About Chanthaburi Province
Chanthaburi lies on Thailand's eastern seaboard between Rayong and Trat, with a fertile interior of orchards backing onto the Cardamom foothills and a short coastline of quiet beaches. The province is Thailand's traditional gem-trading capital, and the gem street in the old town still hosts weekend markets where dealers sort sapphires, rubies, and zircons on paper trays. The Old Vietnamese Quarter, lined with century-old shophouses along the Chanthaboon riverfront, reflects waves of Catholic Vietnamese refugees.
Top Highlights
Gem trading street and weekend market for sapphires, rubies, and zircons
Old Vietnamese Quarter shophouses along the Chanthaboon riverfront
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, the largest Catholic cathedral in Thailand
Khao Khitchakut National Park and the durian-and-mangosteen orchards of the interior
Getting There
Chanthaburi is about 245 km southeast of Bangkok, around four hours by car or by intercity bus from Ekkamai or Mo Chit. The nearest airport with regular flights is U-Tapao (Pattaya), roughly two hours away.
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Senior Travel Writer · Bangkok · 12+ years in Thailand
James has lived in Bangkok since 2014 and has visited all 77 Thai provinces. He specialises in destination guides, itinerary planning, and transport logistics. Before moving to Thailand, he worked as a travel journalist in Hong Kong and Singapore. He speaks conversational Thai and is a certified PADI divemaster.
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