Navigating Risk in Myanmar

 Civil Conflict and Curfews


Following the military coup in February 2021, travelling to Myanmar currently carries significant risks due to the ongoing civil conflict. Violent clashes between military forces and resistance groups have escalated into a nationwide civil war, resulting in widespread instability and unpredictability. A real risk that travellers might be impacted by is the introduction of a strict curfew in major cities like Yangon and Mandalay, where movement is prohibited after dark. Yangon in particular has a curfew in place from 1 am to 3 am. This curfew is strictly enforced, and violations may result in arrest or confrontation with military personnel.


Jimi15, Reddit


The likelihood of encountering risks associated with civil unrest, such as protests and roadblocks, is still quite high. Although central tourist spots may appear relatively safe during daylight hours, the situation could rapidly change after sunset when security forces become more vigilant, and streets empty abruptly due to curfews.


To manage and minimise these risks, staying informed and maintaining constant awareness of your surroundings and time is essential. Checking official travel advisories from organisations such as SmartTraveller and local sources for updates can you avoid dangerous areas and situations. Furthermore, planning your itinerary around curfew times to avoid unnecessary movement after dark, and keeping accommodation details with you at all times will mitigate potential encounters with military checkpoints or general unrest.


If you still wish to visit Myanmar during the civil war, you should ensure you have a strategy when encountered with unexpected demonstrations or violence, a recommended strategy is to immediately withdraw from the area without any engagement, return quickly to your accommodation or a safe indoor location, and establish reliable communication channels, with local contacts or embassy hotlines. The Australian government additionally recommends avoiding any routes through known traffic checkpoints and any travel adjacent to regime-affiliated businesses and government buildings.



References:

Information from these websites were used to help write the content:

  • jimi15 (2025). Reddit - The heart of the internet. [online] Reddit.com. Available at: https://www.reddit.com/r/MapPorn/comments/1j834xb/myanmar_civil_war_march_2025_update/ [Accessed 23 May 2025].

  • SmartTraveller (2025). Myanmar. [online] www.smartraveller.gov.au. Available at: https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/asia/myanmar.

I acknowledge the use of ChatGPT to help me brainstorm

Prompt: “Please give me a list of risks associated with travelling to Myanmar”


ChatGPT was used to make a list of possible risks in Myanmar, I then narrowed down the list based on likeliness.

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