• January 29, 2026

• Global New Light of Myanmar

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  179

Farming flourishes in Kalaw’s ladder-type agricultural system, Shan State.

In 2025, southern Shan State also secured two ASEAN awards, with Sikyainn Village CBT in Pindaya Township winning the ASEAN Community-Based Tourism Award and the public restrooms at Culamuni Lokachantha Pagoda in Taunggyi receiving the ASEAN Public Toilet Award.

Hpa-an, capital of Kayin State, and Pindaya have won the ASEAN Clean Tourist City Award 2026, while Kalaw has received the ASEAN Sustainable Tourism Award 2026. Hpa-an, which secured the ASEAN Clean Tourist City Award 2026, had earlier won the sixth ASEAN Environmentally Sustainable Cities Award 2025, according to reports.
Similarly, Kalaw, located in southern Shan State, received the ASEAN Sustainable Tourism Award 2026. In addition, locations in Myanmar that won ASEAN Tourism Standard Awards 2026 include Pindaya, which received the ASEAN Clean Tourist City Award; the Kalaw Heritage Hotel in Kalaw and the Hotel SS-Aungban in Aungban, which won the ASEAN Green Hotel Award; and the Merry-Go-Round Meeting Room at the Merriment Hotel in Kalaw, which received the ASEAN MICE Venue (Meeting Room) Award. Moreover, Kalaw, in Shan State, also won the ASEAN Sustainable Tourism Award under the Urban Sustainable Tourism Product category.
In the previous year, southern Shan State also secured two ASEAN awards, with Sikyainn Village CBT in Pindaya Township winning the ASEAN Community-Based Tourism Award, while the public restrooms at the Culamuni Lokachantha Pagoda in Taunggyi received the ASEAN Public Toilet Award. — ASH/KZL