Hua Hin

Hua Hin is a beach resort town in Thailand in the northern part of Malaysia, some 200km south of Bangkok,It has a population of 84,883 in an area of 911km, and is one of eight districts(Amphoe) of the Prachuap Khiri Khan province.Hua Hin is closely associated with the Thai royalty  and is popular seaside resort.

Hua Hin Train Station
The train station has become a popular tourist attraction. Its quaint, East-meets-West architectural style stands in stark contrast to the modern hotel buildings and outdoor malls that have become an integral part of 21st century Hua Hin’s skyline.

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Hua Hin Night MarketHua Hin Night Market is a place to indulge in food and drink but that is not to say that the shopping should go unmissed. As any savvy market-goer will testify, finding the good stuff is more often than not about getting into the thick of it – keep your ears and eyes peeled in other words. The sort of stuff you can expect to see goes along the lines of jewelry, crafts, some Buddhist tokens, beachwear, funky lamps and some counterfeit goods. The counterfeit goods here don’t feature as prominently as say, Bangkok, but you can still get your hands on a good ‘Chanel’ handbag or pair of ‘Adidas’ trainers.

Women’s fashions in the form of dresses, skirts, shirts and tops feature quite prominently as do accessory stands where intricate, hand crafted pieces can be bought. Essentially this is a good area for some pre- or post-dinner shopping, especially if you’re looking to buy souvenirs or traditional Thai crafts.

Plern Wan shopping village
Not just a themed open-air mall, Plearn Wan feels more like a living museum where you can experience a slice of life in 1950s Hua Hin. Plern Wan’s two-storey courtyard-style building, an architectural statement in itself, houses a community of period-style shops selling everything from liquor, inexpensive plastic-and-tin toys, snacks as well as a beauty salon, photo studio, outdoor cinema screen and a 20-room guesthouse or ‘Piman Plern Wan’.
Not just a themed open-air mall, Plearn Wan feels more like a living museum where you can experience a slice of life in 1950s Hua Hin. Plern Wan’s two-storey courtyard-style building, an architectural statement in itself, houses a community of period-style shops selling everything from liquor, inexpensive plastic-and-tin toys, snacks as well as a beauty salon, photo studio, outdoor cinema screen and a 20-room guesthouse or ‘Piman Plern Wan’.
Food is the main highlight at Plearn Wan. But other than the usual pad thai or grilled meat skewers, you will find a good mix of old and new. Hard-to-find snacks, such as ‘tong muan sod’ (sweetened pancake) and ‘ka lor jee’ (similar to Japanese mochi), are cooked up by order at one of the hawker carts lining the walkway along with typical fare such as noodles and barbecued pork over rice. And if you are a fan of Thai sweets, you will find a myriad of mouthwatering recipes here, from mango sticky rice to grass jelly with shaved ice and preserved fruits in sweetened syrup.
Besides hopping from one food cart to the next, shopping is another favourite pastime for visitors to Plern Wan. The collection of one-off souvenirs, toys, clothing, fashion accessories and even a shop selling various kinds of ‘nam prik’ (chili paste) is quite impressive – even if you don’t buy anything, it makes for quite a pleasurable look around.
Living up to its name (Plern Wan means the ‘joy of yesteryear’), Plern Wan has a fairground complete with a Ferris wheel, game booths and an outdoor cinema where screenings take place on weekend evenings.

Hua Hin-Sam Pan Nam Floating Market

Sam Pan Nam Floating Market
Sam Pan Nam Floating Market is a large scale market fashioned in the style of middle Rattanakosin Period (King Rama VI). The market’s vast landscaped grounds encompass a large manmade lake, show islands, mini train track, over 200 shops and 40 boat vendors offering all kinds of food and snacks. Tucked in Soi 112, about 6km south of town centre, Sam Pan Nam is one of the two floating markets found on the same street.
Coming from Phetkasem Road, you reach Hua Hin Floating Market first, and Sam Pan Nam is about 1km further on. Both markets embrace a retro theme, with 1920s style architecture and long, wooden boardwalks connecting the shops. Daily cultural shows and boat tours are also offered at both markets.

The difference is the size and type of activities available. Hua Hin Floating Market is not as big but has a more sophisticated ambience, while Sam Pan Nam offers a wider range of activities and goods.
Designed to reflect Hua Hin’s unique history and architectural heritage, Sam Pan Nam Floating Market adopts the same identity as Hua Hin town. The sign posts, railings, roof tiles, folding doors all evoke an air of 1920s Hua Hin. There’s also a replica train station and a miniature tourist train that runs at the back of the market. Although there’s no actual fishing pier, the lake has a few moored fishing boats where you can climb aboard and take photos.

On the front section, red wooden bridges and boardwalks link one island with another, while the lake serves as a venue for boat tours and cultural shows. Shops resemble the shop-house buildings in Hua Hin town, but here they’re only one storey high. There’s a good mix of food, souvenirs and clothing shops