semi-circular letters, which were adapted from the Mon script.

Myanmar cuisine is heavily influenced by cuisine from India, China, Thailand, and culinary culture of ethnic minorities. Myanmar’s traditional dishes include rice, shrimp, fish, fermented fish paste, pork and lamb. Beef , which is considered a taboo, is rarely used.

The Saing Waing is a traditional Burmese folk musical ensemble, consisting of a number of different gongs and drums, as well as other instruments, depending on the nature of the performance. These include the hne (a double reed pipe), pat waing (a set of 21 drums in a circle), kyi waing (small bronze gongs in a circular frame), maung hsaing (larger bronze gongs in a rectangular frame), as well as chauk lon pat (a set of 8 tuned drums), and si and wa (bell and clapper).

Economy

The country is one of the poorest nations in southeastern Asia, suffering from decades of stagnation, mismanagement and isolation. EU, US and Canada have imposed economic sanctions on Myanmar, but the embargo was lifted in 2011 after Myanmar's military government moved into civil regime.

According to 2014 statistics, Myanmar’s GDP reached 244.4 billion US dollars, GDP per capita reached 4,800 US dollars, GDP divided by the agricultural sectors, including 37.1% of agriculture, 21.3% of industry, 41.6%  of services. The main production sectors of Myanmar are agricultural processing; wood and wood products; copper, tin, wolfram, iron; cement, building materials; medicine; fertilizer; oil and natural gas; textiles, marble and jade.

The main export markets are Thailand, Myanmar, China, India, Japan, with exports of natural gas, wood products, beans, fish, rice, clothing, jade marble thachva. The value of exports in 2011 reached 9.543 billion US dollars.

Main import partners of Myanmar are China, Singapore, Thailand, Japan in trading export items such as fabrics, finished oil, plastics, fertilizers, machinery, vehicles, cement, construction materials, crude oil; food, cooking oil. The value of imports in 2011 was 5.498 billion dollars.

Address of Embassy, Consular General of Vietnam and Myanmar:

Embassy of Vietnam to Myanmar:

Building No.70-72, Thanlwin str., Bahan district, Yangon city.

Embassy of Myanmar to Vietnam

289A Kim Ma Stret, Ba Đinh district, Hanoi.

Collected by International Cooperation Division