People Of The River
A artificial respirator, the most important piece of equipment for divers, February 26, 2014. The lack of proper tools and equipment is a major challenge for Myanmar divers. Their low income prevents them from upgrading to safer, modern gear.

This documentary explores the lives of communities living along the Yangon and Bago Rivers, which run alongside Yangon, Myanmar’s largest city. It looks at how people build their livelihoods through activities shaped by the rivers, while also showing the realities of their daily struggles.

Despite being close to the urban center, many people living along the riverbanks belong to working-class communities and depend mainly on daily work to earn a living. Their lives reflect the growing gap between the city and its surrounding areas.

Each day, many cross the river to work in downtown Yangon, especially between Dala and Pansodan. They take the ferry early in the morning and return home again in the evening. This daily journey is part of their routine, connecting their homes on one side of the river to the opportunities on the other.

Others make a living directly from the river. Some dive into the water to recover lost or discarded objects. At times, they are hired to find missing belongings. When there is no work, they continue diving on their own, hoping to find something they can sell. In addition, some rely on fishing as their main source of income, while others work as ferry operators, transporting passengers across the river every day.

Through these connected ways of living, the photo story presents a quiet but powerful picture of resilience, adaptation, and survival.

The photos were taken around 2014, when the ferry was still the main connection between Yangon and Dala. Today, a bridge links the two sides. While it has changed how people travel, the lives of many communities along the river have not changed as much as expected.

By documenting these experiences, this story offers a closer look at the everyday lives of people who depend on the river, lives that are often overlooked, yet continue with strength and persistence.

A diver attempts to salvage a container ship from the floor of the Bago River, February 26, 2014. Divers play an important role in salvage operations. They must dive into deep water to attach harnesses to sunken ships and prepare them to be lifted when the tide is low. During dives, unexpected dangers such as strong currents, oxygen supply failures and other injuries can be fatal.
A wreck salvaged from the Yangon River lies near Dala Jetty, March 3, 2014. Businessmen buy wrecked ships, dismantle them and extract steel, metal and other useful materials for resale.
Stevedores prepare to carry a steel frame from a boat in Dala Township, March 20, 2014. Stevedores earn their living by loading and unloading goods on boats along river routes, especially in areas near the city of Yangon. They typically work 12 hours a day, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., but their average income is around US$100 per month.
A artificial respirator, the most important piece of equipment for divers, February 26, 2014. The lack of proper tools and equipment is a major challenge for Myanmar divers. Their low income prevents them from upgrading to safer, modern gear.
A worker sandblasts iron for shipbuilding at a government shipyard in Dala Jetty near the Yangon River, March 11, 2014. Photography and media coverage in state-owned enterprises are mostly not permitted.
Used ship hulls are traded and dismantle near the Twante Canal of the Yangon River, March 5, 2014. People buy used hulls for large sums of money and resell usable parts. In the market, working-class people from the Dala region often buy ship parts to reuse in building houses.
Workers repair boats and fishing vessels at a riverside workshop near Twante Canal, March 5, 2014. Usually, 15 to 20 workers are employed at a workshop, and repairs typically take two to three months.
A wooden ferry boat travels from Yangon to Dala, passing by a ship, March 5, 2014. Ferry boats are one of the main transports for people in Dala crossing the river to Yangon. Although launches also operate between Yangon and Dala, majority of the population still relies on ferries due to the limited number of boats. Accidents involving cargo ships and ferries sometimes result in loss of life.
A diver inspects a submerged cargo boat before salvage, Bago River, February 26, 2014. Divers search for items underwater and recover submerged boats for a fee. They earn money from materials salvaged from wrecks, such as iron and other usable parts, as well as from repairing and selling recovered ships when possible.
A woman prepares a meal aboard a cargo boat for her family during a break from work on the Yangon River, Dala Township, March 21, 2014. These workers come to Dala with cargo boats as stevedores and remain where work is available. They mainly transport bricks, sand and gravel for construction material shops, staying in one place for at least two or three days.
Laborers and their families, who stay near construction material shops, enjoy a restful night after a full day of work on February 26, 2014. These workers come to Dala with cargo boats as stevedores and remain where work is available. They mainly transport bricks, sand and gravel for construction material shops, staying in one place for at least two or three days.
Onlookers gather as a boat begins to sink in Bago River, February 26, 2014. The boat carrying divers collided with a sunken cargo vessel they were preparing to salvage. Although the boat was damaged, no one was injured in the accident.
The head of a group of diver attempts to keep a damaged boat afloat after a collision in Bago River, February 26, 2014. The boat carrying divers collided with a sunken cargo vessel they were preparing to salvage. Although the boat was damaged, no one was injured in the accident.
Passengers wait for a ferry to Yangon during rush hour in Dala Township, February 25, 2014. Many residents of Dala Township work in Yangon, and ferries and launches are essential for their daily transportation. Despite the construction of a bridge, many people still rely on ferries to travel to Yangon.
Crowds gather at the ferry terminal during peak hour in Dala Township, February 25, 2014. Many residents of Dala Township work in Yangon, and ferries and launches are essential for their daily transportation. Despite the construction of a bridge, many people still rely on ferries to travel to Yangon.
Two women take an early morning walk for exercise at Yangon Jetty, February 2, 2014. The jetty is usually crowded with people from downtown Yangon. Many people enjoy exercising by the river at sunrise.


Photographer – Zarni Phyo

Zarni Phyo is a Myanmar photographer and freelance photojournalist currently based in Thailand under a long-term visa since 2023. Born in 1988, he has worked professionally in the field of photojournalism for more than a decade.

From 2013 to 2019, he worked as a photojournalist at The Myanmar Times, before being promoted to Chief Photographer (Photo Editor), a position he held from 2019 to 2021.

Following the political crisis in Myanmar in 2021, Zarni Phyo continued working as a freelance video journalist and photographer. His reporting and documentary work has been produced across various regions of Myanmar, including Yangon, Mandalay, Kachin State, Karen State, Kayah (Karenni) State, Tanintharyi Region, and Bago Region.

His photographs and video reports have been published by international media organizations such as Reuters and Agence France-Presse (AFP), and his works have also been exhibited internationally. In addition, he collaborates with Sacca Photo Agency on documentary and human rights-focused visual storytelling projects.

Throughout his career, Zarni Phyo has received numerous international awards and recognitions, including honors from the Siena International Photo Awards, Society of Publishers in Asia (SOPA), WAN-IFRA Asian Media Awards, and the Yangon Photo Festival.

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