Where to go for a Thai visa from Hua Hin. How we got a Thai visa in Laos. From Hua Hin to Sannakhet and back. Stops along the route
So, friends, I decided to write a blog again, although I am writing late at night. But we can’t help but talk about it!
Because it was another adventure, it was called - "long visa run from Thailand to Laos".
The night before, on Zhannochka’s birthday, i.e. On November 12, 2011, we are going to celebrate this wonderful holiday with a small company. Zhanna prepared delicious dishes, the last time I tried the cooking I’m going to give up such food altogether and eat only fresh vegetables and fruits, we’re sitting talking... How would it be easier for us to go get a stamp, or is it better to get a full-fledged visa?
And so Olya and Kostya offer to go to Laos for a double-entry visa. Why not? Moreover, this path has been described by many, including their blog globetrekker.ru.
Literally late at night we decide to think about it the next morning and either go for a stamp to the border with Burma (Myanmar), or go for a visa to the capital of Laos - Vientiane!
The next morning, they hesitated for a long time. But, in the end, quickly packing our backpacks, we go to Hua Hin Railway Station to buy tickets for the evening train Bangkok-Nong Khai. As it turns out, you can buy tickets without a passport at all. Because Dima bought tickets for everyone!
Next, we still need to have time to get to Bangkok by minibus. Therefore, having very quickly arrived at the departure station, we take tickets for the nearest minibus, we remember that we forgot our main handbag with passports at home :), I return at high speed for it, then we leave the motorbikes with Dima at the renter’s and say that we will not arrive soon, we rush to the minibus, We are 15:00 late and finally take the next minibus...
This is just the beginning of the adventure!
We get stuck in a traffic jam at a gas station, because... minibuses run on gas, and such gas stations are rare, we wait for about 5 minutes and the driver decides to go to Bangkok, refueling elsewhere along the way. We don't have much time left!
At the next gas station we get stuck in a big traffic jam, where, in addition to us, there are also large gas-powered trucks and a whole bunch of the same minibuses (intercity minibuses and just private individuals in minibuses), I feel uneasy. Because When I walk to the beginning of this line, I see how long it takes each car to refuel, because it’s gas!
After a while, I ask you to let our minibus through faster, and the gas station attendant clearing the queue allows us to arrive earlier, and, lo and behold, we jump as much as 4 cars ahead. The entire refueling took 20 minutes. And we continue to rush to Bangkok at a speed of 120 km/h.
Upon arrival, we transfer to the cheapest transport in Bangkok - a regular taxi and for a ridiculous amount (according to the taximeter) - 50 baht - we are all taken with luggage to the railway station Hua Lamphong 20 minutes before departure train No. 69 departing before Nong Khaya(Nong Khai) at 20:00. We decide to have a snack while running and hurry to catch the train, which is already waiting for us on the 5th platform. We go through the ticket check and get into our carriage.
In a fairly comfortable carriage, with sleeping places, we go to bed.
Knowing in advance that the incredibly cold air conditioning on the train would work all night, we took some warm clothes with us. We covered the holes themselves with bags and things got better.
In general, there were several identical cars on the train with multi-colored curtains, I walked through them to photograph them. Because this was our first trip to Thai trains.
The cars were produced by Daewoo back in 1989 in Korea, but I would like to note that the cars are comfortable, because... There are sinks located outside the toilet + there is a shower + a separate toilet!
However, the trailers are not wide and all the shelves are located along the wall. There is a dining car on the train, although it is terribly dirty, as is the teapot of the conductor, who tried to sell everyone tea for 40 baht by dividing 1 bag into 4 mugs!
Thai fields, workers working on them, swamps and the rest of the blooming green mass rushed past :), as well as slightly flooded areas.
And since we travel at a snail’s pace through such territories, we lose precious hours applying for a visa at the Thai embassy. We know that we need to have time to enter the embassy before the gates close, i.e. 12:00 and after that you can wait at least 2 hours.
And lo and behold, we finally arrive in Nong Khai at 11:00, quickly get off the train, hoping for something else, and meet the line at the railway ticket office. Why - it becomes clear later. It turns out that you can also get to the town of Thanaleng in Laos by train. Which we took advantage of for only 20 baht.
This train was waiting for our train from 8:20 (planned arrival time) until 11 o'clock, because... The tickets said departure time: 9:15. Before the train we go through passport control.
But, only at 11:30 this train starts, because... waits for all tourists passing through control at the Thai border.
On it we quickly rush across the bridge of friendship.
And exactly 10 minutes later we arrive at Thanaleng Station already on Laotian soil :)
We fill out the Arrival card and Departure card and quickly go through passport control.
Then we find a minivan, but... the time has already passed 12 hours, now there is nowhere to rush 🙁 after all, we still have to drive 30 minutes to the capital of Laos - Vientiane. The embassy's opening hours are listed below.
You also need to know that having submitted documents on the first day before 12 o’clock, you need to pick them up in the morning, i.e. and so 2 days are needed, now we will lose three days only in Laos!
We reach the Mekong embankment in Vientiane. Apparently the most popular place is the Riverine Hotel, because besides us, several other Russian tourists were brought to it for check-in, but we are going to look for a guesthouse for the first time, and not a hotel.
We decide to stay at Relax & Dream Away (abbreviated as RD) Guesthouse for 520 baht per night. Dima and Alena with Senya at Orchid Guesthouse for 800 baht per night.
