About Rayong Province
Rayong is the fruit province of eastern Thailand — home to the famous Rayong durian, mangosteen, and rambutan orchards that ripen each May and June. But the province also contains Koh Samet, a popular island national park with white sand beaches just 200 km from Bangkok, making it one of the capital's most accessible weekend beach escapes. Rayong's industrial zone (part of the Eastern Economic Corridor) surrounds the northern part of the province, while the southern coast has largely been preserved with national park status protecting the beaches.
Top Highlights
Koh Samet
white-sand island national park, Bangkok's most popular weekend beach
Fruit orchards
Rayong durian, mangosteen, and rambutan season from May to June
Khao Chamao-Khao Wong National Park
waterfalls and limestone caves inland
Ban Phe fishing village
ferry point to Koh Samet, fresh seafood markets
Getting There
Buses from Bangkok's Eastern Terminal (Ekkamai) to Ban Phe (Koh Samet ferry point) take 3–3.5 hours. By car, Rayong is about 2.5 hours from Bangkok on Highway 36. Ferries to Koh Samet from Ban Phe take 30–40 minutes. Note: Koh Samet is a national park and charges a 300 baht entry fee.
Frequently Asked Questions
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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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