Dawei (; formerly known as
Tavoy Thai:ทวาย), is a city in southeastern
Myanmar and is capital of
Tanintharyi Division, situated about south of
Yangon on the northern bank of the
Dawei River. Population (2004 estimate) 139 900. It is situated at 14.09°N 98.20°E. Dawei is a port at the head of the Dawei River
estuary, . from the
Andaman Sea. As a result the city is prone to flooding during the monsoon season.
History
The area around the Dawei River estuary has been inhabited for centuries by
Mon,
Kayin and
Thai mariners. The present city was established in 1751 as a minor port for the Thai
Ayutthaya empire. Over the years, control alternated back and forth from
Siam to Burma, until the
British annexation of the region after the
First Anglo-Burmese War of 1826.
Transport
Only recently Sawei was connected to the rest of
Myanmar by road and rail. A massive
natural gas pipeline project running through the Dawei region between Myanmar and Thailand has become a focus of recent controversy(.
Local products
Dawei
longyi (
sarong) is a famous local product. The area produces
rubber, dried fish and
teakwood. It also produces
cashew nuts and
betel nuts and exports them through local traders to China, India and Thailand. Dawei is also well known for its variety of tropical fruits such as
pineapples, a variety of
mangoes,
mangosteens, and
durian (also known as the "King of Fruits"). There is one fruit called "zin thi" (in Dawei language), which can only be found in Dawei and surrounding areas; this fruit is sweet with a touch of sour.
Language
Dawei also has its own language, although the Myanmar people will recognize it only as a dialect, since its written script has been lost over the years.
Attractions
The scenic Maungmagan Beach, the second oldest beach found in
Myanmar after
Ngapali, is approximately 45-minutes drive away from Dawei. There are also a number of hot water springs around the outskirts, about one to a few hours drive from Dawei. There is one quite close to Maungmagan (on the way to Maungmagan from Dawei).
The largest reclining
Buddha in Myanmar is in Dawei (about 30 minutes drive from Dawei). The closest city from Dawei is
Yeiphyu. Dawei Hope at a long sleeved
peninsula has a
lighthouse guiding to Dawei port and
Mali Naval Base.
See also
