Dawei

Understand

thumb|Old architecture survives in Dawei's rustic town centre Dawei is a port town at the head of the river estuary of the same name. As such, it is prone to flooding during the monsoon season. The name Dawei is also the name of one of the local ethnic minorities.

Get in

thumb|View of Dawei Airport and the forested hills beyond, 2008 There is a road north to Mawlamyine and south to Myeik, Bokepyin and Kawthoung.

Get around

The town is flat and the streets run on a neat grid system. The Dawei Peninsula with its excellent beaches separates the town from the Andaman Sea.

See

Colonial-era architecture. As of 2020, Dawei had one of the highest concentrations of old British buildings in Myanmar, with more than half of the buildings in the town center dating from before 1948. Shin Motehti Pagoda, a few kilometres south of town. Shin Datweh Pagoda, to the north. Shin Maw Pagoda, on the Dawei promontory. Lawka Tharaphu Pagoda. Houses a 75 m long reclining Buddha image. Tanintharyi Region Cultural Museum shows the history and culture of the local Dawei, Mon and Moken people. Open Tu-Su 9:30-16:30. Free.

thumb|350px|An untouched beach north of Teyzit beach

Paradise Beach. One of the most pristine beaches with licensed simple accommodation and a restaurant catering for there guests. Access only 15 min by motorbike or 45 min jungle walk.

Do

Relax on the beach, stroll the town's green leafy laneways looking for old colonial-era houses.

Buy

Longyi (a sarong) are famous local products. Cashew nuts and betel nuts are grown for export as well as a variety of tropical fruits including durian. Zin thi (in local language) a fruit found only in Dawei and surrounding areas. It is sweet and slightly sour. Local banks have ATMs that accept Visa and MasterCard withdrawals.

Drink

The many restaurants all sell Myanmar Beer. There are also fresh fruit juices (such as banana, papaya, pineapple, mango, etc.)

Sleep

thumb|350px|Bungalows at Sin Htauk Beach on Dawei Peninsula Myanmar Paradise Beach Bungalows on Zat Sar Aw Beach or easier Paradise Beach now. Located 2 hr south of Dawei. You can arrive by minibus and there will be a motortaxi taking you to the beach. Also you can drive yourself to Paradise by motorbike. High Season (1 Nov-30 April) Single 32,000 kyat, Double 42,000 kyat including breakfast. Low season cheaper.

Go next

From Dawei, you can travel by bus or van to most cities. Van travel is not recommended unless there are no other options. Buses leave from the station located approximately 4 km outside of the city.

The closest city to Dawei is Yebyu. Myeik Hpa-an Bokepyin Mawlamyine Kawthoung (via Myeik) Ye Yangon – The standard bus leaves at 17:00 and costs 15,500 kyat. The VIP bus leaves at 18:00 and costs 25,500 kyat.