Located about 200 kilometres south of Bangkok, Hua Hin is the country’s oldest beach resort, having been popularised as the summer retreat of the Thai Royal Family in the 1920s. According to Ministry of Tourism and Sports figures, Hua Hin welcomed 3.08 million visitors in 2011, an increase of 25.83% over the year 2010. Visitors had an average length of stay of 3.50 days and an average daily expenditure of Bt2,187 per person, generating tourism revenues of Bt17,318 million.
Hua Hin has a wide range of attractions and activities. Although best known for its long, white sandy beaches, Hua Hin also boasts numerous world-class golf courses, several Buddhist temples, bustling local markets, outstanding restaurants, and numerous spas, and health and wellness resorts. Historic attractions include the Old Palace, the old Hua Hin Railway Station, and other heritage buildings.
In the last 12 months, a number of new attractions have emerged in the city and its environs, including a vineyard, balloon-rides, night markets and sheep-farms. They have enhanced the appeal of the resort and will go a long way towards adding to the daily expenditure patterns and average length of stay.
In September, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) released a Thai-language brochure identifying these new attractions. Although the information was dedicated to attracting the domestic market, it has been translated and repackaged for the benefit of foreign visitors, especially Lookeast readers. Some additional info has been sourced from the websites. Hope it helps you enjoy your stay in Amazing Thailand.
Memory Hua Hin formerly was a vacant space with an 100-year-old wooden house built during the reign of King Rama 6. The two-storey bungalow belonged to a Hua Hin-born landlord. It has since been renovated and extended. Pictures of old Hua Hin and other rare pictures that reflect the living conditions of people in early Hua Hin are exhibited.
The project aims to be a dining center of delicious, clean and affordable food. Visitors can also see an exhibit of old photographs depicting Hua Hin as it was more than 100 years ago. The project consists of photo zones, souvenir shops, stage shows and over 40 restaurants.
Memory Hua Hin opens daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. // www.rarukhuahin.com
“Chatsila Night Market” is a new shopping area in the center of Hua Hin town. Visitors can enjoy shopping in an atmosphere of the 1950s. The bungalow was designed in the reign of the King Rama 7 and features a 2nd floor gallery of black and white photographs showing the historic legacy of the town. The market boasts a variety of handmade and fashion products.
Operating Time: Open daily, 6-11 p.m.
www.chatsilahuahin.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Chatsila/145247312244511
The first tree-shaded sheep farm in Thailand, especially for children, it boasts a friendly style with an emphasis on simplicity for the customer to relax with the Black Sheep.
Officially opened on March 22, 2012, it was set up because the daughter of the farm’s owner loves the animals. The family enjoyed travelling to various sheep farms in Thailand and felt it was time for Hua Hin to have one, too. The park is over 15 acres where sheep roam freely under the shade of large trees. Children just love feeding the sheep. The farm also boasts many other animals such as goats, rabbit, deer and chicken.
Operating Time: 9 a.m.- 5 p.m., Monday-Friday,
and 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.,Saturday-Sunday
Entrance Fee: Bt20 (children); Bt40 (adults)
www.blacksheephuahin.in.th
This incredible flight provides a spectacular panoramic view of the Gulf of Thailand, Hua Hin coastline and the lush-green surrounding mountains. A helium-filled balloon with a gondola that carries five passengers is tethered by a steel cable and then sent soaring to a height of 100m for an exhilarating 15-minute flight.
The Magic Balloon is located four kms from the city center of Hua Hin. At night, the balloon is brightly illuminated to glow like the moon, creating a “romantic ambience” for passengers.
Safety is guaranteed. The cable has a breaking strain in excess of 45 tons. This is compared to the maximum lift exerted by the balloon of just two tons. After accounting for the weight of all the equipment and passengers, the balloon is only left with an upward pull of approximately 1/2 tons.