You can also find rooms for 300 baht in Mixai Guesthouse, which are absolutely miserable, without a shower in the room. We had air conditioning (which we didn’t use), a table, chairs, a refrigerator, a TV, 2 beds, hot water and a view of the street, we were also pleased with the fast Internet right in the room!
By the way, next to us there was DD Travel Ticketing, where you could buy tickets for the Vientiane - Nonk Khai bus in advance, because at the bus station it is not possible to buy a ticket in advance (only 30 minutes before departure), as I later found out, having taken a ride in vain by taxi!
In the evening, while Zhanna was working, Vasilisa and I went for a walk along the embankment. They looked for fruit, but everywhere they sold only fried-boiled-steamed food, which is absolutely not allowed for raw-monoeaters. And a healthy person won’t be able to stand on it for long. We found a place where there were young coconuts and I asked to open one for Vasena and me. It cost 3-4 times more than the Thai version, although it was larger in size.
After walking around, we looked into a Thai cafe, which had reasonable prices and basic Thai dishes, where we always ate later. It was called The Shade Restaurant
The menu of Laotian and Thai dishes is presented below.
The next day, early in the morning, at 8:30, I rent the dead bike, because... There was nothing else, and I went to the embassy using a map with a non-working GPS. It was interesting! But the movement turned out to be easier than in Cambodia.
I photograph a sample visa application and take several blank forms.
I’m going to Zhanna and the guys to fill them out and paste photos that...
And this is another story, which I will not delve into, I will only say that it was in vain that we did not prepare printed photographs earlier, and while we were preparing them, the time came for the embassy to close - 12:00, i.e. We might not have handed in our passports for the second day in a row. And having printed them in a darkroom in black and white (since previously when issuing visas in Malaysia and Cambodia they did not attach importance to this), it turns out that you only need a color photo! When we get to the document submission window, we are generally afraid of being late with reprinting the photo!
In the end, I manage to do everything, rushing around on the bike at breakneck speed and delivering everyone one by one to their place. We get to the closing doors, arriving 10 minutes before 12:00 o’clock :)
Well, NONE of the bloggers said that they need exactly color photos and only they are accepted for a visa. That's why I'll write.
Photos in the application for a visa to Thailand at the Thai Embassy in Vientiane are required ONLY IN COLOR!
By the way, it was funny to see Buddhist monks in the laboratory :)
Although everything has its advantages. Having explored the city quite well without GPS, I could already get to the embassy and back, and most importantly, I found a lot of interesting things, like various temples, markets and a darkroom. And it’s impossible not to mention that baguettes with and without filling are sold everywhere in Laos, they are quite tasty (better than in Thailand) and not expensive.
They also sell fruits, which were my salvation in Laos. The only thing I didn’t like was the price, because... Everything is brought from Thailand, so fruits are 1.5-2 times more expensive!
So, having submitted documents for a single-entry visa, having paid a fee of 1000 baht per person in the second building on the same day, we go to play on the playground right on the embankment, and then do a little work and sleep!
The next day, we should have done without incident, so we go an hour before the visit to the embassy for a Lao Massage with a ridiculous price equivalent to 160 baht. Moreover, we go with Alena and the children, she with Senya, I with Vasilisa, and Dima and Zhanna remain to work. Because What makes me happy is that I don’t have to sit at the computer for days!
The children need to be entertained somehow, so Alena grabbed an iPad.
It turned out to be an interesting massage, somewhat similar to Thai. Immediately after which we rushed to the embassy.
And, lo and behold, because... We arrived later, not a single person was in line! We calmly received our passports with visas, presenting a receipt of payment (1000 for each visa) and took a tuk to the Bus Station.
We purchased tickets to Nong Khai for only 15,000 kip (58 baht) per person and boarded a bus that departed in 10 minutes.
Having safely passed the Thai border, we took the same bus to Nong Khai.
Upon arrival of the bus, taxi drivers began to attack us with their exorbitant price of 400 baht, but, having made our way through the crowd, we went straight to the tukker, who “charged” first 100 baht, and then 200, when these bombers began to run into him, citing the fact that he takes clients away. But I approached him myself. As a result, having given up on everyone, we simply go up to the taxi driver with a taximeter and, loaded, go to the railway station for, believe it or not, 45 baht!
We calmly take tickets for the 70th train and go have a snack at a cafe across the road with reasonable prices for food. We snack again on unhealthy fried things (well, I ran out of fruit), and set off for the arriving train.
Having boarded the train, we take our seats and, as usual, lay out the bedding, which the conductor helps to sort out.
In the morning, Zhanna and the others drink Moch, such terrible (not only in name) coffee :).
We are again driving very quietly through the flooded, yes, yes, flooded areas, but already near Bangkok. we observe the landscapes outside the window, against the background of the logo of the railway in Thailand :)
Already almost arriving in Bangkok we see water between the tracks, I specially lean out of the train as it moves to photograph it.
We get almost to Baijok Sky and they open the back door for us (we have the last carriage) to show how flimsily (supported by a table) it was closed and any of us (especially children) could easily open it and fall out of the carriage while moving... oh, these Thais!
Arriving at the station, Zhanna snacks on noodles with seafood (another disgusting thing), and I snack on sliced cucumbers, which are served with sprouted soybeans.
And finally, the last gift - a taxi (with a taximeter) from the Hua Lamphong Railway Station to the Century Movie Plaza, from where the minibuses depart for Hua Hin and the Bangkok traffic jam!
But it doesn’t matter, because we are already in Bangkok and we will end up in Hua Hin in different ways, which is what happened later.
