Aranyaprathet District

Aranyaprathet (Thai: อรัญประเทศ) is a district (Amphoe) in Sa Kaeo Province in Thailand. It borders Cambodia to the East.

Aranyaprathet
อรัญประเทศ
—  Amphoe  —
Boundary at Aranyaprathet
Amphoe location in Sa Kaeo Province
Coordinates:
Country  Thailand
Province Sa Kaeo
Seat Ban Mai Nong Sai
Tambon
Muban
Amphoe established
Area
 • Total 821.265 km2 (317.1 sq mi)
Population (2005)
 • Total 83,171
 • Density 101.3/km2 (262.4/sq mi)
Time zone THA (UTC+7)
Postal code
Geocode 2706

Contents

Economy

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 (3-5 hrs overland (car/bus)), 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.

History

Aranyaprathet was originally a district within the province Kabin Buri. On April 1, 1926 the province was abolished and the two districts Mueang Kabin Buri and Aranyapathret became districts of Prachinburi Province.[1] In 1993 it was one of the districts which formed the new Sa Kaeo province.

Administration

The district Aranyaprathet is subdivided into 13 subdistricts (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

References

  1. ^ "ประกาศ เรื่อง ยุบจังหวัดกบินทร์บุรีลงเป็นอำเภอขึ้นจังหวัดปราจีน" (in Thai) (PDF). Royal Gazette 42 (0 ก): 430–431. March 31 1926. http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2468/A/430.PDF. 

External links