Laiza

Laiza is a city in Northern Myanmar, on the border with China. A village prior to 1994, it became one of the most important cities in Kachin State after the Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO) made a ceasefire agreement with the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC). The ruling military junta is demanding a hand-over of Laiza and Mai Ja Yang, cities built by the cease-fire group, before implementation of the new constitution drawn in favour of the government.

Get in
You can reach Laiza only by car. There are many cars run by businesspersons, 24 hours a day. Foreigners may need special permission to go beyond Balamintin Bridge near Kachin State's capital, Myitkyina, on the way to Laiza.

There are two checkpoints before and after the bridge from Myitkyina and one checkpoint on the outskirts of Waimaw and last Myanmar (Burmese) military gate in Laja Yang, and you will find another combined checkpoint at the entrance to Laiza City and on the way to Bhamo.

Do

 * Casino or shopping, visiting and talking with villagers.

Buy
Chinese goods, traditional Kachin goods, jewellery, and jade.

Eat
Enjoy varieties of Chinese, Kachin, Shan and Burmese foods, and you can even get fast food and sour fruit, grape wine in Country Restaurant.

Drink
Enjoy varieties of Chinese, Kachin Rice-state-beer or rice wine, Sour Fruit Wine, Shan drinks.

Sleep
There are many guest houses and hotels. Laiza Hotel is suitable for foreigners.

Go next
Once you are in the Kachin Independence Army (KIA)-controlled areas, you are safe unless government military check-points give you trouble.