So not sweetly we completed our visa run to Laos in almost 4 days and 3 nights, spending more than 11,000 baht on everything! Not bad.
Where to go for the winter? Island or mainland? Samui or Ao Nang? Hua Hin or Pattaya? Anyone who is thinking about going to Thailand inevitably faces the question of choosing a resort. And since there are a great many of these same resorts in Thailand, and you usually need to choose just one, I decided to help our readers a little. Namely: to compare the places in which we ourselves managed to live. we lived for 4 months, in - more than 1 month, - 8.5 months. This article will look at different Thai resorts from the point of view of wintering or long travel, but it will also be useful for those who are going on a short vacation.
In addition to Samui, Ao Nang (Krabi province) and Hua Hin, the list of popular destinations for winterers and long-steers includes the resorts of Phuket, Pattaya, Koh Phangan, Koh Chang and the non-resort mainland cities of Chiang Mai and Pai. We will not touch them, since we did not live there. Ordinary tourists also often choose small islands for their holidays, such as Koh Tao, Koh Lipe or the Similan Islands. But, as a rule, they do not stay there for a long time due to limited space and lack of developed infrastructure.
So, it's time to start comparing Koh Samui, Ao Nang and Hua Hin!
Rental of property
One of the basic needs of a person is a roof over his head. I have already mentioned the small paradise islands, which are always full of tourists, but almost no white people live there. The main reason is that the entire infrastructure is tailored for tourists who come for a day, two or a week. There may be no Internet on such an island at all. Products can be imported on passing boats from the mainland, so you will never find a large assortment and shopping centers on such islands.
If we talk about Koh Samui(20 by 25 km) - then on almost every fence there is a sign “Rent / For Rent”. Yes, sometimes even in Russian! Housing is available for rent everywhere, and it is quite easy to rent it without intermediaries upon arrival. Of course, if you prefer to plan your vacation in advance, or are coming for a month at the height of the winter holidays, then early booking is highly recommended. In other months of the year on Samui it is impossible to remain without a roof over your head. Moreover, since this is an island, you will always live not very far from the sea. Prices often depend on the distance to popular beaches, and housing mainly consists of one-story houses with 1-2 bedrooms. On the main party beach of Chaweng you can find a condo (apartment), but most winterers live in detached houses or in beautiful fenced villages with well-kept houses. Prices - from 7-10 thousand baht for cheap tie-style houses with one bedroom; from 13-15 thousand baht for more decent two-bedroom houses; from 30-50 thousand for beautiful villas on the mountain overlooking fabulous beaches and impenetrable jungle.
Ao Nang in terms of the choice of real estate, it is slightly inferior to the island of Koh Samui, since it is one small town, and there are several settlement areas on Koh Samui. In Ao Nang there are also special villages for visiting farangs with housing starting from 15 thousand baht, and you can also rent an ordinary Thai house at a price of 5-7 thousand baht. There are also villas on the mountain in secluded nooks - from 30 thousand baht. Real estate costs more the closer it is to the sea. On the plus side, if you have transport, you can look for housing outside of Ao Nang, where, at a distance of 1-5 kilometers from the town, new and new villages are constantly being built with more favorable housing prices than in the city itself.
IN Hua Hine Rental housing is more difficult to find without outside help. Somehow I'm talking about this. Of course, you can always resort to the services of realtors, but if you want to look for housing on your own, then you need to understand a little about the specifics of the royal resort. Pechkasem Street stretches along the coast of the entire city - in fact, it is a route connecting Bangkok and the south of Thailand. There is also a bypass part of the highway, but it is still a very busy highway. The housing that is located on the sea side of Pečkasem are mainly hotels or high-rise buildings where you can rent an apartment. There are very few houses on this side, and they cost much more than their appearance would suggest. Takiab is considered the best area, since it is located some distance from the main road, it is cozy and there is a lot of expensive beautiful real estate. Prices for renting a small studio there can be 15, 30, or 50 thousand baht - it all depends on the “coolness” of the complex, the luxury of the decor and the appetites of the owner. As a rule, such complexes have swimming pools, gyms and many other amenities. You can also look for apartments in high-rise buildings located along Pečkasem Street, but they will be noisier and less resort-like. Prices can start from 4-5 thousand baht, but more often from 8-10 thousand baht for a one-room apartment with a bed without a kitchen, and you most likely will not be allowed to cook there, especially with gas. Typically, these apartments are inhabited by young Thais or single pensioners from Europe who eat in cafes and cafes. Most of the decent one-story real estate in Hua Hin is located 2-5 kilometers from the sea, and public transport is good only along the main street Pechkasem and other main streets. If you live in such an area, you will need your own transport or have to constantly pay for taxis. A 2-3 bedroom house in a good village will cost 20-30 thousand baht. If for a very long period (from 1 year) and without a pool - perhaps from 15 thousand. Townhouses are also popular in Hua Hin, and their rental prices start from about 10-11 thousand baht. In terms of area, they are larger than cheap apartments, but in terms of the quality of the buildings, you have to be careful. The walls may be cardboard, and Thai neighbors often like to make noise. Europeans live in Hua Hin townhouses much less frequently.
Nutrition
Food in Thailand has been elevated to the level of a cult, so you won’t go hungry even on the smallest island. Especially if you learn to eat Thai food and if you like it. The cost of a Thai dish in a simple cafe can range from 40-60 baht, and it can be quite neutral noodles or rice with meat, a sweetish green papaya salad or fiery tom yum soup. However, the more developed the resort is, and the more compatriots live there, the easier it will be to find the food you are used to. Large resorts also have cafes and restaurants serving Russian cuisine, however, due to the crisis and the decrease in the flow of tourists from the ex-USSR, many such establishments are now going through hard times.
