Burma is the largest country by geographical area in mainland Southeast Asia. Burma has a population of about 56 million. The country is one of the poorest nations in Southeast Asia, suffering from decades of stagnation, mismanagement and isolation. Under British administration, which ended in 1948, Burma was the wealthiest country in Souteast Asia and the world's largest exporter of rice.

Burma possesses a rich and vibrant culture and great natural beauty combines with magnificent temple architecture. There are many attractions and many places worth visiting in Burma, but most of the country is completely off-limits to tourists, and the military very tightly controls interactions between foreigners and the people of Burma. The main tourist destination in Burma is Bagan, an old capital of several ancient kingdoms of Burma. The ruins of Bagan cover an area of 16 square miles. The majority of its buildings were built in the 1000s to 1200s. In the 12th and 13th centuries, Bagan became a cosmopolitan center of Buddhist studies, attracting monks and students from as far as India, Sri Lanka as well as the Thai and Khmer kingdoms.

Yangon, formerly known as Rangoon is the former capital of Burma. This former British colonial capital has the highest number of colonial period buildings in Southeast Asia. Naypyidaw is the present capital of Burma, the city was established in November 2005 on a greenfield site approximately 320 km (200 mi) north of Yangon, and the military government officially relocated the capital from Yangon to Naypyidaw in March 2006. The second largest city in Burma after Yangon is Mandalay, this is also the last royal capital of Burma. Mandalay remains Upper Burma's main commercial, educational and health center.

Entry into Burma is only possible by sea or by air. The entry requirements for all foreigners is a passport and a tourist visa. Journalists are not welcome in Burma, and tourists thought to be a journalist may face entry problems. A tourist visa can be obtained from a Burmese consulate or embassy. It is valid for 3 months from issue date but only for a 28 days stay in Burma. This can be extended for up to 14 days. Passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the departure date from Burma. Please note that passport and visa requirements may change at short notice, so it is advisable that travelers check their entry requirements before traveling.