The Secretariat is the most historically significant building in downtown Yangon — a vast red-brick complex built in 1905 to house the colonial government of Burma. After independence it became the seat of the Burmese government until the capital moved to Naypyidaw in 2006.
The building was closed to the public for decades and fell into serious disrepair. A restoration project begun in 2016 has progressively reopened sections; the Cabinet Room where Aung San was murdered and the adjoining spaces are now part of a museum. The architecture alone justifies a visit — the building's scale and the quality of its Victorian construction are remarkable. Guided tours are available.