Several times friends and acquaintances brought us gifts from Ukraine and Russia. For example, chocolate, candy, buckwheat, Borodino bread... Almost all of this can be found in Thai supermarkets, but it will be very expensive. The only thing I couldn’t find in Thailand was non-alcoholic beer, but it seems to me that you can somehow live without it. There is also a problem with dairy products - kefir, fermented baked milk and sour milk can only be bought from local Russians, who have put production on stream. But you can’t always find them quickly upon arrival.
On Samui you can easily find cuisine from almost any country in the world. You can always buy fruits and vegetables from farmers from a pickup truck parked somewhere along the road, or you can go to one of several fruit and vegetable markets. You can also buy fish and shrimp there, raw or cooked. If you prefer to cook and eat at home, then several large supermarkets in the center of the island will allow you to stock up on quality and fresh products for the week ahead. Beets, cheese, mayonnaise, pasta, seeds, bay leaves - no problem. Cook borscht at home? There would be a desire! Make dumplings? Fry some pancakes? Again, it all comes down to desire and time. You don’t have time and don’t want to stand at the stove, but dream about cabbage soup with dumplings? Restaurants of Russian cuisine are waiting for you.
IN Ao Nanghe There are not many Russian restaurants, but there are cafes with a wide variety of delicacies spread out compactly throughout the town. There is a French bakery, McDonald's, pizzeria and much more. It was in Ao Nang that we tried frog and crocodile dishes, and just one dish cost 100 baht. Local fruit and vegetable markets may offer prices that are 10-20% more favorable than on the tourist island of Koh Samui, but you are unlikely to achieve significant savings. When we lived in Ao Nang, we had to travel weekly to Krabi Town to a large store (about 25 km). But now a Tesco supermarket has been built in Ao Nang, so for many residents this need has disappeared.
IN Hua Hine Most of the products in the markets cost another 10 percent less than in Ao Nang, but again this is unlikely to significantly affect the overall picture. Some fruits and vegetables have seasonal price fluctuations and are also sold cheaper in the areas where they are grown. So on Samui, mangosteens and rambutans ripen in January, but they practically do not reach Hua Hin in the winter months. But pineapples are sold throughout Thailand all year round, but only in Hua Hin are they plucked directly from neighboring fields and sold from pickup trucks for 10 baht per kilo. Some fruits ripen in late spring in Chiang Mai, in the north of the country, such as lychees. However, I already wrote a separate large article. =)
Transport
In Thailand, intercity transportation is in perfect order - you can always get from any resort to any other popular city. In addition to a large number of night buses, many can afford domestic flights on cheap low-cost aircraft from Air Asia, Nok Air, Happy Air, Firefly, etc. I would like to warn you against intercity travel on minibuses - very often travel agencies sell tickets for minibuses, but since They don’t have enough passengers for a direct flight, say, Samui - Ao Nang, then they will most likely take you with several transfers. And it’s difficult to fit things in minibuses.
As for movement within resorts, they have their own peculiarities. It is most economical to have your own or rented transport - a car or scooter (motorbike). There are no bike paths in Thailand, and it’s very hot to ride a bike in 30-35 degree heat, so usually everyone chooses either a car or a moped. Please note that in Thailand the traffic is on the left side, so not everyone can drive and not right away. We also have information about traffic in Thailand.
On Samui Songthaew minibuses (a pickup truck converted into a semi-open minibus) travel along the ring road, which are not particularly shy with tariffs, especially in the evening and at night. The trip can cost from 50 baht per person to 500 baht per trip. In the latter case, it is easier and safer to take an ordinary yellow taxi, of which there are a great many on the island. Taxi fares on Koh Samui are measured not in kilometers, but in beaches. If you need to go to a nearby beach, it costs 200 baht. If across one beach - 300 baht. And so on. Perhaps the prices have changed a little over the past 2 years, but I think the approximate order of prices is clear. As a rule, bargaining with Samui taxi drivers is useless. Driving your own car to Samui is not very convenient, since the roads are very narrow and full of motorbikers, including tourists. There are almost no traffic police, so some of them may be in a bad state, especially at night. Riding a bike on Samui is a pleasure, since there is no winter at all, and the active season is short and lasts 2-3 weeks in November. But again, such transport is not suitable for everyone, especially if the family has small children.
IN Ao Nanghe The roads are much wider, so driving a car is more comfortable. Biking is also very popular, as throughout Thailand, but the distances can sometimes be quite long, especially if you want to explore the surrounding sights on your own. With public transport in Ao Nang, everything is also somehow simpler and cheaper. A tuk-tuk (motorcycle taxi with a sidecar) will take you to any point in the city for 100 baht. However, how you negotiate, and depending on what time of day, and depending on what condition you are in. =) It will be more difficult to negotiate a cheap trip to some purely tourist destination, such as hot springs or a nearby national park. There it will be easier to rent a car for one day and go on your own. By the way, in every resort in Thailand there is a small Russian-speaking community with its own group on social networks, where you can find fellow travelers, advisers and just good, decent acquaintances. In Ao Nang this worked very well, and thanks to the group “Amazing Adventures of Russians in Krabi”, for example, we found wonderful travel companions for renting a boat together and traveling around the protected islands.
