Links to stories from Planet Money, with parallel quotes from Lonely Planet’s Practical travel information on Money and costs in Myanmar/Burma.
Why (Almost) No One In Myanmar Wanted My Money
“Some hotels, shops and government ferry clerks give change in kyat or with torn US bills that you can’t use elsewhere in Myanmar. … Don’t expect to change any rumpled, torn US dollar bills. Moneychangers accept only crisp, clean (and mostly uncreased) bills.”
In A Single ATM, The Story Of A Nation’s Economy
“Travelers should ensure they arrive in Myanmar with their entire travel budget in US dollars, as ATMs are still very hard to come by (although this may change).”