Chanthaburi ProvinceThings to do

Things to do in Chanthaburi Province

  1. Oasis Sea World

    The jagged peninsula of Laem Singh is a picturesque beach option and home to the region's most popular tourist destination, Oasis Sea World. Dolphins are the main attraction and the price of admission includes the opportunity to get in the water with the lovable creatures and assist the trainers with tricks and feeding. Visits can be arranged by most tour operators between Pattaya and Ko Chang.

    reviewed

  2. Cathedral

    This French-style cathedral, across a footbridge from Th Sukhaphiban, is the town's architectural highlight. A small missionary chapel was built here in 1711, when Vietnamese Catholics and a French priest arrived. The original has undergone four reconstructions between 1712 and 1906 and is now the largest building of its kind in Thailand.

    reviewed

  3. Museum

    The museum on the Wat Khao Sukim grounds, a local meditation centre, 16km north of Chanthaburi off Rte 3322, contains valuable items donated to the temple, including jade carvings, ceramics and antique furniture, as well as resin figures of some of Thailand’s most revered monks.

    reviewed

  4. Sony Yadaw

    Many South Asian gem dealers stop into this hole-in-the-wall vegetarian restaurant for a home-away-from-home meal.

    reviewed

  5. Khao Phloi Waen

    Four kilometres north of town off Rte 3249 is Khao Phloi Waen, which is only 150m high but features a Sri Lankan–style chedi on top, built during the reign of Rama IV. Tunnels dug into the side of the hill were once gem-mining shafts.

    reviewed

  6. King Taksin Park

    The town's main oasis is filled with picnicking families and joggers. It's a pleasant spot for an evening stroll.

    reviewed

  7. Chanthorn Phochana

    A dazzling array of Thai-Chinese meals includes such specialities as stir-fried papaya and local mangosteen wine. Try the Vietnamese spring rolls, and buy a bag of local durian chips (tastier than you think) for your next bus ride. It is totally packed on weekends.

    reviewed

  8. Muslim Food

    This tiny place has excellent paratha, biriani, curries and chai tea.

    reviewed

  9. Seafood Noodle Shop

    The old city, along Mae Nam Chanthaburi, is where you'll find most sightseeing Thais eating this Chanthaburi variation of the basic rice-noodle theme; nearby are other homemade snacks.

    reviewed

  10. Muslim Restaurant

    This tiny place has excellent paratha, biryani, curries and chai tea.

    reviewed

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  12. Gem Market

    On weekends, the streets and side streets near Th Si Chan (or 'Gem Rd') are overflowing with the banter and intrigue of the hard sell. It has the feel of an average Thai market, incongruously humble considering the preciousness of the commodity. People cluster around makeshift tables or even a trader's outstretched palm, examining small piles of unset stones. In the formal shops, hardnosed inspectors examine the gemstones under magnifying glasses looking for quality and authenticity. This is strictly a spectator sport and not recommended for the uninitiated, but it is a fascinating glimpse at a relatively private trade.

    In the hills surrounding Chanthaburi, several sapphir…

    reviewed

  13. Coffee Room

    Across from King Taksin Park, this urban-style coffee shop is where upscale traders and visitors from Bangkok come to feel a little less provincial.

    reviewed

  14. Chantaboon Waterfront Community

    Along the banks of Mae Nam Chanthaburi is 1km stretch of old wooden shophouses that are valiantly being promoted and preserved as a living history museum. It is an atmospheric stroll through time and place with a uniquely Thai twist: food features more prominently than facts and figures.

    Stop by the Learning Housefor an educational introduction to the community. The 2nd floor displays historic photographs of daily life as well as architectural drawings of the homes' beautifully carved ventilation panels. Much of the community's immigrant past is revealed in these unique panels: there are carvings of Chinese characters and even French fleurs-de-lis.

    Farmers and merchants fir…

    reviewed