Hua Hin

The fashionable seaside town of Hua Hin is among Thailand’s best places to shop for high-end fashion products, traditional handicrafts, Thai garments, and souvenirs.

Here are some places to enjoy shopping in Hua Hin -

• Market Village and Blúport Mall are air-conditioned shopping malls in the centre of Hua Hin. These are the top two shopping destinations, offering international brand outlets, Thai collectables, jewellery, cinemas, banks, food courts and entertainment. 
• Try your bargaining skills at Hua Hin Night Market, where hundreds of shops sell hand-painted mango wood vases, bags, trinkets, baskets, skirts and carpets.
• Hua Hin’s largest art and crafts market is Chatsila Market, which also features delicious seafood, Thai sweets and massage shops.
• Open from Friday to Sunday, Cicada Market is a large outdoor night market held at beachfront gardens. Besides the market stalls, there is freshly cooked food, live music and a small theatre.
• Pick up fresh vegetables and fruits from Tamarind Market.

Pro Tips -

• Always carry cash while shopping in Hua Hin.
• Hua Hin’s duty-free regulations vary for different countries, with the maximum levied import fees being THB 80,000.

• Since it is a beach town, shorts and comfortable tank tops are the way to go in Hua Hin.

• Observe care when going to any temple or place of religious significance and cover up. Other than that almost anything goes in Hua Hin.

• Take care to cover up your arms when in the Royal Palace grounds and observe any specific instructions mentioned at the gateway.

• The easiest way to keep a low budget afloat on a trip is to stay at inexpensive hotels. THB 3000 - 4000 would be enough to sustain a decently luxurious trip.
• For the backpacker, the cost would be half of the current amount depending on how much you spend on food, shopping, sightseeing and transport.

• Lots of private money exchange booths are set up all over Hua Hin. Do compare prices before settling for one.
• Major banks like Bangkok Bank, Siam Commercial Bank etc. also have branches in Hua Hin so money exchange should not be a problem in the city.

A Thai favourite for more than 90 years, Hua Hin is Thailand's original beach resort city. King Prajadhipok turned this seaside town into a royal vacation place for the royal family in the 1920s, and since 2007, this city has been a full-time residence of the current Thai King. A 2.5km drive will bring you to this quaint town where the Klai Kangwon (Far From Worries) Palace, built by the King, still stands. Being a residence to royalty, the palace is not open for visitors, but the palace grounds are accessible in the evening from 4 PM to 7 PM. Tourists should bring their passports along with them to access the grounds.

1-2 day Itinerary

After making your way to Hua Hin, cool off by heading straight to the beach. Hua Hin has plenty of beaches to choose from. Hua Hin Beach is perfect if you are looking for a lively beach. And for a more secluded beach, head to Suan Son Pradhiphat, Cha Am, or Khao Takiab. Cha Am is home to a stunning seaside palace, Mrigadayavan Palace, built by Rama VI and is open to the public.

And as the sun sets and the hunger strikes, explore the night market, Cicada Market, which is an artist’s haven. Just like other Thai markets, this market also features an array of Thai dishes, handcrafted artefacts, trinkets, and handicrafts. There’s also a beer garden, where one can indulge in a variety of drinks.

Start the day early by paying a visit to Khao Takiab. The “Chapstick Mountain” or the “Monkey Mountain. It has a hilltop temple that is accessible by climbing a flight of stairs, which also offers sensational views of the fishing village and the ocean from the top.

After this, head to the Plearn Wan shopping village that is designed in the 1960s Thai-style and features wooden buildings, old-style shops, and vintage cars.

From here, go to the Venezia, a Venice-themed village shopping area that comes with a ridable canal, San Marco’s bell tower, several fountains, fun-fair, European-themed eatery joints, and an art gallery.

And to close the day off, take an evening walk by the Hua Hin railway station famed for its Thai-designed concept mixed with a Victorian aura, which is a must-visit for every traveller.

• By building walls in the ocean to keep the water out, the beaches are being adversely affected. The development of condos and beachfront hotels/resorts is affecting the ocean.
• The city is losing its original charm because it is getting too commercialized.
• Since it is just 2 hours away from Bangkok, Hua Hin can get quite crowded over the weekends.
• The beaches in Hua Hin are polluted and aren’t tropical as other beaches on the southern islands.
• The access to most of the Hua Hin’s beaches remains poor because of the infrastructure issues.

• Hua Hin is more of a resort destination than a typical Thailand tourist destination and hence is more relaxing. 
• Some of the best seafood can be found here.
• This city is also one of the best places to retire, particularly for the Europeans.
• Renowned as one the driest cities in Thailand, street food and street life including open-air activities come alive.
• Kitesurfing is a popular activity here and the city is regarded as one of the best places in all of Asia for kitesurfing.