Khlong Yai District

Khlong Yai (Thai: คลองใหญ่) is a district (Amphoe) of Trat Province, eastern Thailand. A border crossing into Cambodia is located at Hat Lek, known as the Cham Yeam crossing in Koh Kong Province of Cambodia. The nearest Cambodian city is Koh Kong.

History

In the past the area was a part of Patchanta Khiri Khet province (now Koh Kong). Unlike the other parts of Koh Kong, this area became part of Siam (Thailand) by the French-Siamese contract in the reign of King Chulalongkorn, in which Siam had to cede the areas east of the Mekong river and provinces of western Cambodia like Battambang, Siam Nakhon and Sisophon.

It was created as a minor district (King Amphoe) in 1912 and officially upgraded to a full district in 1959.

Geography

The district is at a narrow band of land along the coast to the Gulf of Thailand, separated from Cambodia by the Cardamom Mountains.

Neighboring districts are (from the north clockwise) Mueang Trat of Trat Province, the province Koh Kong of Cambodia and the Gulf of Thailand.

Sights

The Thai Red Cross Association's Khao Lan Center (ศูนย์สภากาชาดไทยเขาล้าน) is set on Trat-Klong Yai Road, Tambon Mai Rut, in the same area as the former Cambodian refugees camp. The camp was closed in 1986 when the refugees moved back to Cambodia. The center was established on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of Her Majesty the Queen Sirikit in 1992, commemorative to Queen Sirikit royal mercy to set the camp for Cambodian who suffered from their Civil War. Buildings in the area are the Ratchakarun Hall (ศาลาราชการุณย์) and the museum in which the exhibition featuring the history, lifestyle and household items of Cambodian refugees.

Administration

The district is subdivided into 3 subdistricts (tambon), which are further subdivided into 20 villages (muban). There are two townships (thesaban tambon) - Khlong Yai and Hat Lek both cover parts of the same-named tambon. There are further 2 Tambon administrative organizations (TAO).