Operation Time: 8:30 a.m.-7 p.m. daily
Tickets and prices
Balloon: Bt450 (adults); Bt300 (student)
Children (under six) free
Bt2000 — Individual balloon ascension
5D Cinema:
Bt120 (adult), Bt650 (children under 10)
Individual sessions
www.magicballoon.net
Facebook: www.facebook.com/magicballoon
Cicada Market is created as a medium of connection for artists, creators, designers, tourists, students and community through integrating culture and arts with lifestyles. As an art market designed to reflect the atmosphere of Hua Hin, Cicada Market boasts an extensive collection of handmade decorative items, fashion clothes and SME products. The market abounds with creative activities, workshops, exhibitions and performances of dance, music and fine arts.
Open every Friday and Saturday from 4 to 11 p.m. and Sunday 4-10 p.m. , Cicada Market is divided into four venues: Art A La Mode, Cicada Art Factory, Amphitheatre and Cicada Cuisine.
Art A La Mode is where art and craft vendors sell clothing, handmade bags, fashion accessories, souvenirs, crafts, used items and cards. Most of the vendors here are young people from art colleges, local vendors, or vendors from Bangkok and nearby.
The venue for art exhibitions is called Cicada Art Factory. Exhibitions feature young artists with original style of their works, as well as those from further afield. The artists are rotated regularly to show the public the wealth of variety of illustrations, portraits, paintings, photos and sculptures. The concept is to promote the young artists and to help them generate revenue with their original works.
An amphitheater-style venue provides a form of entertainment designed to educate as well as to amuse visitors, as well as to promote the work of talented artists.
At the Food zone, Cicada Cuisine, visitors can choose from a wide variety of local and international delights, such as grilled seafood, grilled pork satay, Pad Thai, Fried Mussels Thai Style, Chinese noodle, Korean B.B.Q, American and Italian pasta dishes, and variety of desserts. Also, many choices of drinks are served.
The market welomes proposals from artists, musicians, or other performers looking for a venue. There is no admission charge. All performances and exhibitions are free.
Cicada Market is located on Khao Takieb-Hua Hin Road or Hua Hin 87, at the entrance to the Hyatt Regency Hotel and before Sasi Theatre.
www.cicadamarket.com
Hua Hin Hills Vineyard is the home of Monsoon Valley Wines, a new latitude wine from Thailand. It has received multiple awards and is available in Thai restaurants in over 15 countries and around Thailand. The harvest period is annually between mid February and into late March. A wine harvest festival is held in early March.
Hua Hin Hills Vineyard is built on former elephant corral, once used to domesticate wild Asian elephants. Covering a total area of 560 acres, between 140-210m above sea level, the terrain of loamy-sand and slate and constant ocean breeze allows 20 international grape varietals to thrive. Siam Winery started developing the site in 2003. Today, visitors are welcomed to explore New Latitude Wines at the Sala Wine Bar & Bistro.
The vineyard is located about 45km west of Hua Hin, close to the Myanmar border on route to Pala U waterfall. Visitors can tour the vineyard on the back of an elephant. The Sala Wine Bar & Bistro is a beautifully designed Thai pavilion, offering delicious wine & food amidst scenic landscape as well as information on tropical viticulture and winemaking. Visitors can indulge in wine-tasting, enjoy a jeep tour or get first hand knowledge of new latitude wine-growing.
Opening hours: Daily from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Elephant ride tours cost Bt300 or 30 minutes for Bt500 per person, for 15 minutes. Or try a mountain bike: 30 min for Bt100 or 60 minutes for Bt150 per person. Visitors can also try their hand at bottle painting and create their own unique wine label. Bt300 per set.
Round-trip shuttle services leave from Market Village, the shopping mall in downtown Hua Hin, twice a day: 10:30 a.m. and return to Hua Hin @2 p.m.; 3 p.m. and return to Hua Hin @ 6 p.m. One round ticket is Bt300 per person (free for children under 4 years old)
The Hua Hin Hill Wine Cellar is located at the ground floor of Hua Hin Market Village next to Starbucks
Tel: + 66 (0) 32 526 351, Mobile: + 66 (0) 81 904 5777, + 66 (0) 81 904 3888
www.siamwinery.com
www.huahinhills.com
