Rayong Attractions:
Koh
Samet on which Sunthorn Phu, Thailand's greatest poet based his most famous
work, the story
of Phra Aphaimani, located 30 minutes or 6.5 kilometers off the
coast or Ban Phe. Samet
Island offers beautiful beaches
with charming white sand and strange-shaped rocks, suitable for
relaxation. The climate is always pleasantly cool with abundant
rains in August and windy monsoons in May. Accommodations at Ban
Phe and on the Samet Island are available. More
The King Taksin
Shrine located at Wat Lum Mahachai
Chumphon commemorates the occasion when he was rallying Thai
fighters to liberate the country from Burmese occupation. It is
highly revered by the people, · particularly those of Chinese
ancestry, and draws large worshipping crowds during the Chinese
New Year celebrations.
Wat Pa Pradu is located in town on Sukhumvit Road. The main
chapel houses a large reclining Buddha, measuring 11.95 meters
long and 3.60 meters high. The image reclines on its left instead
of the traditional right.
Rayong City Pillar is highly respected by town people, is
located at the Lak Muang Road. Originally the shrine housing the
pillar was made of wood but subsequently reconstructed in brick
and mortar.
Phra
Buddha Angkhirot
the principal
Buddha image of Rayong, is enshrined in a Thai-style pavilion
at Suan Si Muang located behind the city hall.
Phra
Chedi Klang Nam is
about 4 kilometers south of town centre along Taksin Maharat Road
is a pagoda erected on an islet of the Rayong River. It is not
known who constructed the pagoda, although it has been there for
countless years. The pagoda itself is about 10 meters tall. An
annual festival to celebrate the Phra Chedi Klang Nam is held
in November, with boat races and other folk plays and
performances.
Hat
Laem Charoen & Hat Sang Chan are
two beaches connected as a long line beach and is located 5 kms.
away from town to the south. Several seafood restaurants can be
found along Hat Laem Charoen and there are bungalows scattered
on Hat Sang Chan.
Ko
Saket Petch a
small off-shore island can be reached by embarking on a
boat at
Hat Sai Thong. The trip takes about fifteen minutes. The water
around the island is clear and allow a fascination view of the
underwater coral formations. Accommodation in Bungalows and camping
tents is available. Reservation should be made in advance by Tel.
7196393-9, 3197506 in Bangkok and Tel. (038) 617002 in Rayong.
Hat
Phayun and Hat Phala are located
in Amphoe Ban Chang 33 and 36 kms. respectively from Rayong town.
Both beaches are connected, peaceful and suitable for swimming.
The choice of accommodation offered ranges from luxury hotels
to economy bungalow complexes.
Sopha
Botanical Gardens possess one
of the most numerous varieties of trees and plants in Thailand.
Located 200 meters from km. 238 of Sukhumvit Road at the entrance
to Ban Phe, not far from the pier to Samet Island. In the
Gardens,
one sees also a Thai Sala and a group of three classical Thai
houses, each of which is more than a hundred years old. The houses
are completely furnished and utensils traditionally used by the
Thai people. There are also a number of antique objects and other
objects d'art on display in the houses. For more detail, please
contact Tel. 2241373, 2241388.
Sunthon
Phu Memorial Park the village
of Ban Khram, which is located on the coast road between Ban Phe
and Klaeng, is the birthplace of Sunthon Phu (1786-1855) of the
early 19th century. Thailand's greatest poet. There is a beautifully
kept memorial park at the place where his house was sited. A statue
of him in a seated position is placed on a small hill overlooking
an ornamental pond. Characters from his most famous work, can
be seen below him. His beloved hero Phra Aphaimani is playing
a flute at the foot of the hill, a beautiful mermaid rests on
a rock in the pond, and a giant ogress is rising out of the water
Ban Phe 22 kilometers from town, is a busy fishing port and the centre of local marine
produce.
Travel along the Sukhumvit Highway, take a right turn at km. 231
and proceed on for about five kilometers. It is a stopping off
points for tourists en route to the island of Ko Samet. Shops
in the main street stock a wide variety of local products such
as fish sauce, cuttle-fish, dried shrimp and shrimp paste.
Khao
Laem Ya-Mu Ko Samet National Park situated
at Tambon Phe, Amphoe Muang Rayong, the park covers a wide stretch
of area including shore, sea,-and islands with places of interest
like Hat Mae Ramphung, Khao Lam Ya and Ko Samet. The Forestry
Department has proclaimed it as a national park since Oct. 1,
1981.
Hat
Mae Ramphung accessible by a
right turn from kilometer 229 on Sukhumvit Road, the clean beach
slopes gently to the sea and makes a swimming appeal. Hat Mae
Ramphung is; hugged by a road running for 10 kilometers with a
small fisherman village called Ban Kon Ao situated at one end
and several bungalows and houses for rent scattered along the
way.
Khao
Laem Ya a small shore hill located
a bit beyond Ban Won Ao along the beach-hugging road. Some parts
of Khao Laem Ya are headlands stretching out into the sea. The
park's office is located on a long beach at the foot of the
hill.
