I'm trying to mail something to an address in Hua Hin. Yellow pages has part of the address listed as Tumbol, which I can' find on any map (Google etc) but I do see other references to Tambon. Is this the same place but a mis-spelling or mispronunciation? I know Thais usually pronounce words ending in L, with an N instead, so this would make sense. Or are they different places entirely?

Tambon or Tumbol ( an "l" at the end of a word in Thai is pronounced "n", but their weird transliteration system often doesn't reflect the pronounciation) isn't a place, it is the name of an administrative area, often translated as "subdistrict", in English.

What you are doing is a bit like trying to find a place called "village" on a map of England!

so I can use either. Great, thanks for the info.

You can just use a T. (name)

When a Thai addresses something (in English), they do it like this:

(Name)

(Soi number and Soi or street address and street)

M. (M. = Moobaan = village or development) (some addresses may not need or have this)

T. (T. = Tambon or Tumbol depending on phonetics = sub district or village if there is no Moobaan designation for the area)

A. (A. = Amphur or Amphoe depending on phonetics) = city)

(province) (zip code)

Thailand

Real Example:

John Doe

59/112 Soi 114

M. Hua Na

T. Nong Khae

A. Hua Hin

Prachuap Khiri Khan 77110

Thailand

It's like this

t.= tambon pronounced dumbon.= sub-district

a.= amphur pronounced umpooer = district

j = changwat pronounced junwat = province

example

t.nai muang

a.muang

j.phitsanulok

Hope this helps.

Great responses and info there. Thanks guys.