HuaHin, the back garden of Bangkok, the summer resort of the Thai royal family

Hua Hin has been a summer resort for the Thai royal family since ancient times, and is now the first choice for many Bangkok residents to travel on weekends. This seaside city, which is a 3-hour drive from Bangkok, is neither as colorful as Bangkok nor as sensual as Pattaya, but it is quiet and has a slow pace. In addition to well-preserved historical attractions, there are also various new theme attractions (although some are very bad), which is suitable for people who want to escape from the city but are afraid of boredom.

1. Vana Nava Hua Hin Water Jungle, Water Jungle Theme Park



Vana Nava Hua Hin Water Jungle, known as Asia's first water jungle theme park, combines ecological conservation and entertainment facilities. It is divided into two major areas: Water Jungle (water park area) and Adventure (adventure area), with a total of 19 motorized and slide games.

In the green tropical jungle, you will find all kinds of novel, exciting and colorful slides and slides. The must-try choice must be the largest slide in Thailand, Abyss (bottomless pit). Abyss is 28 meters high. Up to six tourists can fly down from the sky together. After four or five nearly vertical rotations, they rush into a huge funnel-shaped slide at a speed of 45 kilometers per hour. You can always hear the screams of the sliders. Another highlight is the longest slide in Thailand, Boomerango (boomerang), which is 179 meters long. Tourists fly up and down the wall of Boomerango slide at a high speed of 45 kilometers per hour, and then slide down from a height of more than 20 meters to the pool below, and feel the pleasure of weightlessness.



The park has a rich variety of dining options, including The Grove, a food court, Surf Shack, Fisherman’s Café, Tree Top Lounge, and Fisherman’s Tavern, a pool bar, as well as some outdoor food stalls. The spaghetti at Tree Top Lounge is cooked with Thai ingredients and spices, and it tastes amazing.

INFO:
Vana Nava Hua Hin Water Jungle
Address: 129/99 Soi Moo Baan Nong Kae, Nong Kae, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Hua Hin, 77110
Transportation: Vana Nava Hua Hin Water Jungle shuttle service is available throughout Hua Hin
Tel: +66 32 909606
Opening hours: 10:00-18:00 (Water Park Area), 10:00-21:00 (Adventure Area)
Tickets: 1000THB (Adults); 600THB (Children and Elders)
Website: www.vananavahuahin.com

2. Swiss Sheep Farm, Get in touch with the sheep



There are many artificial theme attractions in the Cha-am area of ​​Hua Hin that are not very interesting except for taking photos, such as "Little Santorini" and "Little Venice". This outdoor attraction simulating a Swiss sheep farm allows you to get close to cute animals. It is not only suitable for people who like animals, but also very suitable for parent-child travel. Although it is not a real farm, there are also a large group of cute sheep in it, and you can get close to the sheep. If you like taking photos, this place will definitely meet your requirements. Under the blue sky and white clouds, the farm full of European pastoral style, the country-style cabins, and the windmills moving with the wind, each setting has its own cuteness, which is worth pressing the shutter to commemorate, just like an outdoor photo studio.



A large lawn in the farm separates the sheds for sheep and horses. Little sheep are leisurely strolling on the grass, and a group of swans are swimming in the small lake in the center. Every visitor who enters the farm can exchange a bundle of hay with the ticket, and can also pay extra to buy carrots and milk to feed the cute sheep. You can also take photos and interact with the sheep up close, which is most popular among female tourists and children. After feeding the sheep, you can go to the sheep racing area to watch the sheep race. Watching the sheep wearing number plates rush to the finish line regardless of everything is full of joy. In addition to sheep, you can also get close to the "divine beast" grass mud horse here. There is a special air-conditioned room for them in the farm. You can go in and feed the cute grass mud horse carrots for an additional 100THB.

INFO:
Swiss Sheep Farm
Address: Swiss Sheep Farm Kao Yai, Cha-am District Phetchaburi 76120 Thailand
Tel: +66 32 772 495
Opening hours: 10:00-19:00 (Mon–Fri); 09:00-19:00 (Sat–Sun)
Ticket price: 120THB (adult); 80THB (child)
Website: swisssheepfarm.com/Home.htm

3. PlearnWan, go back 40 years




PlearnWan is a combination of "play" and "learn", and "wan" means "yesterday" in Thai. It is a nostalgic theme attraction. It took two years to design and more than a year to build, and it was officially opened to the public in 2009. It is known as the first retro village in Thailand that integrates environmental issues. The building materials used are recycled old wood, which is quite environmentally conscious.




