Eastern

Chanthaburi (Eastern)

While the southern part of the province is located at the shore to the Gulf of Thailand and thus is mostly coastal alluvial plains, the hinterlands of the province are quite mountainous. The Chanthaburi mountain range in the north has the highest elevation of the province, approximately 1556 m high "Soi Dao Nua Peak". The main river of the province is the Chanthaburi River. Together with the neighboring province Trat, Chanthaburi is the center of gemstone mining, especially rubies and sapphires. Tropical fruits are also among the main products of the province.

The capital of the province bordering Cambodia to the east, and the shore to Gulf of Thailand, famous for its abundance of tropical fruits and as a center for gym mining, the eastern province of Chanthaburi is also blessed with rich, verdant forests and scenic waterfalls. Quiet fishing villages and peaceful beaches are not far from town, making Chantaburi the ultimate get-away-from-it all Thailand province.

Local Products

Gems one of the province’s renowned economic products including elaborately cut gemstones by experienced craftsmen

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Magic Ring golden rings fixed with gemstones. The setting is usually made into various animals such as shrimp, crab, fish, Naga serpent, etc. and can be separated into 4 connected rings.

Ban Samet Ngam Chanthabun Mat Weaving Centre located at Tambon Nong Bua, Amphoe Mueang Chanthaburi, 7 Kilometres from the provincial city. The villagers usually weave mats out of their harvesting season. The centre also puts on exhibition various steps of reed mat weaving as well as their traditional designs.

Bang Sa Kao Mat Weaving Village  located at Tambon Bang Sa Kao, Amphoe Laem Sing, the village features a mat weaving demonstration from the beginning until the final touch when the mats are turned into various useful items such as bag, tissue box holder, place mat, letter holder, sandal, etc.

Khlum Woven Products a crafted work promoted by the Chanthaburi Provincial Skill Development Centre. Khlum is a kind of water plant with tough and strong fibre.

Preserved Durian is the province’s famous processed product with a mildly sweet taste and aroma typical to each of the durian varieties.

Fruits tropical fruits like rambutan, durian, mangosteen, Rakam and Sala varieties of zalacca, santol, etc. are abundant during May –June.

Longan grow in abundance in Amphoe Pong Nam Ron, which has a similar climate to Northern Thailand, fruiting all year round, particularly during April – May.

Langsat Chamkho, sweet and not too large in size, grown in Tambon Chamkho, Amphoe Tha Mai, fruiting during May–September. Pepper both black and white, Chanthaburi’s major economic crop .

Sen Chan Noodle is a symbolic product of Chanthaburi with a soft and glutinous quality.

Pumpkin, durian, and taro crisps are cooked by the Pong Nam Ron Housewife Group. They are sweet, delicious.

Soi Dao Paper made from the pulp of Soi Dao weed grown in abundance in Chanthaburi’s evergreen forests. Ban Kwian Hak Housewife Group in Amphoe Khlung initiated to make paper from the bark of the soft wood, fast-growing Soi Dao plant, which is similar to Sa paper but tougher and brown by its natural colour. Soi Dao paper can be made into sachets for tea or herbal beverages, or artificial flowers. The wood is used to make furniture. 

Activities - Festivals, what to do in Chanthaburi:

Festivals

Phra Phutthabat Phluang Homage - paying Fair held on the new Mun day of the 2nd lunar month during the period of the Chinese New Year to Magha Puja (around January-March) on top of Khao Khitchakut, Tambon Phluang, Amphoe Makham. The fair features an offering ceremony to guardian angels, gilding the Lord Buddha’s footprint, and climbing up Khao Khitchakut. The tradition has been observed for generations out of a folk belief that climbers will gain high merit, in addition, to mental endurance from so doing. In the past, merit-makers had to walk on foot for a distance of some 15 kilometres up the mountain.

Phra Phutthasaiyat Gilding Fair held around the period of the Chinese New Year to pay homage and gild the image of Phra Phutthasaiyat or Reclining Buddha at Wat Phai Lom and featuring Dharma preaching and various forms of entertainment.

Rajamangala Rak Lueang Chan Festival is held in February of every year at Rajamangala Institute of Technology (Eastern Campus). There will be an academic exhibition, Lueang Chanthabun Orchid Competition, and sales of agricultural products and plants.

Kwian Phrabat Tug-of-war Tradition held around the Songkran Festival at Wat Tapon Yai, Amphoe Khlung. This tradition has been observed for more than a century and will feature a Rot Nam Dam Hua ceremony (pouring scented water onto the hands of the elderly to seek their blessing), Kwian Phrabat or the Buddha’s footprint cart tug-of-war, and various forms of entertainment during the night.

World Durian held annually for 1-2 weeks in the month of May at the Triangular Na Choei Ground. The fair features contests of fruit decorated floats, beauty queens, Eastern famous fruits such as rambutan, durian, mangosteen, Rakam and Sala zalaccas and varieties of santol and Thai ridgeback dog, as well as booth displays of gems and jewellery and other farmer housewife groups.

Chanthaburi Gemstone and Local Product Fair is the largest jewellery fair in the eastern region, held during 8-12 December of every year, at the Chanthaburi Gems Centre, on Tri Rat and Chanthanimit Roads.