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 |
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.
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.
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 |
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