Hua Hin Holiday

Less than 200 km southwest of Bangkok you’ll find the seaside town Hua Hin by the coast in the Gulf of Thailand. This is where the royal Thai family has its summer palace and partly due to this fact, Hua Hin has been a popular Thai vacation spot for more than 70 years for both Thai and foreign tourists and especially an extremely popular weekend retreat for Bangkok’s elite.

If you arrive from the hustle and bustle of Bangkok or by high-speed catamaran from Pattaya “the world capital of prostitution”, Hua Hin will be a breath of fresh air full of choices. This doesn’t mean that there are no hustle and bustle or bar girls in Hua Hin, it just means you have the freedom to find other sides of Thailand that you would like to focus on.

What to see in Hua Hin?

If you haven’t been to Thailand before, even a stroll around the streets is an attraction. In the early morning you will see orange cloaked monks collecting alms, and as the day grow older the whole town comes alive with activity.

A good way too see the hustle and bustle of Hua Hin is to hire your private Tuk-Tuk. A Tuk-Tuk is basically a motorized rickshaw with room for 2 to 4 people. It got its name because of the sound the engine make; tuk, tuk, tuk! The advantage of this compared to a taxi is that you are outdoors and sense the fragrances you pass in the streets, whether it is freshly caught fish at the fishing pier, the scent of salt from the sea or all kinds of delicious odors from the many outdoor restaurants. Hua Hin is famous for its seafood, so don’t miss out!

There are plenty of things to do and see in Hua Hin besides from enjoying 4 – 5 kilometers of beach, in fact a week is too short to take it all in, remember you are on vacation; so don’t rush! Let me give you an appetizer.

The Elephant Village is 3 km west of Hua Hin. You can not go to Thailand without having a ride on an elephant or at least get to know these fantastic creatures a little better! It’s a great experience!

The Thai Silk Village is a lovely experience as well. Here you can see how Thai silk is produced step by step and spun into the beautiful colourful material, which is Thailand’s most famous export product.

The Night Market is a must! It is located in the centre of town and runs up from Petchkasem Road to the railway line and are open from around 18.00 to midnight, however some food stalls stay open until dawn.

The Royal Summer Palace, Klai Kangwon Palace, which means something like “The Palace Far From Worries” is no longer accessible for the public as it has become the main residence for the current King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikitt. However within a short drive north of Hua Hin you can visit the Maruekatayawan Palace, which is a perfect example of classic raised Thai architechure. The palace consists of three two-storied golden teak pavilions facing out to sea. ( Open daily from 08.00-16.00)

Do not forget the temples. As Thailand is 95% Buddhist you will find temples all over, and that goes for Hua Hin as well. In the center of town you will find Wat Hua Hin,  5km north of Hua Hin is the temple; Wat Bor Fai, and driving out of Hua Hin to the west you will find several temples surrounded by beautiful Buddha statues in all sizes.

How to get to Hua Hin from Bangkok?

If you fly in to Bangkok, you can catch a bus from Bangkok’s Southern Bus Terminal many times during the day, or the train that leaves from Bangkok Railway Station “Hua Lamphong” 12 times a day.

You could however be the more luxury type of traveler, and then you would take a taxi or a minivan straight from the airport to Hua Hin. That would cost you approximately 3000 Bath.

Renting a villa in Hua Hin is an excellent way to go for a perfect holiday. This way you can retire to the peace and quiet of your private garden and pool, when you need it, but you still have easy access to explore all the attractions and sights inside and outside of Hua Hin and stroll out to find a restaurant to your taste.

Enjoy your Hua Hin Holiday!

xxx