Hua Hin

Infobox Amphoe
name=Hua Hin
thai=หัวหิน
province=Prachuap Khiri Khan
coordinates=coord|12|34|7|N|99|57|28|E|type:adm2nd_region:TH
area=838.9
population=85,099
population_as_of=2006
density=101.44
postal_code=77110
geocode=7707

:"For the island in French Polynesia, see Huahine".Hua Hin (Thai หัวหิน) is a famous beach resort town in Thailand, in the northern part of the Malay Peninsula, some 200 km south of Bangkok. It has a population of 84,883 in an area of 911 km², and is one of eight districts (Amphoe) of the Prachuap Khiri Khan province.

Hua Hin is closely associated with the Thai royalty. Merely 25 kilometers apart, Hua Hin in Prachuap Khiri Khan province enjoys a wealth of satellite attractions; prominent among them are national parks and historical cities.

Slogan

"City of pure gold, delectable coconuts and pineapples, delightful beaches, mountain and caves, land of spiritual beauty."

History

In 1834, before the name Hua Hin was coined, some agricultural areas of Phetchaburi Province were hit by severe drought. A group of farmers moved southward until they found a small village that had bright white sands and a row of rocks along the beach. They settled here and gave it the name Samore Riang (Thai สมอเรียง), which mean rows of rock.

In 1921 the director of the state railway, Prince Purachatra, built the Railway Hotel close to the beach. King Prajadhipok (Rama VII) liked the place so much that he built a summer palace there. The palace was named Wang Klai Kang Won ('Far from Worries'). It is now the full-time residence of His Majesty the King of Thailand. His Royal Highness Prince Krom Phra Naresworarit was the first member of the royal family to build a group of palaces at Ban Laem Hin, called Sukaves, and he give the name Hua Hin to the beach next to his palace.

In 1932 Hua Hin was part of Pran Buri district. In 1949 Hua Hin was promoted to be a district of Prachuap Khiri Khan province. After the building of southern railway, Hua Hin became the first and most popular beach resort of Thailand.

Hua Hin Town

Hua Hin Town (เทศบาลเมืองหัวหิน) is on the coast of Hua Hin District. With an area around 86.36 km², the town has 50,169 inhabitants. It is a popular beach resort getaway for Bangkok residents. The Railway Hotel, now more generally known as The Sofitel Hotel, is a famous old building which was used as The Hotel Pnom Phen in the film "The Killing Fields".

Climate

Hua Hin has a tropical climate with high humidity and occasional rain. It is typically pleasant. Generally, the cool season is from November to February. The hottest months are March thru May. The rainy season begins in June and ends in October, however, since the weather is tropical, the rain outbursts are short, sporadic and heavy.

Location

The district to the north is Cha Am. The district to the south is Amphoe Pran Buri.

Administration

Hua Hin district is located in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province and consists of 2 sub-districts; Hua Hin and Nong Khae.

Boundary

Hua Hin is a district of Prachuap Khiri Khan province surrounded by:
*Northern part: connects to Cha-am district, Petchburi province.
*Eastern part: Thai gulf
*Western part: Myanmar
*Southern part: Pranburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan province.

Transportation

RoadsHua Hin is linked by highway to Petchburi and the rest of Prachuap Khiri Khan province.

Rail systemsHua Hin is part of the southern rail route originating in Bangkok.

BusThere are buses from buses from Bangkok going directly to Hua Hin and others which pass through while on the way to other destinations further south.

Songthaew (public passenger pick-up vehicle)This kind of the transport is the most preferred mode of around Hua Hin.

AirportThere is an airport in Hua Hin, however flights are only available to and from Bangkok.

Tourism

Thailand’s royal family and especially former kings were the first to set this location on the map as the original seashore destination in Thailand. The 5km long beach itself is pretty and the sea is relatively clean. Besides just sunbathing snorkeling and swimming, it is the place supporting attractions and activities such as golf, spas, caves, peaks, waterfalls, shops, seafood and nearby national parks.

Attractions

Hat Hua Hin (ชายหาดหัวหิน) Hua Hin Beach extends some three kilometers southwards from a rocky headland until a southern headland where a Buddhist temple clings to the cliffs.

Hua Hin Railway Station (สถานีรถไฟหัวหิน) This is Thailand's most beautiful train station. The wooden building used to be a royal pavilion in Sanamchan Palace, Nakhon Pathom province. It was rebuilt at Hua Hin in 1968. Nightly Street Market (ตลาดโต้รุ่งหัวหิน) a popular shopping market allowing people the opportunity for shopping, native-style seafood cooked on the spot and to witness local people’s lifestyle.

Khao Takiap (เขาตะเกียบ) This hill, 4 kilometers from Hua Hin town, supports Buddhist temples and offers a commanding view of the resort, particularly early in the morning.

