Hua Hin

Hua Hin boasts miles of clean beaches, good year-round weather, and a large foreign community. The rich selection of restaurants, internationally accredited medical care, and nine town golf courses, with several more being constructed, make it even more appealing. It’s close to the cultural offerings of Bangkok, yet far enough away to be well removed from the chaos. Mountains, caves, waterfalls, and abundant wildlife can be seen at the seven national parks within a two-hour drive from town. 

The event that transformed Thailand’s oldest major beach resort from a small fishing village to the popular seaside resort destination that it is today came in 1911, when the railroad from Bangkok to Hua Hin was completed. Transportation to and from Bangkok became much easier and more convenient, inspiring members of the Thai Royal Family and Bangkok’s elite to build bungalows here. 

In many respects, Hua Hin could be described as the San Miguel de Allende (Mexico) or Pedasí (Panama) of Southeast Asia—there is an expat community, but there are still enough local Thai people to keep things interesting. You’ll know and feel that you’re in a foreign country, but moving here does not require total immersion in a new culture. 

There is always something happening in town. Besides the annual Jazz Festival and Kite Festival, there are soccer leagues, pool tournaments, darts leagues, book clubs, and running and cycling clubs—just a few of the numerous pastimes available for the entertainment of the many expats living here.