Yangon (known as Rangoon) is the capital and largest city in the Yangon Region. Yangon was the capital of Myanmar from 2006 to 2006. The military government moved administrative functions to Naypyidaw, a purpose-built capital in northern Myanmar. Yangon, Myanmar’s largest city with more than 7 million inhabitants, is its most important commercial hub.

Mandalay, second Myanmar’s largest city after Yangon, is Mandalay. The city is located on the east bank Irrawaddy River at 716 km (445 miles) north of Yangon. It has a population estimated to be 1,225,553, according to the 2014 census.

King Mindon founded Mandalay in 1857, replacing Amarapura to become the new capital of the Konbaung Dynasty. It was Burma’s last royal capital before its annexation in 1885 by the British Empire. Mandalay, under British rule, remained culturally and commercially significant despite Yangon’s rise as the capital of British Burma.

Naypyidaw (also spelled Nay Pyi Taw) is Myanmar’s capital and third largest city. It is situated in the middle of the Naypyidaw Union Territory. This is a unique city in Myanmar because it is thoroughly planned and is not part of any other state or region.

The city, formerly known as Pyinmana District at the time, was officially named Yangon. Its official name was announced on Armed Forces Day 27 March 2006.

Formerly called Bassein, Pathein is Myanmar’s largest city and capital. It is situated 190km (120 mi) west of Yangon, on the banks of the Pathein River (Pathein). This river is a western branch of the Irrawaddy River and has a population of 237,089 as of 2017. Although it was once part of the Mon Kingdom, Pathein has few Mon residents today. Most are Burmese Indians and Karen of the Burmese Chinese heritage. However, there are notable Rakhine minorities.

Mawlamyine (formerly Moulmein) is the fourth largest city in Myanmar (Burma), located 300 km (190 mi) to the southeast Yangon and 70 km (43 mi) to the south of Thaton at the mouth of Thanlwin River (Salween). It is the capital and largest municipality of Mon State, and also serves as the main seaport and trading center in southeast Myanmar.