Khao Hin Lek Fai (เขาหินเหล็กไฟ) Situated 3 kilometers west of Hua Hin district, Khao Hin Lek Fai or Flint Mountain is 162 meters high. On the mountaintop, there is a public park and scenic spots from where the scenery of Hua Hin and its surrounding area is visible.

Khao Tao (เขาเต่า) 13 kilometers south of Hua Hin, there is a 1- kilometer branch road on the left which leads to the spot with two beaches called Hat Sai Noi and Hat Sai Yai.

Namtok Pa La-u (น้ำตกป่าละอู) This 11-tier scenic waterfall, some 60 kilometres west of Hua Hin, is located within a yearlong verdant forest where various kinds of birds and butterflies are found, especially in the morning.

Spirit Houses of Brassiere Beach were, according to legend, built to appease the spirit of a fisherman’s daughter who was once torn to pieces and her breasts fell into the sea. She was killed because she was desired by too many men. Until this day, the locals still hang brassieres to the spirit houses, but now they just pray for good luck.

Wat Huay Mongkol was home to the immensely popular monk Luang Phor Thuat was famed for his ‘miracles’. Commissioned by the Queen of Thailand, Wat Huay Mongkol houses the largest statue of Luang Phor Thuat in Thailand in a park-like setting. 10. Suan Son Pradiphat Beach, 8 km south of Hua Hin, is a peaceful location which is owned by the Army Welfare Office.

Activities

Popular activities in Hua Hin include: fishing, eco-cruising, kite-boarding, fitness, martial arts, elephant camping, Thai massage, spa, cooking courses, trekking, walking, cycling, diving, snorkeling, creative arts, water sports, pony-riding and golf.

Some foreign tourists go to Hua Hin and learn something like Thai cooking or Thai boxing.

Shopping

Hua Hin is a popular place for shopping including contemporary art handicrafts, hand-woven printed cotton, silk fabric silk weaving, embroidery, basket making, pottery, wood carving, gemstones and jewelry (including sapphires and rubies). There is also a large shopping mallcalled Market Village

Local Products

Hua Hin’s most famous local product is Khommaphat printed cotton which can be made into shirts, handkerchiefs, wraps, even elephants or fish, as well as decorative pieces such as pillows, bags and fans.Other local products include hand-woven cotton and a traditional Hua Hin-style duster.

Nightlife

Scattered around the town in small clusters are foreign-orientated beer bars. There are also the usual discotheques, karaoke bars, live music venues, hotel bars and even a lady-boy cabaret (known locally as Super Joes).

Local Culture

Lifestyle

Hua Hin is a predominantly Thai-Chinese area where most of the locals are engaged in some kind of business.

Events & Festivals

Hua Hin has three important events; they are:

Thailand’s International Kite Festival is during March, April and May and features stunt kites, big kites, little kites, high tech kites, traditional Thai kites, and displays of international kites.

Hua Hin Jazz Festival June is the time of the year when 'jazz on the beach' happens at the annual Hua Hin Jazz Festival. The popular event attracts world class jazz musicians from Thailand and all over the world.

Hua Hin Vintage Car Rally Hoteliers, the Vintage Car Club of Thailand, and the Tourism Authority of Thailand annually sponsor a 'parade' of vintage and classic cars starting at the Sofitel Central in Bangkok and ending in at the Sofitel Central Hua Hin Resort. The cars, with drivers and passengers decked out in 1920's attire, make the 225km promenade in December of each year. The festivities culminate with a 1920's party at the Sofitel, which appropriately is a Victorian-style structure built in the 1920's.

Local Food

There area lot of decent eateries in Hua Hin. Hua Hin is famed for its fresh seafood which is in abundance at the Night Market, restaurants and hotel restaurants. Naresdamri Road is a favoured place due its inexpensive restaurants while serving up romantic sea-views. This area is the site of the Hua Hin Fishing Harbour and in the early morning, fresh-out-of-the-water seafood can be snapped up.

Medical Health Care

Hua Hin has a lot of medical centers but the main medical facilities provided are at:
*San Paulo Hospital
*Hua Hin Hospital
*Hua Hin International Polyclinic

Retirement

There are a lot of retirees living in Hua Hin making it one of the more popular destinations for retirement in Thailand. This is probably due to the climate, natural surroundings and inexpensive cost of living.

Media/Contact

Hua Hin has a few local media, such as the highly informative website http://www.huahinafterdark.com/ as well as the English written [http://www.huahintoday.net Hua Hin Today Newspaper] , the "Cable TV" channel in Thai, and a few magazines. Most written information visitors to Hua Hin would find, would be pamphlets, flyers, free maps and other advertising materials for local hotels and real estate business'.

Landline telephone, all mobile phone systems, high-speed internet (ADSL), post offices and parcel services are available in Hua Hin.

ee also

*Cha Am