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The provincial capital is a fishing port with a superb location
beside
beautiful
curving
bays
and
amongst
steep
mountain
outcrops.
About
100
kilometres
to
the
north
of
Prachuap
Khiri
Khan
is
Hua
Hin,
Thailand's
first
beach
resort
which
is
renowned
for
golf
and
spa.
Between
Hua
Hin
and
Prachuap
Khiri
Khan
are
Pran
Buri
with
many
boutique
resorts
and
Khao
Sam
Roi
Yot
National
Park
with
soaring
peaks,
numerous
caves
and
exotic
bird
life.
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Hua Hin
281 kilometers south of Bangkok, Hua Hin, which literally means
stone
head
in
Thai,
is
the
oldest
beach
resort
of
the
country
and
is
still
very
popular.
Clean
white
sand,
crystal
clear
water
and
a
tranquil
atmosphere
has
continued
to
attract
tourists
in
search
of
peaceful
and
relaxing
holidays.
The town was originally known as Ban Samoe Rieng, or Ban Laem Hin
(Stony
Point
Village).
The
construction
of a
railway
station
in
the
city
as
part
of
the
Southern
Railroad
in
the
reign
of
King
Rama
VI
resulted
in
making
Hua
Hin
stand
out
from
many
quite
fishing
villages.
In
addition,
the
construction
of a
Summer
Palace
of
King
Rama
VII
totally
transformed
the
village
into
a
high-society
resort
town
for
royalty.
Even
today,
the
Royal
Family
continues
to
reside
at
the
Palace
for
part
of
the
year.
Hua Hin's consequence came with the opening of the Railway Hotel
(known
today
as
the
Sofitel
Central
Hotel),
an
elegant
Victorian-style
resort
hotel,
and
also
the
countrys
first
standard
golf
course.
A
cluster
of
royal
and
high-society
residences
gradually
became
more
visible
resulting
in
the
transformation
of
the
whole
village
into
the
first
seaside
resort
of
the
country,
where
visitors
could
enjoy
swimming,
fishing,
and
golfing
in
the
country's
first
standard
golf
course.
Today,
Hua
Hin
is a
well-established
beach
destination
with
word-class
facilities
coupled
with
a
true
sense
of
Thai
hospitality.
Despite
its
expansive
growth
and
development
as a
luxurious
destination,
the
splendor
of
Hua
Hin
remains
intact.
Remaining
content
in
itself,
Thailand's
oldest
seaside
resort
has
never
sought
international
recognition.
It
has
continued
to
provide
a
peaceful
and
relaxed
sanctuary
in a
picturesque
environment
that
comes
with
a
true
sense
of
historical
identity. |