Yangon is the capital city of Myanmar (also known as Burma). Yangon was expanded from the small town of Dagon in 1755 by King Alaungpaya. King Alaungpaya, who ruled the northern land, gradually took over the southern lands and renamed Dagon into Yangon meaning the End of Conflicts. Under the British rule, Yangon was turned into a busy commercial port, which nowadays handles 90% of Myanmar's exports and imports. The port is on the Yangon River and is 32km from the Elephant Point on the Gulf of Martaban.

Shwedagon Pagoda

Highlights of Yangon include

• Shwedagon Pagoda the over 2,500 year-old Buddhist pagoda enshrined with hairs of the Buddha. The pagoda is decorated with thousands of gold leaves, jewelery pieces.. which were donated by pilgrims.
• Other famous pagodas: Botahtaung, Sule and Chaukhtatgyi.
• National Museum
• The Gems Museum
• Bogyoke Aung San Market

 Attractions near Yangon include

• Thanlyin and Kyauktan for pagodas & Buddhist monasteries
• Twante for potteries
• Bago (once called Hanthawaddy) - the ancient capital city of a Mon kingdom. Visiting Bago, you'll visit the Shwemawdaw Pagoda, the Shwethalyanung and Myathalyaung reclining Buddha images.