Best Places to Buy Longyi in Myanmar

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT LONGYI

One of the most iconic things which you can see in Myanmar is the traditional costumes of the people, Longyi. This is a kind of cloth sewn into a tubular shape. It is wrapped around and tied in at the waist. It looks like a skirt but it is longer. It is like an ankle-length dress.

As mentioned above, Longyi is commonly worn by people in Myanmar from the countryside to the city like casual clothes.

Nowadays, you can see a huge number of people wearing jeans, short skirt or shorts on the streets but people in Myanmar still keep their tradition alive by owning several Longyi and both men and women can wear Longyi.

Longyi which is worn by males is called paso whereas those worn by females is called htamein as the pattern on the fabric is different between two genders. 

Men’s pasos are generally striped or checked apart from the plain fabric and can be worn inside out or upside down. On the other hand, women’s htamein is much more sophisticated with a black calico for the waist and they tend to be designed with more colors and floral patterns. Men’s longyi allows them to move more freely than women's one. Longyi for women doesn’t allow for much leg movement. Instead, they need to take smaller steps, which is considered more appropriate for women.

Longyis absolutely suit the tropical climate in Myanmar as they are made from silk which is unique in keeping warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Therefore, longyis have long been in favor since the 19th century.

Burmese man wearing Longyi in the street

WHERE TO BUY LONGYI IN MYANMAR

There are various Longyi brands of all sizes and colors that you can find to buy in the shops. However, the best brand should be Min Gyi Kyite, which are mostly silk ones. Silk longyis are smooth and long-wearing but you can't wash them. If you're looking for washable longyi, then you should ask for U Gyan or search its online shop on Facebook, of which longyi is made of cotton. The longyi price is around $15.

U Gyan - Best brand of Cotton Longyi in Myanmar

If you are travelling to this beautiful country and want too tryon these unique Myanmar traditional dress, we would like to suggest you 2 best places to buy Longyi in Myanmar:

1. Bogyoke Aung San Market

Bogyoke Aung San Market is one of the best places to buy longyi in Yangon, give yourself a treat to this market where you can indulge yourself in a bazaar of stalls and shop selling everything from snacks and tableware to accessories and clothing. Friendly women will size you up for a traditional longyi skirt and blouse, made-to-measure upstairs in minutes.

Bogyoke Aung San Market in Yangon, Myanmar 

A longyi shop

• Location: Bogyoke Aung San Rd, Yangon, Myanmar

• Pricing: $15 – 30 

• Opening hour: Tuesday to Sunday, 10 a.m – 5 p.m

2. Thein Nyo Silk

In Mandalay, weaving industry in Amarapura has been popular in the country as well as the people in this town have long considered silk-weaving as the main profession of Amarapura people. Tourists should pay a visit to one of the silk-making workshops, especially the workshop called Thein Nyo Silk. It is the other best place to buy longyi that allows the most access to silk weaving process and offers silk at a reasonable price. 

Curious about the hand weaving silk in Mandalay, join our Mandalay Daily Group Tours to learn more!

Thein Nyo Silk workshop is a great place to buy Longyi

• Location: Oh Taw Qtr, Amarapura, Mandalay, Mandalay, Myanmar

• Pricing: $15 – 100 

          › Chin State cotton with silk detail - $15.00

          › Chin state with needlepoint, cotton - $16.50

          › Mandalay cotton with embroidery - $18.00

          › Kachin silk cotton blend- $30

• Opening hour: daily, 9 a.m – 9 p.m

Spools of silk thread in Thein Nyo Silk workshop

In a nutshell, Longyi Myanmar is not only fashion but also reflects the culture and tradition of the country. Hence, travelling to this enchating country without buying a few longyis for yourself and your beloved ones must be a great pity. Myanmar is a fantastic destination for travel lovers to discover and learn about their lifetyle and customs so if you want to know more about information of beautiful Myanmar, let's visit Myanmar River Cruise to explore more charming places.