Passing through the gate made of waste wood is like passing through a time tunnel, as if time has reversed back to the 1960s and 1970s. The interior is full of nostalgic posters, antique cars, and old electrical appliances. There are more than 60 shops here, including grocery stores, beauty salons, candy stores, bakeries, fashion stores, street food stalls, etc. There is a small playground at the deepest part of PlearnWan, which has a small Ferris wheel, which is very romantic.

4. Plearnwan Panich




As soon as you step into PlearnWan, you will see this café that continues the retro theme. The interior decoration is also full of nostalgic elements. Even the packaging of the drinks is closely related to the theme. The cups for the drinks are added with a hemp rope, which is full of the shadow of the old times. At the same time, it is also very practical: easy to carry without getting your hands wet.

5. PlearnWan Gift shop




PlearnWan official souvenir shop, all with PlearnWan as the design element, from cups, tableware to T-shirts, hats and handmade soaps, the design is good, and the price is reasonable, it is a good choice for souvenirs. Enamel cups are available in a variety of colors and sizes, and the price is 120THB to 150THB.

6. Pi-man-plearnwan Hotel



On the top floor of Plearn Wan, there is a nostalgic hotel with the theme of 70 years of Thailand. There are 20 rooms in total, each with a different decoration, full of nostalgia. If you are tired of staying in a large resort by the sea, why not try the feeling of traveling through time.

INFO:
PlearnWan
Address: Petchkasem Road, Soi Hua Hin 38-40, Hua Hin
Tel: +66 32 520 311
Business hours: 09:00-21:00 (Sun-Thur); 08:00-23:00 (Fri-Sat)
Website: www.plearnwan.com
Tickets: Free

7. Mrigadayavan Palace, stroll through the royal summer palace



Mrigadayavan Palace, also known as Marukataiyawan Palace, was built by Rama VI in 1923. It is mainly divided into three parts: the banquet hall and staff area; the second is Rama VI's bedroom and seaside passage; the third is the concubine's bedroom and seaside passage. This summer palace uses high-quality building materials and is elegant and generous. It is supported by 1,080 teak pillars, which can not only prevent ground moisture but also have ventilation effects. Each pillar has a concave water storage space to prevent insects and ants from climbing up along the pillars. There are 16 teak stilt palaces on the pillars. The wings on the left and right sides and the center have corridors extending from the land to the seaside. A viewing lounge with an excellent view and a small pier are designed for the king and the princess to enjoy the scenery.



This is Rama VI's favorite summer palace. When summer comes, he will go here for vacation and concentrate on drama creation. His works are often performed in the palace, and he often plays a role in them. He even fell in love with one of the actresses, who was later the favorite concubine of Rama VI, Princess Phra Nang Chao Suvadhana. Therefore, this palace has become a witness to their love and is called The Palace of Love and Hope.



This palace, which carries a romantic love story, is now open as a museum. However, in order to protect the historic summer palace, the number of visitors is controlled. You need to take off your shoes when visiting the second floor of the palace to prevent damage to the teak floor. Photography is also prohibited.

INFO:
Mrigadayavan Palace (Marukhathaiyawan Palace)
Address: 1281, Phetkasem, King Rama VI Army Camp, Cha-am 76120, Thailand
Tel: +66 32 508 444
Opening hours: 08:30 - 16:00 (closed on Wednesdays)
Tickets: 30THB each for the first and second floors
Dress code: No shorts, short skirts or vests are allowed (Sarongs are available near the entrance for borrowing with your passport)

8. Hua Hin Railway Station, a century-old railway station




Hua Hin Railway Station has a history of nearly a hundred years. It has an antique appearance and is known as one of the most beautiful railway stations in Thailand. Many tourists come here to check in even if they do not take the train.



The station was built in 1920 to facilitate Rama VI's summer vacation in Khao Wang. It is made of century-old teak and painted in red, the favorite color of the Thai royal family, and contrasted with light yellow. There is a separate waiting room next to the main building. It was once used exclusively by the royal family. It is now closed, but it has become a hot spot for many tourists to take pictures. The train station also houses a steam locomotive from the Second World War, which is full of history. There is also a library converted from a train compartment across the road outside the train station.

INFO:
Hua Hin Railway Station
Address: At the top (west end) of Damnoern Kasem Road, Hua Hin
Tel: +66 32 511 073