Amphoe Aranyaprathet
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| Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Province: | Sa Kaeo |
| Area: | 821.3 km² |
| Inhabitants: | 73,813 (2000) |
| Pop. density: | 89.9 inh./km² |
| Geocode: | 2706 |
| Map | |
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Aranyaprathet (Thai: อรัญประเทศ) is a district (Amphoe) in Sa Kaeo Province in Thailand. It borders Cambodia to the East.
Aranyaprathet was formerly a stop on the railroad connecting Bangkok with Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Rail service was interrupted at the border when the Khmer Rouge seized power in Cambodia in 1975.
Aranyaprathet is a popular destination for Thai, Cambodian and expatriate visitors who are attracted by the border crossing with its market and casinos. Gambling is illegal in both Thailand and Cambodia, but enterprising politicians and businessmen have created a popular string of 7 casinos in the strip of land separating the border checkpoints of the two countries. As the closest casinos to Bangkok (4 hrs overland), these are well-frequented and have resulted in numerous bankruptcies and soaring real estate prices in the town. Although they make up most of the staff of the casinos, Cambodian citizens are generally not permitted to enter as paying customers. Expatriates in Thailand often use the border crossing to renew their Thai visa or to cross over to Cambodia, en route to the temples of Siem Reap. Aranyaprathet's twin city on the Cambodian side is Poiphet, the western terminus of national highway 5, leading to Phnom Penh.
[edit] Administration
The district Aranyaprathet is subdivided into 13 communes (tambon), which are further subdivided into 111 villages (muban). Aranyaprathet itself has town status (thesaban mueang) and covers the complete tambon Aranyaprathet. There are further 12 tambon administrative organizations (TAO).
| No. | Name | Thai name | Villages | Inh. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Aranyaprathet | อรัญประเทศ | - | 16,937 | |
| 2. | Mueang Phai | เมืองไผ่ | 7 | 3,982 | |
| 3. | Han Sai | หันทราย | 10 | 5,538 | |
| 4. | Khlong Nam Sai | คลองน้ำใส | 12 | 5,324 | |
| 5. | Tha Kham | ท่าข้าม | 11 | 4,654 | |
| 6. | Pa Rai | ป่าไร่ | 9 | 5,573 | |
| 7. | Thap Phrik | ทับพริก | 7 | 3,433 | |
| 8. | Ban Mai Nong Sai | บ้านใหม่หนองไทร | 7 | 9,466 | |
| 9. | Phan Suek | ผ่านศึก | 13 | 6,438 | |
| 10. | Nong Sang | หนองสังข์ | 8 | 6,596 | |
| 11. | Khlong Thap Chan | คลองทับจันทร์ | 10 | 4,672 | |
| 12. | Fak Huai | ฟากห้วย | 10 | 6,695 | |
| 13. | Ban Dan | บ้านด่าน | 7 | 3,863 |
| Amphoe of Sa Kaeo |  |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Amphoe: | Mueang Sa Kaeo - Khlong Hat - Ta Phraya - Wang Nam Yen - Watthana Nakhon - Aranyaprathet - Khao Chakan | ||
| King Amphoe: | Khok Sung - Wang Sombun | ||
