Hpa-an is a capital of Kayin State. Recently removed from the restricted list of travel destinations. Possible to reach it by road from Yangon across a new Bridge (Thanlwin) over the Thanlwin River. Hpa-an is small town but busy commerce center you can see farmer coming to town in horsecarts or trishaws stacked with baskets or mas to sell in the market.Most of people are kayin.

Hpa-an has a tropical monsoon climate (Koppen climate classification Am). Temperatures are very warm throughout the year,although maximum temperaturess are somewhat depressed in the monsoon season due to heavy cloud and rain. There is a winter dry season (November-April) and a summer wet season (May-October).Torrential rain falls from June to August, with over 1,100 millimetres (43 in) falling in August alone.

Hpa-an is linked to Yangon, Mawlamyine and Hpapun by air. There are express buses from Hpa-an to Yangon, Mawlamyine, border trade of Myawaddy and other towns.