Suan Son Pradiphat is a resort that’s owned by the Royal Thai Army but is open to the public. It’s a bit of a hidden treasure that mainly Thai people seem to know about. We discovered it by accident while visiting the nearby Rajabhakti Park.
There isn’t anything to see from the main road apart from a small road leading to the resort and an army checkpoint where we had to pay 20 baht to enter. I think the entrance fee was for the car. Follow the road and you’ll come to the main entrance that’s shown in the photo above. Turn left at this point and then take the next right where you’ll see a small car park. From there the beach is only around 100 meters away.
When you arrive at the beach you’ll notice that there are lots of sea pines. Sea Pines is the English name for the resort. If you look to your left you’ll see the famous Khao Takiab hill. It’s well known in Hua Hin as the home to hundreds of monkeys.
If you look straight out to sea you’ll notice some islands. These are Ko Sai, KoSadao, and KoKhiNok. You can take sightseeing tours to these islands from some of the local travel agents in town.
Most of the Thai people hire deckchairs to sit on the beach. These cost just 20 baht each. There is plenty of food and drink available, including beer, all at very reasonable prices.
This part of Hua Hin is really unspoiled and the water at the beach was very clean when we visited. Late afternoon is the most popular time to visit, as it’s a cooler part of the day. Thai people, unlike many Westerners, tend to stay out of the strong daytime sun.
I would highly recommend visiting this beach if you’re staying in Hua Hin, as it has a nice, friendly atmosphere. Weekends are likely to be very busy though, as there is a local train station where trains from Bangkok stop. There is also a camping area that’s popular with Thai families. If you have children this would be a great place to take them.
Make sure you check out our tips for dressing while backpacking in Southeast Asia.
Suan Son Pradiphat Details
Address: Phetkasem Road, Hua Hin (7km south of Hua Hin)
Opening Hours: 08:00-18:00 every day
How To Get There: If you have a car or motorbike it’s very easy to get to. Just head south down Phetkasem Road (the main road through Hua Hin) and you’ll see signs for it. It’s almost opposite Rajabhakti Park. If you don’t have your own transport you can easily get a taxi or tuk-tuk from town.
Entrance Fee: 20 baht (per car)