Bang Pla Soi is an urban coastal community on the eastern side of the Gulf of Thailand. When choosing where to stay, two questions can help: What kind of coastal landscape are you looking for, and would you like to plan your trip around an annual festival? These questions can be weighed against the specific cultural and historical features of the area.
Coastal setting without a sandy beach
The coastal plain is low-lying and irregularly shaped; there are no sandy beaches. When choosing a destination, this means Bang Pla Soi offers an urban coastal setting, but not the landscape associated with a sandy beach holiday. Those who place greater importance on culture and history can use the area’s features as a guide to their choice.
Buffalo Racing in the lunar calendar
One annual event is the traditional Buffalo Racing festival. It takes place on the 14th day of the waxing moon in the 11th lunar month, close to the end of Buddhist Lent. This gives the festival a clear place in the lunar calendar.
A wooden house as a city museum
The Chonburi Heritage Museum is now housed in Ban Luang Amnat Jeennikorn, a wooden house that is more than 100 years old. Visitors can learn more about the city’s history and culture there. The building and the museum’s contents bring together two perspectives: the age and wooden construction of the house, and the urban history visitors can discover there. If you are interested in cultural topics, this is a tangible way to explore the city’s history.
A shrine and murals
The more than 100-year-old Xie Bo Niao Shrine is also known by residents as the “Wooden Shrine” and is highly regarded in the community. At Wat Yai Intharam, murals depict the restoration of independence and King Taksin the Great’s camp at the temple. These offer two different cultural points of reference: the shrine’s high standing in the community and historical themes depicted in the murals. If you are choosing based on cultural history, the shrine offers a connection to the community’s esteem, while Wat Yai Intharam focuses on specific visual themes.
Settlement history and livelihoods
In the past, many Hokkien and Teochew Chinese settled in Bang Pla Soi. Many were involved in trade; some engaged in fishing, as did local Thai people. These details complement the buildings and murals with a social and economic perspective. The activities remain distinct: many of the migrants traded, while some of them and local Thai people fished. This adds specific communities and livelihoods to the view of the city’s history presented at the museum.
Discover more destinations: Nong Ri, Si Racha, Tha Thewawong, Ban Suan, Bang Lamung, Saen Suk, Pattaya, Pluang Thong.
For the overview of the wider region: Chonburi.