IN Hua Hine there are city buses and songthaews (open-air pickup trucks) used by both Thais and tourists. The cost of the trip is 10-20 baht depending on the distance of the route. These buses do not go to remote areas where farangs mainly live, so you cannot do without a taxi (150-250 baht around the city) or personal transport. By the way, on the mainland gasoline costs a little less than on the islands, but this is unlikely to allow anyone to save serious money. As for traffic in Hua Hin, the roads are generally good and wide, but the traffic is quite difficult, especially during rush hours. I think riding a bike in Hua Hin is a little more difficult than in Koh Samui and Krabi province as the traffic flow is much more significant and there will be more idiots among more drivers. Although, in general, Thais are polite on the roads, and they treat small mopeds with understanding.
Attractions and beaches
The whole of Thailand is dotted with ancient temples, beautiful forests, lakes, waterfalls and other natural wonders. Tourists spoiled by Tai often say that they are fed up with all this - they say, it is all monotonous: either a waterfall, or a national park, or a lake, or a temple, or a beach - there is nothing else to see. It seems to me that this approach is wrong. The whole world consists of the same things. There are only boys and girls. Day and night. Moreover, the Sun and Moon rise every day, and then they set. In general, we should be happy with what we have. 85% have never been anywhere at all, and many of them would like to see at least one tiny Thai waterfall just to catch a glimpse!
On Samui, like the other islands, everything is really quite similar. This is the essence of the island, that it existed for thousands of years in isolation from the mainland, and therefore there is a certain set of plants and animals, similar rocks, a certain type of relief. In general, there is really little diversity, especially since the territory is limited to only 20 by 25 kilometers of land. I wrote quite a lot about the sights of Samui on this blog, but the main ones are themselves, because each of them is beautiful in its own way. There are also a number of interesting observation platforms, Grandmother and Grandfather Rock, a bird farm, elephant farms in the mountains, several interesting temple complexes, an aquarium and a small zoo on Hua Thanon Beach. Walking Street with a fair by the lake in Chaweng and neighboring cafes and nightclubs can be considered a separate attraction.
IN Ao Nanghe everything is also ok with nightlife and discos, but the beaches there are quite mediocre. Another peculiarity is that every day in Ao Nang there are strong low tides, when the sea moves hundreds of meters from the coast. However, you can always go by boat to its “cave of phalluses”, or take a tour “” (Poda, Chicken, Tab, Pranang) or “5 Islands” (Hong and others). There are also good beaches in the surrounding area. As for land-based attractions, there are many more of them. And a national park, and with a temple and with 1000 steps to the sacred mountain, and healing ones, and a Blue lake with an Emerald lake in the bargain, and a mangrove forest with a river... And even if you’ve already seen all this, it will be easier to start from Ao Nang to neighboring provinces - south to Trang, north to Phang Nga or Phuket, or to the neighboring island super-resorts of Phi Phi, Koh Lanta or even Koh Lipe. The province of Krabi itself is considered one of the most beautiful in Thailand, so you definitely won’t be disappointed.
About Hua Hina we can say that it is famous primarily for its status as a “royal resort”. In this town, many Bangkok residents buy dachas where they can go for the weekend. It’s much easier to breathe here than in the capital, and it seems that few Thais swim in the sea. On some beaches, Hua Hin smokes nervously on the sidelines, and even its most beautiful beach, Sai Noi, cannot compare with the abundance of beautiful bays on Koh Samui or the surrounding islands near Ao Nang. At the same time, in and near Hua Hin you can find many attractions: national parks and, with wandering wild elephants, a mangrove forest in, a wonderful panoramic observation deck overlooking the city, an ancient wooden railway station building, floating markets, a “village artists”, “Black Monk”, the recently opened water park “Vana Nava” and much more. A little north of Hua Hin there is a nice resort village called Cha Am - it also has its own beach, and you can get there by the Hua Hin - Bangkok minibus. But if you have your own transport, you can always go explore the surrounding area - this is also a definite plus compared to the island.
Weather and humidity
The sea water temperature is suitable for swimming in any of the Thai resorts all year round. Only in winter the water can be +23, and in summer it warms up to +28 and above, especially on small beaches.
On Samui The climate is very humid, which causes equipment to become unusable faster, winter clothes stored in the closet, and even my sneakers, which stood peacefully idle on the porch for about a month, became covered in mold. The rainy season lasts only 2-3 weeks in November, but during these weeks it can rain for a week or more without a break. In winter, the air temperature can be +26...28 degrees during the day, and in summer +32. Nights in winter can be cool, especially for a couple of weeks in January - 20 degrees (lower is already a cataclysm by Samui standards). The rest of the year, it’s comfortable to walk at night in a T-shirt and shorts at +24…25.
IN Ao Nanghe And Hua Hine The climate is continental. That is, less humidity; in summer the temperature is a couple of degrees higher, and in winter a little lower than on the islands. The coldest winter day of our wintering in Hua Hin was +22, and the night was +15. It’s unlikely that anyone would want to swim in such weather and waves. In any case, this disgrace lasts for a couple of weeks, and then gradually becomes warmer. It should also be noted that a fairly strong and cool wind blows in Hua Hin all winter, and therefore Hua Hin is an international kitesurfing spot. This is not the case in Ao Nang or Samui.
Locals
On Samui back in the 1970s there were only a few fishing villages and not a single road. In just 30-40 years, a huge number of Thais and foreigners moved to the island, and together they transformed the island beyond recognition. This has affected both the ecology of the island and the mentality of local residents, who sometimes try to inflate prices, which is generally not typical for Thais. However, this is almost always done unobtrusively and carefully. The most important thing is not to quarrel with Thais over such trifles, and to accept everything with a smile. It is not customary to make a scandal in this country, and the one who shouts is always wrong.
