Gifts and souvenirs that Myanmar has to offer are crafts made of wood, cane, bamboo, lacquer or fabric. There are many old objets d'art that do not overstep the 80 years' antique mark that forbids it from export, but as equally beautiful as the oldest treasures.

Silk is the best buy for there are none like the One Hundred Shuttles weave anywhere else in the world. Another fabric unique to Myanmar is the Lotus Fabric, woven from filaments pulled from the stem of the lotus and invented by a woman of Inle Lake a hundred years ago. Myanmar produces the best rubies and Imperial Jade in the world as well as excellent sapphires, from the Mogok Ruby Mines that have been famous for centuries and the Hpakant Jade Mines which have been supplying Chinese Emperors with their special gems since ancient times.

Many upscale jewellery shops in the cities offer the best while lesser priced gems are available as well. A visit to the Gem Museum of Yangon is recommended for those who want to learn more about our gems and the many shops there offer a wide range in quality and price.

To buy any gem, you must look for the best within your price range in cut, clarity and colour, the three Cs of guiding principles.

There are many books in English on Myanmar written by both foreigners and local writers on a wide variety of subjects ranging from training elephants, traditional cuisine, marionettes and more. Even the out-of-print books of the colonial era are available in photo copies. The three best places to buy these books are Inwa Books on Sule Pagoda Road, Nandawun on Baho Road and Bagan Book Shop on 37th Street, all in Yangon, the former capital and commicial hub of Myanmar.