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.
