Is it okay to use ATMs late in the evening in Myanmar or should I stick to daytime withdrawals only? I am a single woman travelling so want to be safe.
I stayed in Inle Lake and most ATMs in Nyaung Shwe were closed after 7 PM. The one that stayed open didn’t read my card. Myanmar isn’t high-crime, but the banking system is unstable. Withdrawing cash after dark isn’t unsafe - it’s just a gamble. Carry USD and exchange if needed.
I was backpacking through Bagan and had to bike to an ATM around 9 PM. It was working, but the ride back through empty roads wasn’t pleasant. The town is peaceful, but street lighting is minimal. In Myanmar, it’s safer and more reliable to withdraw during bank hours.
In Mandalay, I withdrew cash from a CB Bank ATM inside a shopping mall around 8:30 PM. Safe and well-lit, no issues. Still, locals advised avoiding standalone ATMs at night - not because of danger, but because machines sometimes freeze or reject cards. Have some kyat on hand and avoid last-minute cash runs.
Yangon had plenty of ATMs, but many didn’t work with international cards. I found a KBZ Bank ATM near Sule Pagoda that worked around 9 PM - the street was busy, and I felt okay. That said, ATM safety at night in Myanmar isn’t guaranteed. Power cuts and machine errors are common, so I preferred to get cash early in the day.