Hua Hin, the oldest beach resort town in Thailand, is one of the most incredible beach resort destinations in the country. Located not much more than 200 kilometers (about 125 miles) from Bangkok, this beautiful fishing village is convenient for those who need to commute regularly but far enough away from the city to be a luxurious and relaxing vacation destination choice.

Image credit: batrax

Discovering Hua Hin

Believe it or not, Hua Hin was not always the stunning resort town that it is today. It started out as a small fishing village and was not discovered by the rest of the modern world until the mid 1800’s when farmers living in the Petchaburi province decided they needed to move after being severely crippled by a drought. The farmers, after moving south, discovered the village and its beaches and made their settlement.

Image credit(s): Nicolai Bangsgaard and and Terence Yim

Drawn to the area by the incredible white beaches, rocks, and fishing boats, the villagers decided to name the village Samor Riang. The settlers and fishermen lived in relative solitude until the turn of the 20^th century.

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In the early 1920’s Hua Hin was connected to the rest of Thailand after the construction of the railway connecting Bangkok with the south. At this time the first resort, The Railway Hotel (aka Sofitel Central), was built and not long after the first official golf course followed.

Turning Hua Hin into Thailand’s Royal Beach Resort

Hua Hin was, for the most part, ignored by Thais from the northern section of the country until the early 1900’s. After bringing a nobleman from Russia on a hunting trip to Hua Hin, Prince Chakrabhongse remembered the beautiful village and returned to build a beach villa - the first in the area.

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As word about this beautiful destination spread other royal Thais decided to retreat to Hua Hin for their vacations and build new villas and palaces. Most notable is the palace built by King Rama VII. His palace, named Kliakangwon, is still used by today royal family.

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As we all know - where the royal family goes the elite will follow. As the kings and princes flocked from Bangkok to enjoy the white sandy beaches so did other members of Bangkok’s wealthier communities. Before long Hua Hin had been developed into a delightful beach resort town with strong cultural roots.

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Despite the economic trials caused during World War II, this amazing beach resort was able to recover and still thrives today. Visitors now enjoy exploring the original fishing villages while at the same time enjoying the amenities anyone would come to expect from a town filled with 5- star resorts. The Royal Family still visits regularly and with them come not only local Thais but visitors from around the entire world. Who knows what type of town Hua Hin would be today if Prince Chakrabhongse had never visited.

Hua Hin’s Incredible Resorts

There are, of course, dozens of amazing hotels and resorts scattered throughout Hua Hin. Each has its own special features but all will welcome visitors with open arms.

One of the most popular hotels in Hua Hin is the Sofitel Centara Grand Resort & Villas Hua Hin. This beautifully designed hotel sits on 13 hectacres of land and is surrounded by gardens filled with amazing local plants. Visitors to this amazing resort will find themselves only a few minutes away from some of Hua Hin’s most visited attractions, including the Royal Hua Hin Golf Course, Klai Kangwon Palace, and Sam Roi Yot National Park.

Another favorite Hua Hin hotel is the Putahracsa Villa Hua Hin. This cozy hotel sits on the eastern coast and provides visitors with wonderfully comfortable and well equipped guestrooms. The Putahracsa Villa Hua Hin features two stunning restaurants, one dedicated to serving fresh seafood from the local wharfs while the other serves a pleasant mix of international cuisines.

The Mariott Resort & Spa Hua Hin is yet another phenomenal resort. The resort sits right off of the beaches and visitors will enjoy strolling through the hotel gardens as they are led down a path to the incredibly sandy beaches lining the shores of the Gulf of Thailand. This incredible resort is slightly secluded, making it the perfect destination for travelers who want to avoid crowds. You’ll have to walk a mere 10 minutes to get to the city center for shopping, dining, and exploring.

During your visit to Hua Hin you may or may not get to catch a glimpse of the current royal family but we’re pretty sure you’ll begin to feel like royalty yourself. You’ll enjoy exploring a culture that’s held true to its roots for well over 100 years. Have wonderful trip to Hua Hin!

Posted in Thailand

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 1st, 2009 at 12:41 am and is filed under Thailand. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.