The provincial capital is a fishing port with a superb location beside
beautiful curving bays and amongst steep mountain outcrops. About 100
kilometres to the north of Prachuap Khiri Khan is Hua Hin, Thailand's
first beach resort which is renowned for golf and spa. Between Hua Hin
and Prachuap Khiri Khan are Pran Buri with many boutique resorts and
Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park with soaring peaks, numerous caves and
exotic bird life.
Hua Hin
281 kilometers south of Bangkok, Hua Hin, which literally means stone head in Thai, is the oldest beach resort of the country and is still very popular. Clean white sand, crystal clear water and a tranquil atmosphere has continued to attract tourists in search of peaceful and relaxing holidays.
The
town was originally known as Ban Samoe Rieng, or Ban Laem Hin (Stony
Point Village). The construction of a railway station in the city as
part of the Southern Railroad in the reign of King Rama VI resulted in
making Hua Hin stand out from many quite fishing villages. In addition,
the construction of a Summer Palace of King Rama VII totally
transformed the village into a high-society resort town for royalty.
Even today, the Royal Family continues to reside at the Palace for part
of the year.
Hua
Hin's consequence came with the opening of the Railway Hotel (known
today as the Sofitel Central Hotel), an elegant Victorian-style resort
hotel, and also the countrys first standard golf course. A cluster of
royal and high-society residences gradually became more visible
resulting in the transformation of the whole village into the first
seaside resort of the country, where visitors could enjoy swimming,
fishing, and golfing in the country's first standard golf course.
Today,
Hua Hin is a well-established beach destination with word-class
facilities coupled with a true sense of Thai hospitality. Despite its
expansive growth and development as a luxurious destination, the
splendor of Hua Hin remains intact. Remaining content in itself,
Thailand's oldest seaside resort has never sought international
recognition. It has continued to provide a peaceful and relaxed
sanctuary in a picturesque environment that comes with a true sense of
historical identity.