The four periods of the Rakhine history stretched from the Dhanyawaddy to the Vesali, then to Le Mro and finally Mrauk-U periods. Capital of the Rakhine Kingdom, which flourished from the 15th to 18th century, Mrauk Oo is reached by a 5 hour boat trip along the Kaladan River from Sittwe(Akyab), which is 90 minutes by air from Yangon. Mrauk Oo is noted for its fort-like temples and pagodas of stone and brick, and for its statuary and relief, which are distinctive. About 8 km north of Mrauk Oo is the archaeological site of Wethali, another ancient capital dating back to the 4th century.

A regular passenger boat takes hours from Sittwe to Mrauk Oo. Special speed boat with 20 seats takes only 2 hours 30 minutes. It is also accessible by road from Sittwe via Ponnakyun and Kyauktaw. Regular flights from Yangon to Sittwe takes about one hour 30 minutes. see photos of Mrauk Oo (Mrauk U)