Traditional Thai Hospitality at Hua Hin

by: Debbie Salcedo

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A fascinating combination of the attractions of the old and the new, Hua Hin is considered to be Thailand’s oldest and most traditional Thai resort. This is not to say that this very active fishing port does not offer tourist conveniences as it has also made the list of Thailand’s top holiday destinations not only for tourists but  also for the Thai people themselves.

The resort has a great 5-mile long beach, perfect for providing the highest density of world class golf courses anywhere in Thailand while its potential for being another golfer’s paradise have yet to be realized and discovered as an international Golf destination. Green-fees and other costs are currently among the lowest in the world while course maintenance and services are superb.

Savoring the patronage of Thai holiday-makers for over 70 years, the popularity and charm of the resort area of Hua Hin have long been known in Thailand way before the relatively recent discovery and speedy development of the beaches of Phuket and Samui.

This beautiful resort was first discovered and used in the early 1920s by King Rama VII as an ideal getaway from the sultry metropolis of Bangkok. The tranquil fishing village was turned into the Royal resort and consequently became popular among Siam's (then Thailand’s name) nobility and upper class.

The further construction of a railway line from Bangkok ensured its accessibility and popularity with a wider part of the Thai public.

Admittedly though, it was the resort's royal endorsement and patronage, which has given Hua Hin a special character and fame of its very own.

In 1928, King Rama VII built his Klai Kangwon (Far From Worries) Palace, which remains until this day an official royal residence. It is still frequently used by members of the royal family and is open to the public for visits.

Hua Hin continued to develop in its own leisurely way, both as an aristocratic resort with the added attraction of an 18-hole golf course, and as a fishing port.

The Railway Hotel which is known today as the Sofitel Central Hua Hin, was built by the State Railways of Thailand in 1923 was designed to follow the architectural styles of old Siam.

Many of Bangkok's rich and famous built their own beachfront summer homes to the north and south of the resort along the curving sandy bay thus providing a genteel and markedly upscale personality to the resort town.

At present, visitors to Hua Hin will still sense the special atmosphere and old world charm.

Apart from sun-filled days on the mile-long beach there are leisure activities for the whole family from watersports to golf. The area around the town let's you discover fabulous parks and peaks, caves and waterfalls.

In the evening the winding roads with numerous shops along the way make a great stroll. And the restaurants built on stilts into the sea offer superb seafood in the legendary and unsurpassed preparation of the Thai cuisine.