| No visit to Thailand is complete without a trip to the | | | | miracles and his former residence is now a large public |
| beautiful resort beaches of Hua Hin. Located 200 miles | | | | park featuring a giant statue of him as its centerpiece. |
| south of Bangkok, Hua Hin is one of the oldest and | | | | At night Hua Hin comes alive with a large open-air |
| most popular sandy destinations in the country. | | | | market where you can buy nearly anything under the |
| While many of the other beach resorts in Thailand – | | | | moon, and see what types of interesting fish and fruits |
| including Phuket and Samui – have been over | | | | the locals like to eat. You can also sample any of the |
| developed and overrun with tourist hotels and | | | | many excellent seafood restaurants that surround the |
| restaurants, Hua Hin has retained its traditional charm | | | | market. |
| as both a resort and a working fishing village. | | | | If you want to sample local products, look for things |
| The beach is over five miles long and surrounded by | | | | made from Khommaphat, which is a type of cotton |
| some of the best, yet least expensive, golf courses in | | | | unique to the Hua Hin region. They use it to make |
| the entire world. The city itself was discovered more | | | | everything from shirts to large decorative pieces of |
| than 80 years ago by King Rama VII. He chose the | | | | art. |
| place as his home away from home when he wanted | | | | The one downside of Hua Hin is that it does not have |
| to escape the heat and humidity of the capital city. | | | | as active a nightlife culture as the other beach resort |
| Once King Rama built his palace in what had up until | | | | towns in Thailand. Your best bet is to hit the Soi |
| that point been a fishing village, other Siam nobility | | | | Bintabaht and Soi Selakam areas where you can |
| were soon to follow – which fueled the growth and | | | | find local beer bars. By royal decree, there are no |
| popularity of Hua Hin. | | | | go-go bars in town. |
| The king's palace – called Klai Kangwon, which | | | | Hua Hin has three important regional festivals, including: |
| means “Far From Worries” - remains an official | | | | - The Thailand’s International Kite Festival is held |
| royal residence and popular attraction to this day. | | | | from March through May in Hua Hin during even |
| Public tours are easy to arrange – even when | | | | numbered years. It features stunt kites, big kites, little |
| members of the royal family are staying there! | | | | kites, high tech kites, traditional Thai kites, and displays |
| Be careful outside the palace, however, because | | | | of international kites. |
| security is very tight and any type of public intoxication | | | | - Hua Hin Jazz Festival is held through the month of |
| or other bad behavior near the palace is dealt with | | | | June on the beach. It attracts world-class Jazz |
| very strictly by the local police officers. | | | | musicians and is considered one of the most popular |
| While the main tourist activity is to lie out on the sandy | | | | events in Hua Hin. |
| beach and have locals bring your drinks or provide | | | | - Hua Hin Vintage Car Rally. Sponsored by Vintage |
| massages, there are sites to see when you've | | | | Car Club of Thailand and the Tourism Authority of |
| decided you've had your fill of fun in the sun. | | | | Thailand, the car rally is held every December. All of |
| Most of the wealthiest families in Thailand have built | | | | the cars in the rally are vintage from the 1920s, in |
| their summer homes near the palace or on the beach, | | | | celebration of when the King discovered the city. |
| which means there is beautiful architecture to see as | | | | Getting to Hua Hin is easy from nearly any part of |
| you stroll around and explore Hua Hin. | | | | Thailand. It is hooked up to most of the major rail lines |
| Khao Takiap is a large hill that is filled with beautiful | | | | and you can get a direct train from Bangkok. There |
| Buddhist temples and offers the best overhead view | | | | are also several bus routes from both Bangkok and |
| of the city, the port and the ocean. It is a four-kilometer | | | | Malaysia. |
| hike, so you may want to rent a bike or motorcycle to | | | | Overall, the weather is temperate. There is a brief |
| take you to the top. | | | | rainy season in the spring, but the showers tend to be |
| The Hua Hin railway station is one of the oldest | | | | very short and are often over in five minutes or less |
| stations in Thailand and is so beautiful that it is | | | | – so you can get right back to the sun and fun! |
| considered one of the country's landmarks. | | | | You will notice that there are many, many more Thai |
| The Spirit Houses of Brassiere Beach has a really odd | | | | tourists in Hua Hin than in the other national beach |
| history. Legend has it that the daughter of a local | | | | resorts. While westerners do come to Hua Hin, there |
| fisherman was eaten by fish because she was too | | | | are far fewer of them here than in Phuket or any of |
| beautiful to live in the world. Today, men and women | | | | the other beach towns. |
| leave brasseries on the beach in order to ask the | | | | This leads to a certain charm, because Hua Hin has |
| gods for good luck. | | | | yet to be completely corrupted by tourists - and you |
| Namtok Pa Lau is an 11-tier waterfall located about 30 | | | | can feel like you are having a very authentic Thailand |
| miles outside of town. It is easy to get to by bus, and is | | | | vacation experience! |
| particularly popular on hot and humid days. | | | | So, next time you are in Thailand, hop on the train and |
| Wat Huay Mongkol was where famed monk Luang | | | | check out the beautiful beaches, waterfalls and |
| Phor Thuat lived his life. He was known for performing | | | | temples of Hua Hin. Consider it a royal experience! |