Yangon residents flock to Hpa-an’s popular monsoon destinations

Many people from Yangon Region have been on vacation in Kayin State’s Hpa-an, where loads of tourist attractions are located during this monsoon season, residents told The Global New Light of Myanmar.
Hpa-an’s sceneries and landscapes, which look beautiful in the rainy season, have caught a lot of people around the country, including Yangon Region, making the visitor arrival increase, with 400-500 on a daily basis on average, residents say.
“Hpa-an is quite beautiful during the rainy season, so lots of people come to visit, the majority of whom are from Yangon. Visitors are thronging on weekends and holidays. The visitor arrival is approximately between 400 and 500 on a daily basis. Visitors are from Yangon, Mawlamyine and nearby towns. Some come on day trips. Some hotels that provide attractive scenery are always occupied, so you will need to book 15 or 20 days ahead,” said an Hpa-an resident.
Among visitors, most are middle-aged groups, and Saddan Cave, Taungwine Mountain, Htuntpataing Lake, Kyaukkalat, Zwegabin Mountain, Lonnya Blue Lake, Naunglone Valley Road, Kanthaya, Kawnanthasan Creek, Kweekyal Creek and Waterfall, Mulaei Mountain and Hpa-an’s riverside night market are popular destinations. Still, a resident says, there are many other places to visit in the state.
“There are lots of places to visit in Hpa-an, so you will need to stay two days and three nights so that you can visit everything. For hiking, three days is enough. It is fine to go hiking in the monsoon,” he said.
The increase in visitor arrivals has also resulted in the growing income of residents who earn from driving downtown taxis and Oway taxis as well as hotels and restaurants, he said. — MT/ZS