Ao Nanghe relatively recently gained its popularity among visitors, but many local residents continue to live their lives without being fed by tourism at all. Here you will see more honest and sincere smiles than on Samui, and if you drive 30-40 kilometers inland from Ao Nang, you can meet people who have never seen a white man in their lives.
IN Hua Hine White people are completely lost in the crowd of Thais. This is a purely Thai resort, where even the manager of a small hotel at the reception does not necessarily speak English. At the local markets, almost not a single living soul knows English numerals. That is why in Hua Hin I had to learn to count in Thai. Without this it was difficult to go to the market. If one of the market traders on Samui does not know English, he will hand you a calculator with the required number. In Hua Hin, they will tell you numerals in Thai until you stop. The best thing to do in such a situation is to give the seller some kind of bill, for example, 100 baht. They will always give you change honestly - you will never be deceived there. Over time, you will know approximately how much a bag of cucumbers can cost, and you will give money without questions, and receive change in the same way. It will also be useful to learn to say “thank you”, “how much is it”, say hello and goodbye. But on Samui, it was enough for us to know “hello” and “thank you”. The attitude towards farangs in Hua Hin is very good. They are interested in us, and we have not yet become familiar to them. And white tourists behave on average in Hua Hin much more decently than on Samui, and therefore the Thais see us as decent people, and not half-drunk rednecks in sweaty T-shirts drenched in beer the night before yesterday. Connoisseurs of Thailand will tell you that Hua Hin is not yet the same Thai that can be seen in the north, where no tourist has set foot. Apparently this is true, but it’s still easier to live in Hua Hin. Farang has more infrastructure, a high percentage of educated people who moved from Bangkok and speak English. And this makes Hua Hin convenient, pleasant and understandable. But don’t look for English-speaking people among the farmers at the market - anywhere but there!
Convenience of location
You can get to Samui from Bangkok by bus (10 hours travel + 1.5 hours ferry) or by plane (1-1.5 hours). The disadvantage of Samui Airport is that it is owned by a private company, which does not allow other air carriers there, which slightly affects the cost of flights. The advantage of an international airport is that you can quickly take a direct flight to any neighboring country, as well as to Hong Kong, Mumbai, Singapore and even the Maldives. If you prefer to travel by land, then you will need 1.5 hours just to get from the island to the mainland. Moreover, ferries do not operate at night. However, in one day you can travel to the border with visa-free Malaysia, or travel by land to Penang or Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia again). This can be done on a large bus, minibus or personal transport. Another disadvantage of the island is that not all rented cars and mopeds can be taken out of the island. This issue must be discussed with the landlord.
In a small Ao Nanghe there is no airport, but there is one 30 km away, very close to Krabi Town. From this airport you can just as quickly get to Bangkok or take a direct flight to one of the neighboring countries. The distance to the capital of Thailand by land is about 800 km, but a large bus starts from Krabi Town. Local travel agencies will be happy to take you from Ao Nang to Krabi bus station for a small surcharge. And in just 10 hours you will be in Bangkok. It will take about the same time to travel by land from Krabi to Kuala Lumpur.
Hua Hin is very close to Bangkok, and from there it’s about the same distance to the border with Malaysia, Laos and Cambodia. It’s generally easy to go to Bangkok - for just 1600-1800 baht you can take a taxi, and for 200 baht you can go by minibus. You will have to spend about 2-3 hours on the road, but that is if there are no traffic jams. As a rule, traffic jams occur in the direction of Bangkok on Sundays and at the end of Thai holidays, or in the direction of Hua Hin at the beginning of holidays or weekends. Hua Hin Airport is not currently operational, but given the proximity of the capital, this is not very important.
Other
As for other evaluation criteria, it seems to me that there are no strong differences between these resorts. Except in terms of infrastructure development and children's entertainment, of course, the small village of Ao Nang will lose to the entire island of Samui or Hua Hin, where up to 100 thousand people live, plus summer residents from Bangkok. In terms of snakes and other reptiles, of course, they are easiest to find in the jungles of Samui, but snakes try not to appear near main roads and settlements. And if you climb into the jungle of Krabi province or the outskirts of Hua Hin, there will be no less living creatures there. And in terms of medicine, I would put Hua Hin in first place, then Samui, and then Krabi Town, adjacent to Ao Nang (there are no serious hospitals in Ao Nang itself). But considering that Samui is an island, and from Hua Hin you can drive to the capital in 2 hours, then, of course, in terms of medical safety it is the royal resort that rules. This was the main reason why we ultimately chose this city for. In terms of general security, Hua Hin will give odds to any other city, since the royal residence is located in it, and this resort is guarded very seriously. However, adventure can be found anywhere, but for normal and adequate people Thailand is a very safe and friendly country.
And now a few photos from Samui.
View of Lake Chaweng, Koh Samui 
Nikki Beach, Koh Samui 
"Lost Beach", Koh Samui 
Taling Ngam, pier jumping and views of the 5 islands A few photos from Ao Nang and its surroundings.
The road between Krabi Town and Ao Nang - avatar style)) The main beach of Ao Nang is cute, but crowded 
"Hallmark" of Poda Island (half an hour by boat from Ao Nang) 
Blue Lake, an hour's drive from Ao Nang A few photos of Hua Hin and its surroundings.
