Chanthaburi

Introducing Chanthaburi

The so-called ‘City of the Moon’ is proof that all that glitters is not gold. Here, gemstones do the sparkling, and if traders get the deal right, the glimmer infuses their pockets with healthy profits. Buyers from across Southeast Asia come to Chanthaburi to deal in sapphires and rubies, and from Friday to Sunday the city is bustling and cosmopolitan. On other days the city breathes out, and a diverse history including French, Chinese and Vietnamese influences echoes around the quiet riverside lanes to provide a calming remedy to the push and shove of its more mercantile face.

Last updated: Mar 24, 2009