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Voykit pocket guide · Myanmar
Hsipaw
Spend 1–2 days in Hsipaw; take the 11½‑hour train from Mandalay and explore the market, nearby hills and a short trek.
Hsipaw is a small Shan town reachable by a scenic train from Mandalay (≈11½ h). Its market, nearby hills and guided treks can be done in a day, but a night stay lets you join a 2‑day trek into local villages.
- Country
- Myanmar
- Best months
- Oct–Feb
- Avoid
- May–Sep (rainy season)
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- MMK
- Money
- Payment and banking conditions are not assessed here; check with your bank and your government advice.
- Daily spend
- Budget MMK 15,000–25,000 excl. bed (check) · Mid MMK 25,000–45,000 excl. bed (check) · High MMK 45,000+ excl. bed (check) (estimate; check)
- Emergency
- Police 191 · Fire/ambulance 199
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Bicycle rental (per day) | 500 kyat |
| 2‑day trek (incl. meals, guide) | 35,000 kyat |
| Coffee at a local stall | 200–300 kyat |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- MDL · Mandalay International Airport
- Main gateway for travelers to Hsipaw; about 5 h by road or train.
Typical fares
- Mandalay → Hsipaw train (upper class)
- ≈4,000 kyat, 11½ h
- Bicycle rental
- ≈500 kyat per day
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walk or rent a bicycle (≈500 kyat/day). Motorbikes and trishaws are also available; taxis on Lashio Rd.
See and do
Known for
- Goteik Viaduct view from the train
- Central Market
- Shan Palace
- Nam Tuk Waterfall
- 2‑day village trek
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Mandalay (train) | Daily train departs 04:00, arrives 14:40; return 09:30–21:15Daily train departs 4:00 AM, arrives 2:40 PM; return 9:30 AM–9:15 PM | ≈11½ h each way |
| Lashio (train) | From Hsipaw, 4 h northbound train | ≈4 h |
Sleep
- Nam Khae Mao Guest House / Lily The Home
- Shared bathroom US$5, private US$7–10; free Wi‑Fi, 24‑hr hot water.
- Red Dragon Hotel
- Shared bath US$14, private US$26; breakfast and Wi‑Fi included.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | တောင်းပန်ပါတယ်taung pan par tal |
| Thank you | ကျေးဇူးတင်ပါတယ်kyay zu tin par tal |
| How much is it? | ဘယ်လောက်လဲbe laut le |
| Where is the market? | ဈေးတန်းကဘယ်မှာလဲzei tan ga be hma le |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Scams and watch-outs
- Train ride is bumpy; book upper class for comfort.
- Political situation may restrict access to some villages (e.g., Namshan).
- Internet is slow and some cafés limit foreign access.
Hsipaw is generally safe for day visitors; stay aware of occasional political restrictions and keep valuables secure.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Hsipaw yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Goteik Viaduct view from the train
- Central Market
- Shan Palace
- Nam Tuk Waterfall
- 2‑day village trek
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – Hsipaw: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123456
- Wikivoyage: Hsipaw, revision 5272977 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5272977
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/hsipaw). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.