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We've compiled the best of the best in The Gulf Coast Beaches - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
The lesser-known Cicada Market near Hua Hin Beach has quality arts and crafts, with products ranging from handmade leather flip-flops to handcrafted Thai candles. Piano and pop concerts add entertainment, and there are food stalls selling international and Thai fares.
This crescent-shaped stretch of sand is the only real beach on the western side of the island, and it's a beauty. Quieter than the beaches in the island's northeast, it's a hit with couples who come for candlelit dinners on the sand, a real highlight for many. Amenities: food and drink; water sports. Best for: sunset.
The city's namesake beach fronts slightly murky waters, but its sand is golden and fine, and safe swimming areas have been added in recent years. You can rent shaded deck chairs by the hour, and food vendors and trinket merchants wander up and down the beach. The bay is usually crowded with small boats, Jet Skis, and other diversions. Parallel to the shore, Pattaya Beach Road has a landscaped walkway that separates the beach from the restaurants, shopping malls, and resorts on the opposite side. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: walking.
Every night the sleepy downtown turns into an electrifying street fair centered around the San Chao Night Market, which is illuminated by the lights of numerous food stalls and shop carts. The market is popular with tourists and locals, especially for the tasty seafood meals on offer.
Wealthy businessman Lek Viriyaphan started building this massive teak structure in 1981, and it's still not finished. The aim of the sanctuary, whose intricate carvings blend modern and traditional styles, is to make a statement about the balance of different cultures. The waterfront setting north of Pattaya is the cherry on top.
This peaceful temple complex in the island's northeast is overseen by a striking 18-armed statue of Guan Yin, known as the Goddess of Mercy, that stands 5 meters (16 feet) high. The temple's interior walls are embellished with murals of Buddha's life.