Phraya Nakhon Cave and King's Pavilion, 60 km from Hua Hin 
View from the observation tower in the mangrove forest of the national park 
Typical day at the beach in Hua Hin Also read on our blog:
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About 60 kilometers from Hua Hin is the largest national park in Thailand - Kaeng Krachan. It is located near the border with Myanmar. Tourists are attracted by the almost untouched mountain tropical forest with a large number of exotic plants and animals. Numerous waterfalls, caves, and rivers add to the popularity of this place. The road to this park itself is also of great interest; on the way you can easily meet wild elephants, therefore, for safety reasons, tourists are advised to go there not on their own, but with guides. The real decoration of this park is considered to be the highest Palau waterfall in Thailand. This is a sixteen-step waterfall and if you climb to the top, you can enjoy beautiful views of Central Thailand and neighboring Myanmar.
You can go to such an interesting place as the artists' village Baan Silapin. Fans of such art will have something to see, especially since getting to this village is not difficult; it is located just four kilometers from the city. The village was founded in 1989 and tourists can not only purchase various paintings, but also communicate with local artists.
Not far from the village of Bang Kao there is an interesting temple called Wat Ta Nod Luang. This is not just a temple, but a temple-ship, which is located near the shore and whose architecture combines traditional Buddhist elements and elements of shipbuilding. In this temple, the central panel depicts scenes of a shipwreck, and an elephant holds a steering wheel on its head (a very unusual combination). The temple roof is decorated with numerous bells that produce characteristic ringing sounds when the wind gusts. The temple was built not so long ago and primarily it is aimed not at local believers, but at tourists.
Among the attractions located in the vicinity of Hua Hin are Sai Noi Beach located 15 kilometers from the city and the Turtle Temple located next to it. You can relax comfortably on the beach, and order a ritual to attract good luck directly in the temple, and this pleasure costs only a few dollars.
You can go to the mangrove forest, which is part of the large Forest Park, where you can take a walk, enjoy the beautiful nature and at the same time absolutely not worry about your health. For visitors to the park there are special suspension bridges that are closed to each other. It is simply impossible to get lost in this park, as there are exit signs and a map of the park everywhere. The highlight of this place is the large colonies of mangrove crabs. Not far from the entrance to the park there is a wild, unequipped beach.
Not far from Hua Hin is the Wat Huay Mongkol temple, which is visited daily by believers from all over Thailand and other countries. The peculiarity of the temple is that its main statue is not a statue of Buddha, but a statue of a famous local monk who lived about 400 years ago and is one of the most revered monks not only in Thailand, but also in neighboring countries. In the evening, this statue is illuminated, so you can visit the temple not only during the day, but also after 18:00. The Thais are sure that amulets with the image of this saint protect a person from various accidents, catastrophes and other troubles (you can buy such amulets near the entrance to the temple).
If you are holidaying in Hua Hin and your tourist visa is about to expire, it is recommended that you request an extension at your nearest immigration office. The renewal procedure is quite simple and does not require huge packages of documents.
Recently, it has been considered the most convenient to extend a visa at a local Immigration Office Hua Hin for 1900 baht. To do this, you need to be careful not to overdue it; if the last days fall on the weekend, it is better to worry about everything in advance. Play it safe and go to the immigration office a couple of days earlier. Not everywhere they allow you to apply for a visa ahead of schedule, but in Hua Hin there have been no problems regarding this yet. You will be issued a new visa, counting from the last day of validity of the old one, and not from the date on which you arrived renew the stamp. Read about that in a separate article.
Why is it worth keeping an eye on the dates on your visa?
After the visa expires, there is a fine of 500 baht for each day. Also The Immigration Office may refuse to issue subsequent visas. Although in reality this rarely happened.
Documents required for a visa
- Copy and original of foreign passport
- 1 standard photo for documents, suitable for both passports and Schengen visas in color and b/w
- A form filled out carefully by hand
- 1900 baht cash
If you do not have the opportunity to make a copy of the documents in advance, then at the office for 3 baht per page they will make a copy of your passport with a visa and an entry stamp. Photos are taken here in the office for an additional fee.
Filling out the application form for a Thai visa
Application form for visa extension available on the website Immigration Bureau, however, you do not need to fill it out in advance, as it is in Thai with notes on , so it is easy to get confused. There will be blank forms at the entrance in front of the office, and volunteers will help you answer all the questions for free and, if necessary, make copies of documents and guide you on how to proceed and where to go.
Sample of filling out the form (Source: piki-trip.ru)
What should I do when I go to the Immigration Office?
As in most visa centers, immediately after entering you will need to take a token for the electronic queue. Next, sit down and wait for your number on the immigration office screen. After your number is displayed, come with all the documents and the completed application form to the officer’s desk. Next, he checks all the documents and puts a stamp. To avoid problems, immediately look at the date of the new stamp. It must be counted from the end of the last stamp plus 30 days. Thus, you increase the possibility of staying in Thailand for another month. That's all, the question concerning visa extension in Hua Hin can be considered resolved... oh yes, I completely forgot to show you the location of this office... It turns out extend your visa in Hua Hin not that difficult!
How to get to the immigration office in Hua Hin
The Immigration Center is located on Canal Road, just opposite Soi 16. It opens at 8:30 am and is open until 4:30 pm with lunch at 12:00 pm for exactly one hour. However, you should come here in advance, otherwise you risk standing in line for a long time. Also, do not forget about holidays on which the office is usually closed.
Allow me to make some contribution to this topic, namely, to briefly talk about the railway version of the border run from Hua Hin to Malaysia.
