Hua Hin - City of pure gold, delectable coconuts and pineapples, delightful beaches, mountain and caves, land of spiritual beauty. 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.
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.
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.
Hua Hin Town
Hua Hin Town (เทศบาลเมืองหัวหิน) 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".
Attractions
Hat Hua Hin (ชายหาดหัวหิน) - Hua Hin Beach extends some five kilometers southwards from a rocky headland until Kao Takiap, 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. Khao Tao is a trditional fishing village that also boasts spectacular temples.
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.
Hua Hin Hills Vineyard is the only vineyard in the area is located 45 minutes from downtown. It offers spectacular views, a restaurant and wine tasting of the local Monsoon Valley Wines.
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.Golf is particular is becoming especially popular, with Hua Hin increasingly being recognized as one of Thailand's premier golfing destination. 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 Royal Hua Hin, Banyan, Palm Hills, Majestic Creek, Lake View and Springfield. There are several driving ranges.
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 mall called Market VillageLocal 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
Most foreign-orientated nightlife is centred on Soi Bintabaht and Soi Selakam, where many typical beer bars are found. There are also the usual discotheques, karaoke bars, live music venues, hotel bars and even a lady-boy cabaret, the Blue Angel. The pace of nightlife is much slower than in the larger western-orientated towns of Pattaya and Patong, while the proximity to the Royal Palace means that there are no go-go bars.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. This festival is held only every other year, the next being in 2010.
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 are many superb restaurants in and around Hua Hin. The town 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 to its inexpensive restaurants and 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. The best value and tastiest food can frequently be found from the street hawkers. The street food is hygenic and safe to eat.As well as Thai food, there are a number of Italian, German, TexMex and Indian restaurants. Recently a number of coffee shops and ice cream parlous have also opened. Several ex-pat owned bars and restaurants also serve a full English breakfast and traditional Sunday lunch.
Information from Wikipedia
