from the Salween River which enters the Gulf of Martaban just to the north. Setse has been a resort since the 19th century, and still remains popular.

Mawlamyaing University has its Marine Science Laboratory in Setse, which studies commercial uses of algae (seaweed), cultured pearl techniques, and produces commercial agar-agar. Agar jellies are commonly used in traditional Myanmar desserts and other Asian culinary.