Mon State is an administrative division of Myanmar and is made up from many pretty islands that are dotted along its coastline. It borders the Andaman Sea, Kayin, Bago, Tanintharyi and Thailand.
Mon State is home to 4.5 million acres of farm land, most of which is rice, and it also boasts a large rubber economy, with orchards and rubber plantations scattered throughout the mountainous areas. The south of the state specializes in fishing and has successful import and export industries in fish sauce, dried fish and ager-ager as well as fresh seafood.
There are many interesting towns and villages in Mon State, including Thaton, Thanbyuzayati and Belu-Kyun. The whole area is filled with ancient ruins and temples and beautiful beaches that are untouched by tourism. There is a small Anglo-Burmese community and there are many Thai people in the Kyaikkami area. Mon State is also home to ethnic groups like the Bamar and Pa-O.
Getting There & Away
The road from Yangon to Mawlamyaing takes about 4 hours on a bus. There are train routes from Yangon to Mottama, which take about 2 hours and the nearest airport is in Yangon. There is a large international airport in Phuket, Thailand, from where many people choose to drive to Ranong and then take a boat to Kawthoung before a 5 hour, 30 minute drive to Mon State.
Things to Do
Mon State Attractions
- Thanbyuzayat War Memorial
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The death railway connected to the bridge over the river kwai and is now a shrine to those who died.
- Satse and Kyaik-Kami
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A very popular beach resort area in myanmar.
- Kyaiktiyo Pagoda
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A stunning religious site that has a precariously balanced rock that is covered in gold leaf and shrouded in legend.