Chaungtha Beach

Chaungtha is where Yangon comes to the sea. The beach is broad and gently shelving, the accommodation runs from cheap guesthouses to mid-range resorts, and the strip behind it has restaurants, souvenir stalls and rows of plastic chairs. At the northern end a fishing village works off the sand with its own boats and drying racks, and boats run out to White Sand Island for snorkelling. It is livelier, cheaper and less polished than Ngwe Saung, and which of those you prefer decides which beach you should choose.

History

The name comes from the small stream, or chaung, that runs through the west of the village, and means "pleasant stream" in Burmese (Wikipedia, Chaungtha).

What's there

• The main beach - broad, gently shelving sand with the resort strip behind it.
• The fishing village - working boats, nets and fish drying at the northern end.
• White Sand Island - a boat trip offshore for clearer water and snorkelling.
• The evening market - grilled seafood and stalls along the beach road after dark.

When to go

November to April is the dry season. The monsoon from May closes the beach in practice and many businesses shut. Myanmar public holidays, especially Thingyan in April, fill it completely.

Good to know

It is not a quiet or pristine beach: litter is a recurring problem and the strip is built up. Horse and buggy rides and beach vendors are constant. Swimming safety is unsupervised and currents on this coast are serious.

Nearby

Ngwe Saung is down the coast and Pathein is a couple of hours inland.