It seems to me that this method may be relevant for those who live near the stations of the Southern Line of Thai Railways in the section from Cha Am to Chumpon. In other situations, either traveling by bus or even traveling to other border crossings becomes more attractive.
The main advantage of a train over a bus (and even more so compared to a minibus) is freedom for the body. Those who have had to travel long distances huddled in the back seat of a minibus will probably think about the train. In addition, the train provides a theoretical opportunity to sleep in a normal – horizontal – position, while at the same time at least getting closer to the goal. In our case, to the city of Hat Yai. At the same time, you can eat food sold right here on the train an unlimited number of times, use the toilet at any convenient time, and, if desired, wash your face or even take a shower.
The main disadvantage of Thai trains is constant (and often significant) delays. It’s even possible that these are not so much delays caused by some random circumstances, but rather an incorrect schedule: I got the impression that the actual time of arrival at station N of each train is always approximately the same, and N residents have this secret information. I would like to note that in Thai trains the lights are not turned off at night, and this must be kept in mind. In addition, as far as I remember, the conductor used to lock the carriage at night, but last time this did not happen, to the delight of the sellers of all sorts of things, thanks to whom you can well learn the names of the simplest Thai dishes. (Oddly enough, the company... Qatar Airways helped me, or rather their gift: earplugs and an eye mask. I recommend stocking up).
In order not to be cheaper compared to the bus, you must strive to stay within the second class. I would not recommend 2nd class with seats: in my opinion, it is completely uncomfortable there, and there is little chance of getting a normal sleep, although the seats recline almost to a horizontal position, but there is noise, light (no Qataris help!), wind, bursting into open windows is not very conducive to sweet dreams. If you nevertheless decide to use this option or for economic reasons (or perhaps due to lack of tickets) find yourself in 3rd class, warm yourself up! A jumper or blanket wouldn't hurt. Those people who decide to take first class will probably enjoy their trip very much, and their train will probably run on schedule. But there are few such trains, and so are the number of passengers. And we, therefore, chose Second Sleeper Class, which is found mainly in compositions of a more “proletarian” level. The cost of a ticket from Hua Hin to Hai Yai in this case will be about 500 baht (the lower shelves are 10 percent more expensive than the upper ones), which is approximately equal to the price of bus tickets. At the same time, special curtains (why are there no such things in our reserved seat?!) and comfortable sleeping places will create a certain comfort and coziness.
Next you have to choose a train. Five night trains pass through Hua Hin to Hat Yai. Train No. 35, passing through Hua Hin at 18:42, stands apart in this row: it goes all the way to the border in Padang Besar and even further to Malaysia, but there are no cars of the required class there. There are no such cars in another Special Express - No. 37, departure from XX at 19:10 (arrival at 07:20). There is also Special Express No. 85 at 23:33, but it should arrive in KY only at 12:34, which is perhaps a little late. (By the way, I can’t guarantee that this train has 2nd class sleeping cars). On these trains, I think there are second-class carriages with air conditioning. As a result, our choice is small: Rapid No. 171 and Ordinary No. 169. Both of these trains are old and beaten up by life (I’m not sure about the 169th - I haven’t ridden it for two years, they suddenly updated it). They start to be late even within the city limits of Bangkok, and arrive in XX hour and an hour and a half later than the time indicated on the schedule - 17:14 and 20:07, respectively. Arrival times at KY are 05:52 and 09:15. By adding 2-2.5-3 hours we get time close to real. And it would be tempting: having arrived on the 171st train, jump onto the 35th on the Hat Yai - Padang Besar stretch and at 07:55 you will be at the border.
Buying a ticket at Hua Hin station is easy: the cashiers, unlike many other places, speak English and you can communicate with them. The main thing is to take care of tickets in advance - at least a day in advance - otherwise there may not be tickets. It is important to clearly explain which class of ticket is required. Otherwise, you can easily end up in a sitting position instead of a lying one. It would not be impudent to ask for a seat in the middle of the carriage: it is much quieter there, and the odors of the toilet are not felt. If you had to take 3rd class tickets, then you definitely need to buy tickets with SEATS (to the phrase “Only tickets without seats! OK?” you must answer “No!”, believe me), otherwise you will have to stand on one leg the whole way and curse everything in the world! There will most likely be no chance to sit down. And so – Hua Hin is a good station. Even announcements over the public address system are duplicated in English. There is also a board at the station that shows the order of arrival of trains and the delay time for each. This means you won’t have to wonder if the train has arrived or worry about it.
It is unlikely to pass your station (if the class of the car is higher than 3): the conductor will remind you, and the neighbors will follow the farang that is unreasonable, from their point of view. Therefore, if you wake up a couple of hours later than your expected arrival, there is no need to panic: the train is slightly late, and there is still time to wash (and there are three washbasins, and they are not in the toilet, so there is no queue) and have breakfast. In addition, most of the passengers disembark at Hat Yai.
Once in Hat Yai, there is no need to repeat my mistake: I, together with the local population, rode on a tiny songthaew to the Bus Station (“Thirty baht, Sir! Same Thai people!” – I feel like he’s lying, although it started at fifty). The fact is that minibuses going to Sadao or Padang Besar depart from certain points in Hat Yaye, located near the Railway Station, and only then call at the Bus Station, and may already be almost full. This is basically what many minibuses do in this city. The cost does not depend on the landing location. The main thing is to get rid of the help at the station and the station area, and then ask the local residents - they will show you and help you.
Thai railway sites.