Yangon

Golden Valley is Yangon's premier expatriate enclave, a leafy area of colonial-era villas and walled compounds between Inya Lake and Shwedagon Pagoda. The neighbourhood has hosted the city's international community for decades, with many embassies and diplomatic residences lining its shaded streets. Despite Myanmar's ongoing political challenges, Golden Valley remains the safest and most comfortable base for expat families, with generator-equipped houses, security guards, and proximity to international schools and clinics.

Bahan is a central township flanking Shwedagon Pagoda and Kandawgyi Lake, offering a mix of traditional Burmese street life and modern serviced apartments. It is popular with younger expat professionals and families who want to be close to restaurants, cafes, and cultural sites. The neighbourhood has a more local feel than Golden Valley but remains comfortable, with several international standard apartment complexes built along Inya Road and Kaba Aye Pagoda Road.

Yankin is a quieter residential township northeast of Inya Lake, increasingly popular with expat families seeking more space and lower rents than Golden Valley or Bahan. The area has seen significant development with gated compounds and modern apartment buildings catering to international tenants. Its location provides easy access to several international schools and the FMI City development, while maintaining a peaceful, suburban character that families with young children appreciate.

The Inya Lake area encompasses the prestigious neighbourhoods around Yangon's largest lake, including University Avenue and Inya Road. This is where Yangon's elite and the senior diplomatic corps reside, in sprawling compounds shielded by high walls and mature trees. The lakeside setting offers rare green tranquillity in a city otherwise defined by dense urban fabric. International schools, embassies, and the Sedona Hotel anchor the expat infrastructure here.

Kamayut is a township west of Inya Lake anchored by Yangon University and the bustling Hledan junction. It has a youthful energy driven by students and young professionals, with a rapidly evolving cafe and restaurant scene. Expat families choose Kamayut for its relative affordability, proximity to Junction Square shopping mall, and quick access to international schools in neighbouring townships. The neighbourhood rewards those who enjoy immersing in local Burmese culture.

Mayangone is a large township north of Inya Lake that has become a hub for international schools, embassies, and UN compounds. The area ranges from dense Burmese residential streets to quiet gated communities with modern amenities. Its main appeal for expat families is the cluster of schools including Yangon International School and Myanmar International School, combined with newer housing developments that offer Western-standard finishes, reliable generators, and security.