Hua Hin Intro
Hua Hin, located just two hours southwest of Bangkok is a traditional yet urbane beach resort that strikes a perfect balance of a cosmopolitan city and a relaxed beach town. With royal and aristocratic roots, Hua Hin is now occupied by many expats as well as mid to high society Thais. Its convenient distance from the capital makes it a highly sought after area to buy a house for summers away from the city, rent a condo for a weekend getaway or settle into a sophisticated community with perfect weather and all the amenities needed for a comfortable life by the sea.
Overview
Bordered by a powdery, well-groomed six kilometer beach, Hua Hin’s contains some of the country’s finest hotels, restaurants, spas and golf courses, attracting both tourists and Thais looking for a luxurious getaway. But luxury aside, Hua Hin warmly welcomes visitors from all societies and classes, as it is easily accessible by train and contains a vibrant night market, beautiful nature with caves and waterfalls, beach activities, and inexpensive guest houses to suit any traveler’s needs and budget. The main street in town, called Petchkasem Road offers residents and visitors many places to shop, eat, drink, and worship. Given the town center’s relatively small size it won’t take long to walk from one end of the main street to the other, so long as it’s early in the morning or around sunset when the air is a little cooler than the daytime heat.
Population
Hua Hin’s population has around 90,000 inhabitants. Out of these people, the majority of them are Thai but it is estimated that about 4,000 foreigners live in Hua Hin as well. The city has a large number of Nepalese, Burmese and Indian people. Some of the largest western expat groups include English, Scandinavians/Swedes and Dutch. This western influence has made its way into the city’s architecture, so walking around will allow you to see unique colonial style houses in Hua Hin, a rarity in Thailand. Now, more and more expats from all over the world are moving to Hua Hin as they realize the ease of living, beautiful surroundings and like-minded neighbors they will have there.
History
Hua Hin is Thailand’s oldest beach resort and one of the most popular among Bangkok’s elite. Its high-brow reputation was gained in the 1920s when it became the Royal Family’s regular summer getaway. It was Prince Chakrabhongse who first fell in love with Hua Hin when he went on a hunting trip with Russian nobility and shortly after his trip he built Hua Hin’s first Thai beach villa. Later, King Rama VI followed suit by building a summer retreat of his own. King Rama VII was the next to build yet another palace, which is now where the Royal family spends most of their days. The palace is called Klaikangwon, which is literally translated as the “Far From Worries” palace.
If Hua Hin is good enough for the Royal Family, it is certainly good enough for the rest of Thai society, so once this word caught on and the southern railway was constructed, Hua Hin started to see more and more luxurious property developments built and became frequented Bangkok’s elite. Years later, Hua Hin gained international recognition when the luxury hotel group, Sofitel came to town. The success of the Sofitel sparked a trend and today you can find just about any international hotel chain there.
Food
Food in Thailand is known for being fresh and flavorful, found in markets and street carts in just about every neighborhood in the country as well as in a variety of restaurants, from the local to international style. Food in Hua Hin is special though, as it is renowned for its seafood and many restaurants offer ocean-view seating. If you’re not a seafood lover or prefer to sit a little further inland, it’s also easy to find food from just about every nation including Indian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Scandinavian and many more. If you’re budget minded, there are many markets in Hua Hin that will provide authentic Thai food as well as a variety of other foods prepared more for Thai palate.
Transport (airport, trains etc)
Hua Hin is a very accessible place from many places in Thailand as it is one of the main stops on the Southern Railway. You can take a train from Hua Lamphong Station in Bangkok for as low as 100 baht for third class and more for second and first class with air conditioning and comfortable seats. Children under the age of 12 can either travel free or for half the price. These tickets can be purchased up to 90 days in advance, or on the day of between 8:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. on weekdays, or noon on weekends and holidays. If you want to travel south from Hua Hin, you can always hop right back on the train and keep going.
Alternatively, if you’d like to take the bus you can take an express from the Southern Bus Terminal every half hour between 5 a.m. and 10 p.m. for a price similar to the train in about three hours. If you’re daring enough to brave the hectic streets of Thailand, driving is also an option and an easy, straight-shot from Bangkok.
Weather and climate
Like most places in Thailand, Hua Hin has a cool, hot and rainy season. The cool season begins around November and lasts until February. The cool season is still quite warm during the day; however a light jacket may be useful at night if spending time outdoors. Hua Hin starts to get very hot during the summer months of March to June, with temperatures reaching over 30 degrees Celsius on a daily basis, and going only as low as the high twenties at night. Around mid-April, infrequent bursts of rain may begin and will gradually happen more often as it gets to be rainy season, which lasts from July to October. Visiting during this day often promises daily rain so those visiting Hua Hin may be spending short bursts of time indoors. Hua Hin, however is actually much drier and sunnier than many other destinations in Thailand so is a good choice to get away from the rainy season while remaining in the country.
International Schools
As Hua Hin is home to many expats it is surprising that there are currently no fully international schools with English as the primary language. Several private schools however do offer bi-lingual programs with half of the classes taught in English. Hua Hin and Cha-Am have several tertiary schools and universities as well, including Silapakorn (Arts) University, Suan Dusit Rajabhat (Hospitality) University, and the Petchaburi Technology and Agricultural University.[9] Webster University. Hua Hin is also home to the only American accredited international University in Thailand.
Family Attractions
Out of all the popular tourist destinations in Thailand, Hua Hin may be the most family friendly. Because of the Royal presence, Go-Go bars are not allowed, giving the city a much more conservative vibe than party places like Patong or Khao San Road. Families and kids can enjoy a variety of beach activities in Hua Hin such as banana-boating, sailing or tubing. There are also many options to take day trips to the countryside just outside of the city, which offers biking and hiking trails, elephant rides or horse rides up to a hill-top Buddhist temple. Within Hua Hin many hotels and resorts will have kiddie corners that can keep children entertained with arts and crafts and camp-like activities all day. For older children, museums and galleries, markets and cooking classes and theatres are all activities that the whole family can get involved in.
Sports and Leisure Facilities
Hua Hin, with its perfect weather and beach front location makes it an idyllic place to get outside and do something. If you’re looking for a way to get some exercise in you can take a half, full or multiday bicycle tour around Hua Hin’s vineyards and other local attractions. There are also several fantastic golf courses, horseback riding and tours of nearby waterfalls and national parks. If you’re set on spending all of your time by the sea, scuba diving, snorkeling and kiteboarding are all activities that you can spend your days in the sun on.
