Ye is a small town on the Ye River in Southeastern Myanmar, an excellent stopover for people travelling by train from south to north or vice versa.

Understand

Ye has a busy marketplace at the riverside and a nice quiet lake in the town centre.

Its location is convenient halfway between Dawei (160 km) and Mawlamyine (160 km).

Get in

By bus

• 1 Ye Bus Station. (updated May 2020)

Specific destinations:

• To Mawlamyine at 06:00, 06:45, 07:00, 08:30, 09:45, 11:45, 13:00, 14:15.
• From Dawei – The bus leaves Dawei at 10:00 and 17:00, and costs 9,000 kyat.

Ye railway station

By train

• 2 Ye railway station. (updated May 2020)

Travelling by train is not the fastest option, but it has its own atmospheric charm. You get great views of rubber plantations, bamboo forest, rice fields and tiny villages.

Specific destinations:

• From Dawei there is a train leaving at 05:30 (~12 hr, Ordinary class 1,300 kyat, Upper Class 3,750 kyat).
• To Mawlamyine and Yangon there are 2 trains per day. The train at 14:30 continues to Yangon. The train at 16:00 just goes to Mawlamyine (~7 hr, Upper Class: 2,200 kyat). The train waits for the train coming from the south, so its start from Ye can be delayed.

Get around

The town is small enough to be explored by foot. To visit the surrounding area it is possible to rent a motorbike or go with some local guides. The Starlight Guesthouse and Mya Myint Mo Hotel can organise local guides.

See

• 1 Lake in the town centre. Because of the Ye Lann Payer pagoda, right in the middle of the lake, fishing is not allowed, but you can buy some rice crisps at the entry of the bridge to the pagoda, to feed the fish. (updated Apr 2017)
• 2 She San Daw Pagoda (on the top of the small hill). From there you have a nice view to the surrounding area. (updated Apr 2017)
• 3 Morning Market (river front). Until around 09:00. Lots of fish, vegetables and other goods are sold here. (updated Apr 2017)
• 4 Banana Mountain Monastery (Ko Yin La). Famous monastery. Burmese come from far away to visit this place. Great view. (updated Apr 2017)
• 5 Gold Market (right next to the morning market). Buy all types of jewelry here. (updated Apr 2017)
• 6 Monastery with 500 monk statues (North of Ye close to the road to Banana Mountain). (updated Apr 2017)

Do

In the town you can stroll around and relax in some of the tea houses, feed some fishes in the lake and soak in the relaxed atmosphere.

Ka Byar Wa beach

There are also places of interest outside Ye:

• 1 Boat ride up the Ye river. First take a motorbike to Kyaung Ywar. From there it is possible to rent a boat and cruise upstream to the Kyaung Nga Kwa pagoda. Scenic views along the way are guaranteed. (updated Aug 2017)

• 2 View from Shwe Maw Daw pagoda (Western end of Kyaung Ywar). Before going back to Ye go up to this pagoda perched on a hilltop. Enjoy splendid views down to Ye river, which makes a U-turn at this location. (updated Aug 2017)
• 3 Bin Le Wa Beach. Wide beach next to the village Bin Le Wa. Have a stopover in Asin and/or Duya on your way there. (updated Mar 2019)
• 4 Ka Byar Wa Beach. Much nicer beach than Bin Le War but further away (around 1h by motorbike). (updated Apr 2019)

Buy

There are at least two banks in town:

KBZ Bank and Global Treasure Bank; both are opposite the Public Hospital.

Eat

Dream Bar/Restaurant in the south of Ye has Chinese food and is a good location for a drink.

Just opposite of the Dream Bar there is a Thai food restaurant.

KT Bakery offers cakes and bread.

Close to the Ye Train Station and at the Strand Road there are lots of small restaurants offering Burmese buffet.

There are three restaurant at the lake (in the south, north and west).

Drink

There are some teahouses in town.

The Dream Bar offers cold beer, liquor and food.

Sleep

View to Ye Lann Payer pagoda

• 1 Starlight Resort (north of the city), ☏ +95 9 78887 1590, mayor.of.rawai@gmail.com. Operated by David, a helpful American guy. It has an outdoor swimming pool. 35,000-45,000 kyat, dorm 15,000 kyat. (updated Jul 2019)
• 2 Mya Myint Guesthouse. Check-out: 12:00. Clean spacious rooms with AC. 50,000 kyat ac/triple room. (updated Jan 2017)
• 3 May Shan. Dirty place, nice view, rundown, overpriced. No Wi-Fi. 40,000 kyat ac/triple room; 25,000 kyat ac/double room; 10,000 kyat fan/single room. (updated Jan 2017)
• 4 Seikantha Guesthouse, Strand Road (at the Gold Market). They do not have a licence to host foreigners. (updated Jan 2017)
• 5 Golden Valley Hotel / Shwe Taung Gyar Hotel (STG). Very good bed and service. Central. 44,000 kyat. (updated May 2019)

Go next

• Dawei
• Mawlamyine with a stopover in Thanbyuzayat