Rayong

RAYONG
Another delightful resort on the eastern coast, Rayong is just beginning to gain popularity. With a 100 kilometre-long coastline, it boasts several beautiful beaches and scenic waterfalls amid natural surroundings. Rayong is also rich in sea-life resources and considered a major agricultural and industrial province.

Rayong is 180 kilometres from Bangkok and covers a total area of 3,552 square kilometres.

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Administrative, it is divided into Muang Rayong, Klaeng, Ban Khai, Bang Chang, Pluak Daeng and Wang Chan districts and Khao Chamao and Nikhom Phatthana sub-districts.

Ko Samet


A favorite get-away island for Bangkokians, Ko Samet offers extensive pristine beaches with clean white sand and strangely shaped rocks. A haven for relaxation, this T-shaped island is a perfect retreat for those looking for sun, sand and sea. The climate is always pleasantly cool with an abundance of rain in August and windy monsoons in May.

Ao Kai-Laem Tan
This little cape located beyond Laem Mae Phim in Klaeng District is located near a small fishing village, where the main occupation is to pickle jellyfish. Set in tranquil ambience the place is marvelous for seafood lovers with seafood restaurants providing reasonably priced seafood dishes of good quality. Traveling to Ko Man Klang can be done by taking a speedboat from here.

Ko Man Nai
This small island located approximately 5 kilometers off shore from Laem Mae Phim has been developed into a Sea Turtle Preservation Sanctuary under the royal initiative of Her Majesty the Queen. The place is open to the public from Monday to Sunday. Nearby are Ko Man Klang and Ko Man Nok which are famous for their immaculate white sandy beaches and hip boutique resorts.

Sunthorn Phu Memorial

Five kilometres further on from Laem Mae Phim on the beach road (Highway No. 3145) is the Sunthorn Phu Memorial commemorating one of Thailand's top poets. The bard, native of Rayong by birth, produced his literary works during the early part of Rattanakosin Era some two hundred years ago, Phra Aphai Mani being his most well-known work.

Ko Kudi
Some 6 kilometres off-shore is Ko Kudi which is to the east of Samet. To the northeast are white, sandy beaches and popular viewing points. Off its northern tip are several coral rich small islets.

Hat Mae Ramphung


About 12 kilometers from town with a right turn Km. 229 of Sukhumwit Road is Hat Mae Ramphung, a 12 kilometers long beach on the way to Ban Kon Ao, a small fishing village. The beach is clean with gentle slopes suitable for swimming. On the shore are several bungalows.

Hat Saeng Chan
seven kilometers from town at Tambon Paknam, is connected to Laem Charoen beach and also suitable for swimming. Food shops and accommodation facilities available.

Hat Laem Charoen
Five kilometers from town at Tambon Paknam, Hat Laem Charoen is a seaside area popular with townspeople who come to enjoy the scene and the seafood.

The City Pillar Shrine
on Lak Muang Road in town consists of two buildings of Thai and Chinese styles.

Ban Phe

A turn at between Km. 231 and Km. 238 leads to Ban Phe which is about 19 kilometers from the township. A major fishing community of the province, it is also the main embarkation point for the ferry to Ko Samet. On sale are popular fresh and dried seafood as well as other local products.

Khao Laem Ya
A little further from Ban Kon Oa on the beach road to Khao Laem Ya covered with small shrubs and with a cape jutting into the the sea. Along one side of the hill is along stretch of beach where the headquarters of the Khao Laem Ya Samet islands national Park is located.

Wat Pa Pradu


The ancient Wat Pa Pradu on Sukhumwit road houses a 12 metre long Reclining Buddha. Unlike other reclining statues, it lies on the left instead of the usual right. Originally unsheltered, a Wihan was built over it in 1981.

The King Taksin Shrine
Located at Wat Lum Mahachai Chumpon on Taksin Road, the shrine was built to commemorate King Taksin the Great's brief stopover in Rayong to mobilize his troops and liberate the Kingdom of Ayutthaya from the Burmese. Legend has it that King Taksin the Great’s elephant was believed to be stabled at a large Parkia tree (in front of the shrine). A well-regarded place by the locals, especially the Sino-Thais, the shrine attracts big crowds during Chinese New Year and on December 28th.

Suan Si Muang
is a public park in town centre behind the city pillar. It houses the highly revered Phra Phuttha Angkhirot, the town's principal statue.

Rayong Aquarium
Located in the Eastern Marine Fisheries Research and Development Centre, Ban Phe, the aquarium keeps various kinds of beautiful fish and sea plants. The centre conducts study, research and testing regarding marine biology and behaviors of marine life. A large aquarium with a tunnel allows visitors to see various beautiful fish as well as economic-related creatures living in the mangrove forest such as cuttlefish, crab, giant clam, and horseshoe crab.

