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Voykit pocket guide · Myanmar
Thanlyin
သန်လျင်မြို့
A half-day trip from Yangon for the island pagoda and Portuguese ruins; not worth a night unless you have a specific interest in colonial history.
Thanlyin (Syriam) was a Portuguese trading post in the 1600s and is now a dusty Yangon suburb. The main draw is Kyauktan Ye Le Pagoda, a pagoda on a river island reached by a short boat ride. The town itself has little else for tourists. Most visitors go as a half-day trip from Yangon.
- Country
- Myanmar
- Local name
- သန်လျင်မြို့
- Best months
- Nov–Feb (cool and dry)
- Avoid
- May–Oct (monsoon, river may be high)
- Stay
- 0 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 · Mid MMK 30,000–50,000 excl. bed · High MMK 60,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- Emergency
- Police 199 · Fire 191 · Ambulance 192
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Local bus Yangon → Thanlyin | MMK 350 |
| Boat Thanlyin → Kyauktan | MMK 1,500 |
| Foreigner boat to island pagoda | MMK 5,000 |
| Taxi Yangon → Thanlyin round trip | USD 30 |
| Island pagoda entry | USD 2 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- RGN · Yangon International
- About 30 km (19 mi) north-west; taxi to Thanlyin about 1 h, check fareAbout 19 mi (30 km) north-west; taxi to Thanlyin about 1 h, check fare
Typical fares
- Yangon → Thanlyin taxi
- about USD 30 round trip (check)
- Thanlyin → Kyauktan boat
- about MMK 1,500 (check)
- Foreigner boat to island pagoda
- about MMK 5,000 per boat (check)
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
Taxi or local bus from Yangon (Bogoyoke Aung San Rd, Pazundaung). From Thanlyin to Kyauktan, a jeep or bus takes about 45 min. A boat from Thanlyin to Kyauktan costs about 1,500 kyat and takes a few minutes.
See and do
Known for
- Kyauktan Ye Le Pagoda (Island Pagoda)
- Portuguese ruins of Syriam
- River boat ride
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Kyauktan Ye Le Pagoda | Jeep or bus from Thanlyin (45 min), then boat (1 min) | About 1.5 h from Yangon |
| Yangon | Taxi or bus | About 45 min |
| Bago | Bus or taxi via Yangon | About 2 h |
Sleep
- Thanlyin town centre
- A few basic guesthouses; most visitors stay in Yangon and day-trip.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | မင်္ဂလာပါmin-ga-la-ba |
| Thank you | ကျေးဇူးတင်ပါတယ်kyay-zu-tin-ba-deh |
| How much? | ဘယ်လောက်လဲbe-lauk-leh |
| Where is the boat? | လှေဘယ်မှာလဲhley be-mar-leh |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Scams and watch-outs
- Foreigners must take a separate, larger boat to the island pagoda (about 5,000 kyat for the whole boat).
- Shoes must be removed before boarding the boat; carry a plastic bag for them.
- Check your own government travel advice for Myanmar before planning any trip.
Myanmar has an active civil conflict. Check your government travel advice before any trip. Within Thanlyin, petty crime is low but watch for scams at the pagoda boat dock.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Thanlyin yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Kyauktan Ye Le Pagoda (Island Pagoda)
- Portuguese ruins of Syriam
- River boat ride
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Thanlyin, revision 4269271 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4269271
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/thanlyin). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.