Rayong, on Thailand’s eastern seaboard, is one of the easiest beach escapes from Bangkok. Its headline act is Ko Samet, a small island of sandy bays just off the coast, but the mainland has quieter surprises too, from a mangrove forest that turns gold in the evening light to a seafood market where locals stock up on dried squid and fish sauce.
Ko Samet: an island escape close to Bangkok
Ko Samet lies roughly 200 km from Bangkok, and most of the island belongs to Khao Laem Ya-Mu Ko Samet National Park, so visitors pay a park entrance fee on arrival. Ferries leave from the piers at Ban Phe on the mainland and take around 30-45 minutes; speedboats are quicker. Because it’s so accessible, Samet gets very busy at weekends and on public holidays, so come midweek if you can or book your room early.
Hat Sai Kaew
Hat Sai Kaew means “crystal sand beach”, and it’s the island’s most popular stretch. Fine, pale sand, clear water, restaurants with deckchairs and plenty of water sports make it lively by day and busy into the night.
Ao Wong Duean
Ao Wong Duean, the island’s second-largest beach, curves around a bay that’s popular for swimming. It has its own ferry connection to the mainland and a good choice of places to stay and eat, with a slightly calmer feel than Sai Kaew.
Fire shows after dark
In the evening, fire-twirling performers take over parts of the beachfront, especially along Hat Sai Kaew and neighbouring Ao Hin Khok. Grab a table at a beach restaurant, enjoy the show and leave a tip if you liked it.
Thung Prong Thong: the golden mangrove
On the mainland, Rayong’s most photogenic natural spot is Thung Prong Thong in Klaeng district, at the mouth of the Prasae River. The name means “golden field of prong”, after the prong trees, a type of mangrove whose leaves form a dense, even canopy. In the low sun of early morning and late afternoon the canopy glows yellow and gold, which is when the place looks its best.
A long wooden boardwalk winds through and above the mangroves, leading to a memorial to the warship HTMS Prasae. Information boards explain the ecosystem, and local longtail boats offer short trips into the channels, where you may spot shorebirds. It’s a peaceful contrast to the beach crowds and a reminder of how much coastal fishing communities depend on healthy mangroves.
Ban Phe market and seafood
Ban Phe, the small port town where the Samet ferries leave, is worth a browse before or after your crossing. Market stalls are piled with local seafood products such as dried cuttlefish, dried shrimp and fish sauce, which make good gifts to take home. Seafood restaurants around town serve the day’s catch, so it’s an easy lunch stop on the way back to Bangkok.
Seaside cafés around Klaeng
The quieter coastline of Klaeng district has a scattering of seaside cafés where you can sip a coffee with a sea view and take a break from driving. Pair a café stop with Thung Prong Thong for a relaxed day on the mainland. From here, the scenic coastal road continues east into neighbouring Chanthaburi, with its gem market, old riverside streets and fruit orchards.
Planning your trip
The drive from Bangkok to Ban Phe takes around two and a half hours in normal traffic, and buses and minivans run there too. The drier months, from around November to April, are generally the most pleasant for beach time, while weekends and holidays are the busiest. On the way from Bangkok you’ll pass through Chonburi, home to Bang Saen and Pattaya. For more ideas in the province, see our Rayong province guide.
Good to know
- Best for: beach lovers and easy weekend breaks from Bangkok
- Don’t miss: Ko Samet, Thung Prong Thong and Ban Phe market
- Park fee: paid on arrival on Ko Samet; foreign visitors pay more than Thai residents
- Ferries: from the Ban Phe piers, around 30-45 minutes; speedboats are faster
- Thung Prong Thong: go early morning or late afternoon for the golden light, and bring a hat and water
- Crowds: weekends and public holidays are very busy on Samet, so book ahead
In short
Rayong makes beach time easy: a short ferry ride to Ko Samet’s sandy bays and fire shows, a quiet walk above the golden mangroves at Thung Prong Thong and a seafood shopping stop in Ban Phe. It’s an ideal choice when you want sea air without a long journey from Bangkok.