Wat Ban Don Shadow Play Museum
The museum is located in Wat Ban Don, exhibiting a hundred Nang Yai shadow play characters. The Shadow Play character, or Nang Yai, is a large piece of leather carved and painted into different characters. Aged over 200 years, these characters were brought from Phatthalung in 1988. For the Nang Yai performance, please contact 3 days in advance. Tel. 0 5087 0235, 0 9831 6053.

Namtok Klong Pla Kang
The last piece of virgin forest in Rayong, the park is located in Klaeng District, 71 kilometers from the city. Declared as a National Park in December 31, 1975, Khao Chamao – Khao Wong covers an area of 83.6 square meters, which is home to tigers, wild elephants and bears. The park is famous for its limestone mountains, caves, high cliffs, verdant forests and waterfalls. Khao Chamao –Khao Wong National Park offers the following attractions:

Wat Samut Khongkha or Wat Pak Nam
At the end of Taksin Maharat Road and with a right turn into Samut Khongkha Road, Wat Samut Khongkha or Wat Pak Nam is about two kilometres south of town. It features an ancient - metre-high white Chedi on an isle in mid-Rayong River. No one knows who built it but during the olden days when waterway was the main mode of transportation, the chedi served as a symbol of Rayong signifying to the boatmen that they had arrived at the town. Celebrations are held in the full-moon day of the 12th lunar month with ceremonies, boat races and other entertainment.

Somdet Kromluang Chumphon Shrine
This shrine, which was built to honor Somdej Krommaluang Chumphon, "Father of the Royal Thai Navy”, who is highly revered by the locals is situated near the Prasair River in Klaeng District.

The Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhon Herbal Garden
is located within the grounds of the Petroleum Authority of Thailand, about 25 kilometres from town on Highways No. 36 and No. 3191 in Nikhom Phatthana sub-district. It is a center of various herbal research. Open daily form 8.30 a.m. - 4.30 p.m. Tel: (038) 6818147-30.

Samutsongkhram

SAMUT SONGKHRAM
Samut Songkhram, a coastal province at the mouth of the Mae Klong River, is 74 kms. southwest of Bangkok along Highway No. 35. It occupies an area of 416 square kilometres. The area is a low basin with many canals. The people cultivate various kinds of fruits such as grapes, lychee, pomelo, guava and coconuts.

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Amphawa Floating Market


Talat Nam Yam Yen Amphawa is an afternoon floating market by the canal near Wat Amphawan Chetiyaram (parking area is available). On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, during 12.00 a.m. – 8.00 p.m., the Amphawa Canal is occupied by vendors who pack their boats with food and drinks, such as fried sea mussel, noodles, coffee, O-liang (iced black coffee), sweets, etc. There are also things for sale on wheelbarrows on the bank. Visitors can enjoy a cosy atmosphere and music broadcast by the community members, explore the market, have food, and hire a boat to see fireflies at night.

Wat Bang Khae Noi

Wat Bang Khae Noi is located in Tambon Khwae Om by the Mae Klong River. This temple was built by Khunying Chui (Noi) Wongsarot in 1868. Initially, the Ubosot (ordination hall) was built on the bamboo raft tied to a Bodhi tree on the river bank. At present, the temple is well restored. The most interesting thing is the ordination hall’s inside walls which are woodcarvings depicting the Lord Buddha’s history, birth, enlightenment, and nirvana, as well as stories of the Lord Buddha’s Ten Incarnations or Jatakas. The beautiful and explicit design was made by craftsmen from Phetchaburi province where woodcarving is famous. For more information, call Tel. 0 3476 1222.

Wat Bang Kaphom


Wat Bang Kaphom is located between Km 37-38 on Highway 325 (Samut Songkhram – Bang Phae). This ancient temple was built in the late Ayutthaya period. The old Wihan (image hall) is very interesting. On the upper part of the walls, there are unusual mural paintings in the form of stucco reliefs depicting the Lord Buddha’s history. On the lower part of the walls, there are niches with Buddha images inside. In the centre of the hall, a large replica of four superimposing Buddha’s footprints in different sizes is enshrined. It was presumed that the footprints were built in the Thon Buri period. Initially, they were covered by silver sheets which were later stolen during a war. The footprint at the deepest level which is made from mother-of-pearl-inlaid wood still retains its beautiful design. On the temple grounds, a small coffee shop offers traditional tasty tea and coffee.

