South East Asian Trips

Hua Hin Beach is the focal point of Hua Hin - Thailand's first beach resort. Although it has a beautiful white sand beach and crystal clear water, Hua Hin is not as famous as resort towns like Pattaya and is still a bit off the beaten track as far as foreign tourists are concerned. As a result the beach is generally not so crowded, except at weekends when locals from Bangkok make the 190 Km journey to descend on the area. It is though increasingly the destination of choice for foreign visitors interested in water sports. The beach is about six Km long and features a particularly good sunrise, and nice sunsets. Dotted along the beach are some great restaurants where you can enjoy local seafood. The beach does though cater for a growing expatriate community and the area hosts an increasing number of foreign restaurants and bars.

Hua Hin is Thailand's original beach resort. Starting late in the nineteenth century, it was visited with increasing frequency by the Siamese royalty. The arrival of the railroad in the 1920s opened Hua Hin to a wider audience. The charming Victorian-styled Railway Hotel was built soon after. Today, the hotel has become then Sofitel Central and is a rare opportunity to experience the feeling of a bygone era.

In 1926, King Rama VII built a summer palace that he named Klai Kangwon, which means "far from worries". The name is somewhat ironic, when you consider that the King was in residence here when the 1932 revolution to overthrow the absolute monarchy started in Bangkok. The current King now spends much of the year at Klai Kangwon.

The rapid development that many other Thai beach resorts experienced over the last 25 years mostly passed Hua Hin by. As a result, Hua Hin has appealed as a family destination with very little of the sleaze that seemed to follow the development of other beach resorts. However, you will find the big hotel chains in Hua Hin, which these days is attractive as a get-away from Bangkok that is more relaxed than Pattaya.

Details

Between March and August the water doesn't come up the beach as far as it does at other times in the year and there are a greater number of beach-based activities (such as horse riding) available. During the rainy season there are quite a few jelly fish and this can lead to a slightly stinging sensation while you are in the water. Avoid jelly fish at all costs! All year round water sports such as jet skiing are readily available.

How to Reach

Hua Hin Beach is only a short distance from Hua Hin town centre and Songtaews are available for around 20 Baht to 30 Baht.