Rayong is a province located in northern Thailand. From Bangkok, it takes about 2 to 3 hours by motor vehicle to get there. For frequent travellers to Bangkok, Rayong is a rustic, smaller and more rural area to visit, away from the city buzz.
Several islands in the Gulf of Thailand belong to the province, including the popular tourist destinations, Ko Samet, Ko Mun, and Ko Khod. However, this post will be focused more on the land attractions rather than island-hopping and resorts.
Rayong is about 200 kilometers away from Bangkok and you can get there by bus from the Bangkok Northern Bus Terminal or self-drive with a rented car. I would suggest getting a guide as it is not easy to navigate your way in Rayong if you do not speak the local language. The guide who brought me to Rayong was pretty good. You can contact Kob via her website or directly via this email – [email protected].
On your way to Rayong, you can stop for a meal at Tamnanpar Restaurant (167/6 Moo 7, Phe, Rayong, Thailand, (038) 652884, [email protected]). The restaurant is structured to look like a tropical rainforest, complete with man-made waterfalls, ponds and other water features.
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province Entrance](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-36.jpg)
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province Natural landscaping](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-35.jpg)
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province Indoor waterfall](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-34.jpg)
There is a wide selection of excellent Thai cuisines and I particularly enjoyed the steamed flower crab legs dipped in Thai chilli sauce:
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province Roast duck and assorted veggies](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-33.jpg)
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province Soft-shell crabs](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-32.jpg)
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province Grilled prawns](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-31.jpg)
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province Traditional thai salad](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-30.jpg)
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province I can eat 1000 of these crab legs](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-29.jpg)
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province Salak (Snake Fruit)](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-28.jpg)
First stop, you can visit the Songsalueng Natural Agricultural Centre (322/2 Mu 8, Song Salueng, Klaeng, Rayong, +6681-982-2404). There, you get to visit a farming project started by the Thai King. The owner of the project, Somsak Khruewan, is a beneficiary of this project and he proudly guided us through his farm to showcase his success with sustainable farming.
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province Somsak Khruewan](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-24.jpg)
Khruewan lives off his land completely and recycles everything that is produced from the land to maintain a self-sustaining eco-system. For instance, the leftover skins of mangosteens are made into a sweet-smelling fertiliser to fertilise the soil, which in turn is used to grow mangosteen trees and other agricultural produces.
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province A pig at the farm](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-23.jpg)
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province A piglet](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-22.jpg)
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province Sweet-smelling fertiliser made from mangosteen skins](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-21.jpg)
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province Making charcoal with wood from the land](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-20.jpg)
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province Duck](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-18.jpg)
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province Farmland](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-17.jpg)
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province Geese](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-16.jpg)
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province Swans](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-15.jpg)
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province Khruewan with a celebrity](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-13.jpg)
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province Reared fish](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-10.jpg)
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province Water hyacinths are used to soak up the pollutants in the ponds](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-12.jpg)
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province Water hyacinths are used to soak up the pollutants in the ponds](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-09.jpg)
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province Chicken](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-07.jpg)
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province Making of the fertiliser](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-08.jpg)
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province Khruewan found an egg in the hens' coop](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-05.jpg)
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province Making a dam with bamboos from the land](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-03.jpg)
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province Knocking in the beams](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-04.jpg)
Khurewan shared with us an interesting quote: “for most others, they have to work hard to make money; for him, with sustainable farming practices, he don’t have to work very hard after he set up the farm properly following the guidance of the Thai King and money actually comes to him”.
Khruewan is no multi-millionaire, but he is a contented and happy man who lives off his land which he maintains with his own hands. He was a army regular before he retired to take on farming.
Next comes the must-visit site in Rayong – Tung Prong Thong (Pak Nam Krasae, Klaeng, Rayong), a mangrove forest at the Khao Laem Yai National Park. You can hire a saleng (Rayong’s version of a tuk-tuk) to get there like a local.
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province Riding on a saleng](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-296.jpg)
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province My speed demon auntie driver](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-295.jpg)
You have to visit this site to take a photo there. Here’s why:
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province The mangrove forest from the outside](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-294.jpg)
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province Stroll down the boardwalk](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-293.jpg)
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province You see roots like these](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-292.jpg)
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province And then this greets you](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-287.jpg)
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province You get totally wowed away](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-290.jpg)
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province Close-up of the yellowish leaves](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-205.jpg)
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province You have to take a selfie here!](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-288.jpg)
I never knew a mangrove swamp can be so beautiful from the top! For the avid photographers, you may want to travel there during sunset or sunrise for an even more poignant view.
If you have more time, visit the area at night to catch sights of fireflies.
After the mangrove forest, we hopped back on the saleng, crossing a bridge that spans the Prasae River, stopping to catch the view of the fishing village and the river.
