Hua Hin District

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 south until they found a small village that had bright white sand and a row of rocks along the beach. They settled there and gave it the name Samore Riang (Samo Riang), which means "rows of rocks".

In 1921 the director of the state railway, Prince Purachatra, built the Railway Hotel close to the beach. 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 gave the beach next to his palace the name "Hua Hin". King Prajadhipok (Rama VII) liked the place so much that he built a summer palace there which was later named Klai Kang Won ("far from worries"). From 2004 until 2006 it was the full-time residence of King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX), until health issues forced him to return to Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok, where medical facilities and physicians were closer at hand.

In 1932 Hua Hin was part of Pran Buri District as a minor district (king amphoe). In 1949 Hua Hin became a separate district of Prachuap Khiri Khan. After the building of Thailand's southern railway connected the district with Bangkok along with various destinations en route, Hua Hin became the first and most popular beach resort in the country.

In August 2016, there were four bomb blasts in Hua Hin over a period of 24 hours. Two people died.

Climate

Hua Hin has a tropical savanna climate (Köppen climate classification Aw). Temperatures are very warm to hot throughout the year, with only small variations. The year begins with the dry season (December–April), before the monsoon arrives in May. Rains ease somewhat from June to August before the heaviest rains begin in September and continue through November.

Central administration

Hua Hin District is divided into seven sub-districts (tambon), which are further subdivided into 63 administrative villages (muban).

Local administration

There is one town (thesaban mueang) in the district:

There is one sub-district municipality (thesaban tambon) in the district:

There are five sub-district administrative organizations (SAO) in the district:

Boundaries

Hua Hin District is bordered by:

Air

Hua Hin Airport (HHQ) is chiefly used by private aircraft. Kan Air have three scheduled flights each week to and from Chiang Mai.

Bus

There are buses from Bangkok and other major cities direct to Hua Hin and others which pass through en route to other destinations north and south.

Rail

Hua Hin Railway Station is on the southern rail route originating in Bangkok and ending in Singapore. Trains run through to the south of the country and link directly with Malaysia.

Roads

Hua Hin is linked by highway to Petchburi and the rest of Prachuap Khiri Khan Province. Central Bangkok and Suvarmabhumi airport are just under three hours drive, or longer, depending on traffic conditions.

Boat

A passenger-only ferry service, Hua Hin-Pattaya-Hua Hin, is scheduled to begin operation on 1 January 2017. By road, the journey takes five to six hours. The ferry will shorten travel time by about two-thirds. The ferry will cruise at 27 knots on the 113 km journey across the Gulf of Thailand with a maximum passenger capacity of 150 persons. Larger ferries carrying up to 260 people are to be added to the service later. Ferries capable of carrying vehicles are projected for 2020.

Songthaew

The preferred mode of getting around town and surrounding areas. Hua Hin also has an abundance of tuk-tuks and motorcycle taxis.

Attractions

Rajabhakti Park Larger than life statues of seven prominent Thai kings.

Hua Hin Beach (ชายหาดหัวหิน) Hua Hin Beach extends some six kilometres southwards from a rocky headland to Kao Takiap, a headland with a Buddhist temple.

Hua Hin Railway Station (สถานีรถไฟหัวหิน) Thought by some to be 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)

Takiap Hill (เขาตะเกียบ) This hill, four kilometres from Hua Hin, has temples and offers a view of the town.

Hin Lek Fai Hill (เขาหินเหล็กไฟ) Three kilometres west of Hua Hin District, Khao Hin Lek Fai or Flint Mountain is 162 metres high. On top, there is a public park and viewpoints.

Tao Hill (เขาเต่า) Thirteen kilometres south of Hua Hin, there is a one kilometre branch road on the left which leads to the spot with two beaches called Hat Sai Noi and Hat Sai Yai and a traditional fishing village.

Pa La-u Waterfall (น้ำตกป่าละอู) This 11-tier scenic waterfall, some 60 kilometres west of Hua Hin, is in an evergreen forest where birds and butterflies abound.

Spirit Houses of Brassiere Beach in the Khao Sam Roi Yot area where, according to Thai folklore, spirit houses were built to appease the spirit of a fisher's daughter who was once torn to pieces, with her breasts falling into the sea. She was killed because she was desired by too many men. To this day, the locals hang bras on the spirit houses to bring good luck.

Wat Huay Mongkol was home to the immensely popular monk Luang Pu Thuat, 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.

Suan Son Pradiphat Beach Eight km south of Hua Hin, owned by the Thai Army.

Plearnwan (เพลินวาน) eco-village theme; opposite the royal residence of Klai Klangwan (royal palace, Hua Hin).

Activities

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

Golf in particular is becoming especially popular, with Hua Hin increasingly being recognized as one of Thailand's premier golfing destinations. The town hosted its first Asian tour event in 2009 at the new Black Mountain course, while other first class courses in easy reach include Majestic Creek, Royal Hua Hin, Banyan, Palm Hills, Lake View, and Springfield. There are several driving ranges.

Hua Hin has very good kite boarding conditions with shallow, warm waters. There is a northerly east wind from October–January with wind ranging from 15–25 knots. From February–May Hua Hin has a southerly thermal wind that gusts to 15–20 knots in the afternoon. There are good conditions for kite surfing in both of these seasons.

Several boat trips are available in Hua Hin-Pran Buri area such as touring the river and watching birds or cruising the Gulf of Thailand with a teak boat for swimming, fishing, and feeding monkeys at Sam Roi Yod National Park.

Events and festivals

Thailand 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. This festival is held every other year.

Hua Hin Jazz Festival Jazz on the beach every June. The event attracts world class jazz musicians from Thailand and abroad.

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 at the Sofitel Central Hua Hin Resort. The cars, with drivers and passengers decked out in 1920s attire, make the 225 km promenade in December of each year. The festivities culminate with a 1920s party at the Sofitel, which appropriately is a Victorian-style structure built in the 1920s.

International Cricket Sixes Held at the Dusit Hotel, the dates change each year, but the event coincides with the Thai holiday of Songkran and the Easter holiday in April.

Medical

Education

Hua Hin and Cha-Am host a number of tertiary education institutions such as Silpakorn University, Suan Dusit Rajabhat (Hospitality) University, and the Petchaburi Technology and Agricultural University. Webster University Thailand has a campus in Hua Hin and a branch in Bangkok.