Pathein

Pathein or Bassein (Burmese ပုသိမ်မြို့) is a city (pop. 315,600 as of 2004) and the capital of Ayeyarwady Division in Myanmar.

Understand
Lying at the western edge of the Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy) River delta, on the Pathein (Ngawan) River 190 km west of Yangon, Pathein is accessible to large vessels and despite its distance from the ocean, it is the most important delta port outside of Yangon. It is also the terminus of a branch of the main railway line. The city is a rice milling and export centre.

The city's name may derive from Pathi (Burmese word for "Muslim"), due to the large population of Arab and Indian traders. The name was corrupted to Bassein during the British colonial period. The British built a fort and established a garrison in 1826, after the First Anglo-Burmese War.

Pathein is now a peaceful little town with a scenic waterfront, many Buddhist temples, and Pathein umbrella workshops. The colourful handmade umbrellas made in Pathein are famous in Myanmar.

Although once part of the Mon kingdom, Pathein has few ethnic Mon residents today. There are sizable minorities of Karen and Rakhine.

By bus
Most pickups and smaller buses will drop of people at the from where it can be hard to find onward travel, e.g. north or to the beaches. If you do not want to stay in Pathein, take a motorbike (2,000 kyat) or pickup (1,000 kyat) out of the city to the bigger, from where it should be easy to catch onward travel. Equally, if you are dropped of at the latter, take a motorbike or pickup into the city.


 * Yangon – There are regular bus services from Dagon Ayar Highway Bus Station in the far northwest of Yangon. The trip takes around 5 hours, including a 30-minute break for tea and snacks. Tickets cost around 3,700 kyat per person. It is probably cheaper to buy a ticket to Pathein and then further to Chaung Tha or Ngwe Saung, in case you want to go there. Try the Shwe Mingala bus company.
 * Chaung Tha & Ngwe Saung – There are regular buses and pickups into Pathein, taking 1½-2 hr for about 3,500 kyat. Private taxis are around 30,000 kyat.
 * Ngapali – You have to take a bus from Thandwe bus station to Yangon and get off at Ngathaingchaung with the large bridge, from where you have to catch another bus or pickup to Pathein. The trip from Ngathaingchaung to Pathein takes about 3 hr for 1,500 kyat in a non-air-con bus. However, the trip from Ngapali to Ngathaingchaung can take up to 8 hr, so start early enough.
 * Pyay – The bus leaves at 06:30, takes about 10 hr and costs 6-10,000 kyat.

By train
The train to Pathein starts from either (100 km from Pyay) or Hinthada. Hence, coming from Pyay, you first have to take a local transport or a boat to one of the two cities.

By boat
As the roads have improved, there is no longer a ferry service to Pathein from Yangon.

Get around
The town is small enough that you can see much of the town on foot. Motorbike taxis are also readily available and the standard fare for a trip is 1,000 kyat (which however seems a little excessive).

A local ferry can take you to the Karen village across the river.

See



 * There are a number of small umbrella workshops, which have been operating for more than 200 years. The umbrellas are hand painted and are very cheap to buy (a few US dollars each). The waterproofing for the umbrellas must dry in the sun for several days, though, so there is little to see here during the rainy season, but they will show you the shop.

Eat

 * Beer garden with food for 2,000-4,000 kyat, overlooking the river.
 * Teashops are everywhere and easy to find. A cup of tea is 300 kyat, a plate of noodle salad is 800.
 * Beer garden with food for 2,000-4,000 kyat, overlooking the river.
 * Teashops are everywhere and easy to find. A cup of tea is 300 kyat, a plate of noodle salad is 800.
 * Beer garden with food for 2,000-4,000 kyat, overlooking the river.
 * Teashops are everywhere and easy to find. A cup of tea is 300 kyat, a plate of noodle salad is 800.

Bus
Most buses for distant destinations leave from the Highway Bus Station, otherwise try the City Bus Station (see ).


 * Chaung Tha & Ngwe Saung – Famous for its beaches. Pickups and buses take 1½ hr and cost about 3,500 kyat. Private taxis are around 30,000 kyat. The beach at Ngwe Saung is nice, but the locals that drive along them with their motorbike to offer transport and tours to tourists are a little off-putting. Do not expect many backpackers or many budget options.
 * Ngapali – The same (regarding accommodation) can be said about Ngapali, but you might want to spend some time in one of the comfortable resorts there if you are not on your own. To get there, take a bus to Ngathaingchaung, which takes 3 hr, starts at 09:30 and costs 1,500 kyat from the Highway Bus Station. There are smaller pickups from the just west of Paradise Hotel between Zay Chaung St and Myay Nu Rd that bring people to the Highway Bus Station for the Ngathaingchaung bus. In Ngathaingchaung, walk across the large bridge and about 300 m west until the end of the city, from where you can catch a direct AC bus to Ngapali. There are many passing by from Yangon, just hail at them. The second half of the trip toward the coast and along it are very exhausting due to the very bad and windy rood that sometimes only fits the bus itself. Expect to arrive between 19:00 and 21:00, and make sure you booked a hotel. There is no tourist accommodation available in Thandwe at the highway, only in Taungup, another 85 km north.
 * Pyay – Famous for the nearby and ancient Pyu city. Mostly early morning buses. 10 hr, 6-10,000 kyat.
 * Yangon – About 7 buses a day. 5 hr. 3,500-5,000 kyat.

Train
The is in the eastern/southeastern part of the city. There is a train to Hinthada at 05:30, which takes about 6 hr and costs 2,000 kyat for upper class. Also Kyankin, the last stop near Pyay, is served from Pathein.