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province We went on the bridge](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-285.jpg)
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province View from the bridge](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-282.jpg)
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province The opposite side](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-280.jpg)
Hopping back on the saleng, it brought me to the HTMS Prasae Memorial (Thetsaban 9 Road, Praesae, Rayong). This is a a large warship that rests on the ground facing the sea. The ship started life with the US Navy as USS Gallup PF-47. It was then transferred to the Soviet Navy as EK-22 and was passed on in in 1951 to the Royal Thai Navy as HTMS Prasae. The warship is a war veteran, having survived both World War II and the Korean War. It was restored and beached at Prasae in December 2003.
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province HTMS Prasae](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-279.jpg)
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province Interesting to see such a large warship docked on land](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-278.jpg)
Praesae used to be one of the largest fishing villages in Thailand and was an important fishing port. Decline in fishing has since reduced the importance of Prasae and the villagers now tap into eco-tourism as an alternative source of income. This brings me to my next, stop, the Prasae Community which I would strong recommend as another must-visit site in Rayong.
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province Welcome to Prasae Community](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-277.jpg)
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province A community art project saw the village decorated with kawaii decors like these](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-276.jpg)
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province Japanese-style origami streamers](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-226.jpg)
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province Tailor](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-228.jpg)
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province Food stalls](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-229.jpg)
Why? There are barely any foreign tourists there at the moment and I really love such new attractions. Note that there are barely much English signs there, which is why you may want to hire a local guide for your day-trip.
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province Fishing village](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-238.jpg)
I love visiting small towns and observing how the locals live their daily lives. This trip to Prasae is one that I would treasure and remember.
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province Lots of old houses like this](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-241.jpg)
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province A villager sitting around](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-231.jpg)
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province A peek inside one of the houses](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-232.jpg)
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province Houses on stilts](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-234.jpg)
During the day, take a walk around the community. Prasae is a really small town and you will be able to complete exploring one end of the street to the other in about an hour, leisurely strolling.
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province Empty house](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-242.jpg)
There are many local homestays in Prasae. I stayed at Chan Samuth Home Stay ((081) 209-2108 | [email protected]) which I quite like and will recommend to other travellers. The hosts are very friendly and guests can sit around at night in the open air to relax by the river. There’s also a piano for guests to play.
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province Chan Samuth Home Stay](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-274.jpg)
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province Interior](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-275.jpg)
The owner at Chan Samuth also has a wooden fishing vessel, in which guests can have their dinner on the vessel while it cruise the local river.
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province Docked boat](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-272.jpg)
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province Loading our dinner on the boat](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-264.jpg)
I love it that the boat docks just in front of your rooms and the feeling is quite surreal, bringing you back to a simpler lifestyle where people live off the river.
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province Lounge area](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-273.jpg)
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province DIY food and beverages area](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-271.jpg)
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province Simple breakfast](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-246.jpg)
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province Piano](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-265.jpg)
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province My room](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-269.jpg)
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province Attached bathroomAttached bathroom](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-268.jpg)
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province You can see the river and the boat from out of my room](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-266.jpg)
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province Another larger room](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-263.jpg)
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province Twin decks](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-261.jpg)
The dinner on board the boat consists of a buffet spread of grilled seafood and free flow beverages.
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province Getting on the boat](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-258.jpg)
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province Dinner on board](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-254.jpg)
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province Dinner view](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-252.jpg)
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province Dinner spread](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-249.jpg)
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province More food](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-248.jpg)
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province Thai style sashimi prawn with garlic and soy sauce](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-250.jpg)
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province To be grilled](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-260.jpg)
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province Grilled flower crabs](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-251.jpg)
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province Grilled prawns](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-247.jpg)
In the morning, wake up early and you may catch sight of the locals giving alms to the local monks. You can also partake by purchasing a packet of sticky rice or other food item from the local food stalls to offer to the monks.
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province Thai-style curry noodle for breakfast](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-244.jpg)
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province Grilled rice which you can buy and offer to the monks](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-239.jpg)
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province Alms giving](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-236.jpg)
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province Bowing to the monks](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-235.jpg)
After that, head off to the local market where you can find some interesting local Thai food to savour.
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province Off to the market](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-225.jpg)
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province Foodstuff at the market](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-224.jpg)
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province Fruits](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-223.jpg)
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province Grapes](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-221.jpg)
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province Meat](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-220.jpg)
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province Veggies](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-219.jpg)
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province Dried fish](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-216.jpg)
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province Fresh fish](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-215.jpg)
![Bangkok Excursion: Must-see attractions in Rayong province KFC bucket DIY lamps](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2015/11/rayong-213.jpg)
You will hear the local radio blasting off loudspeakers planted across the town with messages from the local government as a way to communicate to the locals.
As I stroll along the pavement in the village, listening to the radio announcement and enjoying the gentle morning sun, I feel like I was walking into a bygone era of happier, simpler times. Such is the charm of Prasae Community and Rayong province.
I would highly recommend this excursion next time you visit Bangkok! Moreover, you can travel from Bangkok to Rayong and then to Chanthaburi and Chantaboon like I did for a two to three days trip.
Next stop, neighbouring Chanthaburi province. Stay tune for my next post recommendation on Bangkok excursions.