I actually intended to travel to Taiwan this year but Thailand sounds easier and more affordable. Plus, some of my friends who visited this place, highly recommend me come to this country and so I did. I was pondering which places I should hit besides Bangkok. Pattaya, Chiang Mai or Hua Hin? Then the most unfamiliar name on the list attracted me right away. So yes, I made it to Hua Hin and did not regret anything because I am glad I found a secret paradise on earth.

Far from the crazy and fast-paced Bangkok, Hua Hin is a less busy beach town. It is where the city meets the sea, said Lonely Planet. Indeed, Hua Hin is a delightful mix of city and sea with a cosmopolitan vibe, lively markets, tasty street eats, long beaches and a fully functional infrastructure. A crush on this city is apparently something any travellers cannot resist.

HOW TO GO  

To get to Hua Hin from Don Muang Airpot, you should come to Southern bus station first to buy mini-van tickets. There are two ways to get to Southern bus station:

• Taxi: Pros: Easy, private and fast. Cons: Expensive.

How: Any taxi at the airport, just get in and and say Southern bus station.

• Bus: Pros: Cheap, can meet and make friends with the local and actually not take too much time than taxi does. Cons: uncomfortable, may stand if you don’t get the seat.

How: Take bus 29 outside the airport to Victory Monument (6.5 Bath). Then at Victory Monument take bus 511 to Southern bus station (17.5 Bath).

At Southern bus station, buy mini-vans tickets to Hua Hin (180 Bath). The journey takes about 3 hours fyi.

WHERE TO GO  

Hua Hin Railway Station – Wat Huay Mongkol

Wat Huay Mongkol is the oldest place in Hua Hin, also the main attraction of this town. It was built in 1910 and was rebuilt many times. And too bad me and my bestie just travelled al by ourselves and didn’t hire any tour guide so we actually did not have a chance to know very clear about the history of the attraction. And worse, the attraction didn’t offer any information box about the place even in Thai language. But it glad to know it’s the class 1 railway to the Southern line.

Address: Phra Pokklao Road, Hua Hin Subdistrict, Hua Hin District, Prachuap Khiri Khan
Prices/Entrance Fees: Free!

Mrigadayavan Palace

Perfect place for a long walk and chillax, Mrigadayvan is where King Rama VI who ruled Siam from 1910 to 1925 stayed. This seaside place is very large, stunning and was built in stilt architecture. It’s not kind of a luxurious, splendid palace but quite a serene and peaceful one where once you get in, all you want is relax, walk around and enjoy.

Address: T1281 Phetkasem Rd, King Rama VI Army Camp, Cha-am, Cha-am District, Phetchaburi 76120
Opening hours: Daily 8:30 A.M to 4:30 P.M
Prices/Entrance Fees: 30 Bath (If you wear inappropriate clothes like shorts and halters you will be charged 20 Bath more for borrowing long pants)

Plearn Wan

If you come to Hua Hin you cannot miss Plearn Wan. It’s a colorful vintange shop-house village. From the architecture, the decoration, the colors, the clothes and the music, everything is antique, classic and old. And with all of this vintage vibes, Plearn Wan somehow made me wanna slow down to enjoy every little thing.

Address: 38, Soi 40, Hua Hin Road, Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan 77110
Opening hours: Daily 11 A.M to midnight
Prices/Entrance Fees: Free!

Cicada night market

Warning: You may get lost in there. Why? Because it is so BIG! I actually love this place the most as it has acoustic night music (Thailand music) everywhere. Those outdoor food courts, restaurants with a lot lights and the clouds lantern hang up looks

Address: 83/159 Nong Kae, Hua Hin 77110
Opening hours: Fri-Sun, 4 P.M – 11 P.M (closed at 10 P.M on Sunday)
Prices/Entrance Fees: Free!

Hua Hin night market

Smaller than Cicada market, Hua Hin night market is an ideal place if all you want is a food tour. It does offer many good food and drinks, local specialities. But if you want to get the signature souvenir, Cicada is a better markets and it has a lot of kind of stuff for you.

Address:  Petchkasem Road
Opening hours: 18:00 – 23:00
Prices/Entrance Fees: Free!

Santorini Park

Here a little corner of Greece in Hua Hin, a beautiful park with all those white walls just like in Santorini. Right at the time I step, I felt like I was in another country. But as I took more step inside, I know it was always Hua Hin but with Santorini vibes. So it’s kind of a mixture of both, and I think you guys will like it because beautiful corners are everywhere.

Address:  76120 Phetchaburi, Cha-am District, Kao Yai
Opening hours: Mon – Fri 10 A.M – 7 P.M, Sat-Sun 9 A.M – 7 P.M
Prices/Entrance Fees: 150 Baht

The Venezia

This place is not highly recommended. I have to be honest. Nothing special inside and also it’s very deserted, not many shops or food court open. Everything looks like it had been fallowed for a long time. Plus, the ticket entrance is much more expensive than other places but the view is not as good as.

Address:  1899 Petch Kasem Road, Sai Tai, Cha-am, Petchaburi 76120
Opening hours: Daily 10 A.M – 11.30  P.M
Prices/Entrance Fees: 180 Baht

The Swiss Sheep Farm

So yeah, another country in Hua Hin. Welcome to Sweden! As a nature lover, the green view caught my attention right away. Everything in the farm is so calm, so quite, so tranquil and so beautiful. If you love wild life, you can come and play with the horse or feed the sheep, the birds, the fish. Or you just can enjoy the nature there with the huge green trees, the small stream and don’t forget to take picture with the huge windmill 😉

Address:  Khao Yai, Cha-am, Petchaburi Thailand 7612
Opening hours: Mon – Fri 10 A.M – 7 P.M, Sat-Sun 9 A.M – 7 P.M
Prices/Entrance Fees: 120 Baht

THINGS TO DO:

• Check out all night markets and shopping because everything is super cheap and you can also bargain till you are satisfied with the price. Don’t wait until you get back to Bangkok, Hua Hin markets offer even cheaper price.
• Eat, eat and just eat until you can roll yourself to your hotel. Remember to try all street foods and don’t skip seafood. Hua Hin is a paradise of seafood. But never mind because I know you will not resist though…haha.
• Hit the beach to chillax.
• Discover little Europe corner of Hua Hin at those famous amuse parks.
• Visit food farms to feed the sheep and taste local specialities.
• Experience wild life of Hua Hin at famous caves, national parks, mountains if you like road trip and camping and sports.
• Take a roll inside those well-known palaces (Klai Kang Won Palace, Mrigadayavan Palace) to know more about Hua Hin history.

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