Hua Hin

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Hua Hin
หัวหิน
Statistics
Province: Prachuap Khiri Khan
District office: 12°34′7″N, 99°57′28″E
Area: 838.9 km²
Inhabitants: 85,099 (2006)
Pop. density: 101.44 inh./km²
Geocode: 7707
Postal code: 77110
Map
Map of Prachuap Khiri Khan, Thailand highlighting Hua Hin
Waterfront of Hua Hin
Waterfront of Hua Hin
Hua Hin beach on a cloudy morning
Hua Hin beach on a cloudy morning
For the island in French Polynesia, see Huahine.

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. It has a population of 84,883 in an area of 911 km², and is one of eight districts (Amphoe) of the Prachuap Khiri Khan province.

Contents

[edit] 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 southward until they found a small village that had bright white sands and a row of rocks along the beach. They settled here and gave it the name Samore Riang (Thai สมอเรียง), which mean rows of rock.

In 1921 the director of the state railway, Prince Purachatra, built the Railway Hotel close to the beach. King Prajadhipok (Rama VII) liked the place so much that he built a summer palace there. The palace was named Wang Klai Kang Won ('Far from Worries'). It is now the full-time residence of His Majesty the King of Thailand. His Royal Highness 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 he give the name Hua Hin to the beach next to his palace.

In 1932 Hua Hin was part of Pran Buri district. In 1949 Hua Hin was promoted to be a district of Prachuap Khiri Khan province. After the building of southern railway, Hua Hin became the first and most popular beach resort of Thailand.

[edit] Hua Hin Town

Hua Hin Town (เทศบาลเมืองหัวหิน) is on the coast of Hua Hin District. With an area around 86.36 km², the town has 50,169 inhabitants. It 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".

[edit] Location

The district to the north is Cha Am. The district to the south is Amphoe Pran Buri.

[edit] Hua Hin Media

Hua Hin has a few local media, such as Thai newspapers, the English written Hua Hin Today Newspaper, the "Cable TV" channel in Thai, and a few magazines. Most written information visitors to Hua Hin would find, would be pamphlets, flyers, free maps and other advertising materials for local hotels and real estate business'.

[edit] See also