Image: ประจวบมีปราณ

 

By Jonathan Fairfield

 

Hua Hin is changing all the time and sometimes it’s easy to forget how things were before.

 

No longer the sleepy fishing village it once was, the local authorities have plans to develop Hua Hin into a ‘smart city’ – a sign of how the town has developed.

 

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Go back just over six years ago and BluPort, The Marriott, Holiday Inn, Vana Nava Water Park and True Arena were all yet to open.

 

A little over a decade ago, Soi 102 was considered by many to be a little out of town, while Soi 112 barely existed beyond the turning for the Banyan Golf Course.

 

Full story: https://www.huahintoday.com/hua-hin-news/fascinating-then-and-now-photos-show-how-hua-hin-has-and-hasnt-changed/

 

-- © Copyright Hua Hin Today 2022-03-12

 

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Fond memories of HH as it was the first place outside of Bangkok I visited in 1990.

Haven't been there in a while now so a return visit later this year is on the cards.

 

Uninteresting photos to say the least

The best thing they can do to improve Hua Hin is to make the least utilized airport in the world functional. The location is a prefect hub, and should even include flights to Bangkok, for convenience, to avoid what can be a horrendous drive, at any time of the day, other than before 4am or after 8pm.

 

Otherwise, Hua Hin is a nice town. Alot of good food, shopping, decent beaches, etc. Unfortunately, the highly selective economic shutdowns have decimated the nightlife. Hopefully, it will slowly come back. It is maybe 40% of what it was before. 

45 minutes ago, Andycoops said:

Fond memories of HH as it was the first place outside of Bangkok I visited in 1990.

Haven't been there in a while now so a return visit later this year is on the cards.

 

2008 I looked around Hua Hin for a place to live in the Thai side of town, I wasn't interested in being isolated in a "farang village/condo complex.

I rented for a year to get a real feel for the place

Prices were reasonable back then and made a couple of offers.

Eventually I held off and glad I did, the Hua Hin as it is now is a mess.

 

2 hours ago, clivebaxter said:

Uninteresting photos to say the least

I'd express my opinion, but I'd get put on restricted posting list again. ????

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

The best thing they can do to improve Hua Hin is to make the least utilized airport in the world functional. The location is a prefect hub, and should even include flights to Bangkok, for convenience, to avoid what can be a horrendous drive, at any time of the day, other than before 4am or after 8pm.

 

 

Currently the only flights in and out of Hua Hin are the three flights a week to Chiang Mai, at least there should be by the end of the month. The twice weekly flights to Udon Thani stopped a while ago, and show no sign of returning.

 

They are currently extending the runway, and are making all sorts of promises about future flights when the extension is complete, whether they come to fruition is another matter, resumption of the flights to KLIA would be a good start.

 

There were flights to Don Muang some years ago, I flew a few times on Saga Airlines, as the road improved, yes it was even worse years ago, these flights stopped.

I do agree that the journey can take a long time, but since they've made some progress on the project approaching Bangkok, I find if I leave HH after 10.00 I can normally do it in three hours to the centre, that said there's new roadworks in the Ratchaburi area, which may mean more delays. 

 

 

2 hours ago, hotchilli said:

2008 I looked around Hua Hin for a place to live in the Thai side of town, I wasn't interested in being isolated in a "farang village/condo complex.

I rented for a year to get a real feel for the place

Prices were reasonable back then and made a couple of offers.

Eventually I held off and glad I did, the Hua Hin as it is now is a mess.

 

Agree, and loved passing through, w/overnight, on the way to Phuket, over the years, but you couldn't give me free accommodation (unless gulf-view surfside) to live there.  

Just now, KhunLA said:

Agree, and loved passing through, w/overnight, on the way to Phuket, over the years, but you couldn't give me free accommodation (unless gulf-view surfside) to live there.  

I pass through Hua Hin now and would rather stop at Pranburi or Ao Manao

much better

2 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

I pass through Hua Hin now and would rather stop at Pranburi or Ao Manao

much better

Maybe use the bypass, then you wouldn't need to pass through Hua Hin. ????

2 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

I pass through Hua Hin now and would rather stop at Pranburi or Ao Manao

much better

Used to stop there coming from Udon Thani to Phuket, so good halfway stop. Over the years discovered Sam Roi Yot, PKK municipality / Ao Manao, Ban Krut, Thung Wua Laen/Chumphon on the way to Phuket, and stopped overnighting in HH.  

 

If surf was cooperating, didn't even bother continuing to Phuket, once I discovered  Ban Krut & Thung Wua Laen. ????

 

First 10 yrs here, it was twice a year, at least to Phuket, during school breaks.  Then stopped going for 10 yrs, as the appeal declined.

 

Went to Phuket last year, after that 10 yr break, during the 'situation', and it was the best ever ????    Unfortunately, never to be that way again, as too many tourist have already returned, unless another 'situation' arises ... ????

 

Enjoy PKK municipality / Ao Manao so much, decided to live here after the 'not so wee one' finished school in Udon Thani.  Not for everyone, to live here, but we love it, as fairly unchanged over the pass 20 yrs.  Most would find it boring, and agree with that, although & why we are out & about quite often.  Nice coming back to very quiet though.

Another problem with HH:  still waiting for that sunset over the Gulf…

4 hours ago, Andycoops said:

Fond memories of HH as it was the first place outside of Bangkok I visited in 1990.

Haven't been there in a while now so a return visit later this year is on the cards.

 

You will be shocked, I certainly was, 1990 was my first visit also, personally I preferred it back then

1 hour ago, Isaan sailor said:

Another problem with HH:  still waiting for that sunset over the Gulf…

Location location location ... ????

 

Used to have the only Burger King south of Bangkok (way before Samui, Ao Nang and Phuket et al got theirs). When driving up from the south, always used to divert into HuaHin just to get my Double Whopper fix lol ... 

One million passengers in the next 3 years. 913 a day. They must be smoking the good stuff to dream up that number. 

On 3/12/2022 at 10:48 AM, Isaan sailor said:

Another problem with HH:  still waiting for that sunset over the Gulf…

...lovely sunrises, though.

On 3/12/2022 at 1:49 PM, South said:

Used to have the only Burger King south of Bangkok (way before Samui, Ao Nang and Phuket et al got theirs). When driving up from the south, always used to divert into HuaHin just to get my Double Whopper fix lol ... 

Actually 1 of the reason for a stopover, years ago, 12+ yrs ago ... ????

 

Now everyone offers up burgers, and some damn tasty ones.  Far better than fast food vendors, though only BK & Carl's are worth considering, in that market, and inconsistent at that.  I don't bother anymore, last couple years, as best burger is at home.

 

Burgers don't make the short list, when munching out of the house.