Myanaung, Myanmar

This town in western Myanmar is hardly the idyllic river retreat the tourist brochures might suggest. Myanaung, population 30,000, serves as a regional rail and shipping hub, but the infrastructure is dated and locals report persistent bureaucratic headaches. The town was founded around 1250 as a Mon settlement, later conquered by the Konbaung dynasty. Today, the Light Infantry Battalion 51 is stationed just outside the town's six urban wards. While Myanaung offers access to the Irrawaddy River, the climate is hot and humid, and the town lacks the charms of more tourist-friendly destinations in the country. Unless you have a specific need to be in this transport hub, there are likely better options for those seeking a peaceful riverside retreat in Myanmar.