Chang-Eng Siamese Twins Memorial


Chang-Eng Siamese Twins Memorial and Boat Museum are located in Tambon Lat Yai on Ekkachai Road, around 4 km from City Hall. The statues were built in memory of Chang-Eng, the Siamese twins who made Thailand famous around the world. They stand in the middle of a broad ground decorated with trees and flowering plants. There is a large pond in the foreground. Furthermore, the biography of Chang-Eng, the Siamese twins, is on display in a hall. Chang-Eng, the Siamese twins were born on 11 May 1811, in Samut Songkhram. During 1828-1829, Captain Coffin and Hunter came to Mae Klong to conduct trade and they encountered the Siamese twins. They were allowed to take the Siam twins back with them to America and the United Kingdom for shows in public places where the life stories of Chang-Eng who were joined to each other at the chest were repeated again and again. Both of them lived a normal life to the age of 63. The name of ‘Siamese twins’ made Thailand famous worldwide.

Wat Sathatham


Wat Sathatham is located at Tambon Bang Cha Kreng. The temple is made from golden teak wood and the inner walls are set with pearl-inlay. It was built in the year 2535 B.E. (1982) by Phra Khru Samutvisutthiwong, the former abbot. Inside the main building, Ubosot, there are paintings depicting Buddha's life, paintings about the Ramayana epic, painting of famous monks. The temple is highly revered by the people of Samut Songkhram and people of neighbouring provinces.

King Rama ll Memorial Park


This park was built under the project to honour King Rama II, run by the King Rama II Phraboromrachanusorn Foundation under royal patronage. It is built to commemorate his great patron to the arts and culture, which become a national heritage. Phra Rajsamutmatee, the abbot of Wat Amphawan Chetiyaram, offered the area of 11 Rais (4.4 acres) for the construction of the park. This area was very important because it was a royal birthplace King Rama II.

Wat Phummarin Kudi Thong



This temple is located on the bank of Mae Klong River, on the west side of the end of Phrachachuen canals mouth. It is accessible by boat from Wat Amphawan pier or King Rama II Memorial Park pier. An interesting attraction in the temple is the Kudee Thong (golden hermitage). According to a legend, Khun Nak's millionaire father asked the abbot of Wat Bang Li to foretell Khun Nak's fortune. The abbot predicted that Khun Nak would become a Queen. Khun Nak's father then vowed that he will build the golden hermitage for Wat Bang Li if the prediction came true, hence the reason for the name of Wat Ban Li Kudi Thong. Later, Wat Bang Li was flooded and part of the land was gouged out by water, so the Kudi Thong was taken down and reconstructed at this temple.

Khai Bang Kung


Bang Kung Camp is located at Mu 4, Tambon Bang Kung. When arriving at the camp site, visitors will firstly see an imitation wall built in memory of the battle. Here is a historic navy camp site. Following the second defeat of the Ayutthaya kingdom in 1767, King Taksin the Great moved the naval force to set up camp in the district of Bang Kung since Mueang Mae Klong (the city of Mae Klong) was in the way used by the Burmese army. A wall was built to make Wat Bang Kung be in the middle of the camp as a spirit centre for soldiers.

Wat Phet Samut Woravihan



Wat Ban Laem or Wat Phet Samut Worawihan is located in Samut Songkhram town. The former name is Wat Sri Champa. It is the most important temple of the province. According to history, in B.E. 2307 (1764) the Burmese invaded Muang Phetburi but Ayutthaya's troops protected the city. Ban Laem people in Phetburi migrated to escape from the Burmese and settled down at Amphoe Mae Klong, further up from Wat Sri Champa, and called this village Ban Laem, the same name as their former village in Muang Phetburi.

Don Hoi Lot


This famous tourist attraction of Samut Songkhram is a bar on the mouth of the Mae Klong River. It was formed by the sedimentation of sandy soil called by villagers here as ‘Sai Khi Pet.’ The bar of 3 km wide and 5 km long covers two zones: Don Nok is on the mouth of Ao Mae Klong, accessible by boat; and Don Nai is located on the beach of the Chuchi village in Tambon Bang Chakreng and on the beach of the Bang Bo village in Tambon Bang Kaeo, accessible by car. In the area of the bar, there are many shellfish, such as Hoi Lot (razor clam), Hoi Lai (undulated surf clam), Hoi Puk (Ridged Venus clam), Hoi Pak Pet (tongue shell), Hoi Khraeng (cockle), etc. Hoi Lot is mostly found here and it has become a landmark of this place.

Church of the Virgin Mary


This church is located at Mu 7, Tambon Bang Nok Khwaek. The church is a holy worshipping place for Christian families living around the area. It was constructed in 1890 A.D. by Father Paolo Salmone, a French Missionary. The construction of the church took 6 years. Built in French Gothic architectural style. The windows are decorated with stained glass. Within the church, there is a Statue, a pulpit, a holy water basin, various kinds of candelabra, and carvings depicting various historical points in the Bible.