Hua Hin (HuaHin), the in-beach town for Bangkok’s elite is located on the west coast of the Gulf of Thailand, 170km south of Bangkok, on Ptchkasem Road between kilometer marker 224 and 245. In the 1920’s, Hua Hin became a popular retreat for Thai Royal Family, Bangkok’s high society, and affluent foreigners. Hua Hin, basically has two main streets, for those who arrive on the train, the main street will be Damnern Kasem boulevard which leads from the Hua Hin railway station straight to the main Hua Hin beach and is a distance of approxamitely 1km. One the way you will pass various goverment offices and end on the beach front beside the former Royal Railway Hotel, now the five-star Sofitel Central Hotel.
The actual main street, is the southern Petchkasem Highway, which passes directly through the town and on both sides you’ll find markets, main shops and restaurants. The deluxe hotels and condos are out on the beach front but you can still gain acess through the many side steets and the beaches are a public area.
On weekdays, Hua Hin still leads a fairly normal life but come weekends, the curbs outside restaurants are lined with cars such as Mercedes and BMW’s as people on holidays come out.
Hua Hin does not have the brassy beer bars and racy nightlife as you’ll find on the other side of the Gulf. The beaches, wide open endless stretches of fine powdery white sand, are relatively uncrowded and clean. The pace of life is calm and relaxing and an ideal place to bring the family for their annual holiday.
In the early days, King Rama VI built the first royal summer palace outside Hua Hin. His successor, King Rama VII built another one in Hua Hin, naming it Klai Kangwon Palace, which is still in use by the Royal Family.
Shortly after, the royalties and Bangkok society followed suite, building beach villas down the shorelines. The Southern railway was extended to Hua Hin in 1922. The Railway Hotel was built in the style of the grand hotels of Europe, serving afternoon tea, champagne dinners, with regular garden parties and ballroom dancing. Then, the Royal Railway Golf Course, the first and some say was the most beautiful in Thailand, was built on a wooded hill estate across the track from Hua Hin Station. The uphill-downhill fairways lead through thickets of 100-year old trees. Glimpses of the blue sea could be seen from several of the Tee’s.
Once the word about Thailands beautiful beaches and friendly people was out, the beaches on the eastern coast were discovered, first Bang Saen and then Pattaya which attracted Thai and foreign visitors, more for the promises of having good times as well as the beaches, which started the Pattaya real estate boom.
Hua Hin, in the mean time, had taken a bit of a back seat with discerning investors quietly
developing choice Hua Hin properties for upmarket clientele. Luxury condos as well as five-star hotels have since gone up along the beach lines and many scenic new 18-hole golf courses have opened in the area. All of these developments were the start to the continious expansion of Hua Hin and the city it is today.
Now Hua Hin is more popular than ever with Thais and foreign families. Hua Hin has several 5 star hotels and more are settling into the Hua Hin Paradise City.
While in Hua Hin you can find many attractions for everyone to enjoy and there are also many yearly festivals held, such as: Chinese new year, Songkran Festival, Loy Kratong, Hua Hin Jazz Festival, Hua Hin & Cha-am Golf Festival and the world famous Hua Hin Kings Cup Elephant Polo Tournament.
Come and enjoy Hua Hin Paradise City and see the many things it has to offer!
