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Voykit pocket guide · Myanmar
Namshan
Skip unless you have 2–3 extra days and a high tolerance for rough roads. One night is enough to see the old palace and trek back to Hsipaw.
Namshan is a sleepy village in northern Shan State, once the capital of the Tawngpeng kingdom. The only reason to go is the trekking: a 2–3 day walk through Palaung villages and hills back to Hsipaw. The road is terrible, the lodging is basic, and there is no phone or internet. Plan for one night and a guided trek.
- Country
- Myanmar
- Best months
- Nov–Feb (dry and cool)
- Avoid
- Jun–Sep (road may be impassable)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- MMK
- Money
- Payment and banking conditions are not assessed here; check with your bank and your government advice.
- Daily spend
- Budget 10,000–15,000 kyat (estimate; check)
- Emergency
- Police 199 · Ambulance 192
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Pickup from Hsipaw to Namshan | 6,000 kyat (2012) |
| Shared room per person | 3,500 kyat (Jun 2012) |
| Meal at local restaurant | 2,000–4,000 kyat |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
Typical fares
- Pickup Hsipaw → Namshan
- about 6,000 kyat (2012), about 6 h for 80 km (50 mi)about 6,000 kyat (2012), about 6 h for 50 mi (80 km)
- Shared room per person
- about 3,500 kyat (Jun 2012)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The village is walkable. No taxis, no rentals.
See and do
Known for
- Sao Pha palace ruins
- Golden Palaung villages
- Trekking from Namshan to Hsipaw
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Hsipaw | Pickup truck or motorcycle (pillion); 80 km (50 mi), about 6 hoursPickup truck or motorcycle (pillion); 50 mi (80 km), about 6 hours | 6 h |
| Kyaukme | Pickup via Hsipaw, then bus; about 8 h total | 8 h |
Sleep
- Village centre
- One guesthouse that accepts foreigners; shared room with blanket, about 3,500 kyat per person. No other options.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | မင်္ဂလာပါmingalaba |
| Thank you | ကျေးဇူးတင်ပါတယ်kyay zu tin ba deh |
| How much? | ဘယ်လောက်လဲbe-lauk leh |
| Where is the guesthouse? | ဧည့်သည်တော်အိမ် ဘယ်မှာလဲeh-thei-daw ein be-mar leh |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Scams and watch-outs
- The road from Hsipaw is very bad and may be impassable in the rainy season (June–September).
- No phone or internet service in the village.
- Only one guesthouse accepts foreign nationals; it may not be officially licensed.
- Restaurants close early in the evening.
Check your government travel advice for Myanmar before planning any trip. The road is rough and medical facilities are absent. Carry cash and a first-aid kit.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Namshan yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Sao Pha palace ruins
- Golden Palaung villages
- Trekking from Namshan to Hsipaw
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Namshan, revision 4989160 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4989160
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/namshan). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.