Cha Am, the quieter alternative to Hua Hin for seafood

For a week-end on the seaside from Bangkok, there’s basically 2 directions, either east to Pattaya or below (including Koh Samet and Koh Chang islands), or west to Hua Hin. On the way to Hua Hin, there is also a quieter destination, Cha Am, that also boasts some nice beaches and seafood restaurants. It has nothing to do with Hua Hin in terms of restaurants, nightlife and tourist spots, it attracts local mostly, and requires to have a personal car. From Bangkok, the main advantage is that it’s nearly an hour before Hua Hin by car.

We had been with my parents to a small hotel on the Cha Am beach 7 or 8 years ago and as my parents were visiting again we wanted to try it out again for the week-end. I had quite some difficulties to remember which hotel it was but finally found it.

We didn’t leave early from Bangkok and stopped on the way to eat a seafood lunch at a restaurant we had already visited a few times.

Cha Am

Khrua Khiang Khluen

Restaurants

A simple seafood restaurant with reasonable prices, directly on the seaside. The usual meals are offered such as crabs in many ways, boiled with spicy sauce, in curries, with pepper sauce, shrimps and fishes too.

Arriving there on a Saturday in November, the hotel was nearly empty, and we found that it hadn’t changed at all. We eventually were some of the only few guests and had the whole swimming pool for us. The beach in front was also nearly empty, it really has nothing in common with Hua Hin in terms of tourism.

Cha Am

Verano Beach Villa

Accommodations

A small 3-star hotel, directly on the beach, it has a nice garden and small salt swimming pool. The best rooms face the ocean, with a large balcony.

After an afternoon at the swimming pool and collecting shells from the beach, we had to take the car to find somewhere to eat as the hotel is very secluded and there’s nothing around. We chose to go to the View Taley restaurant as it was full when we passed in front for lunch. There was a bit less people in the evening.

Cha Am

View Talay Restaurant

Restaurants

One of the most famous seafood restaurants of Cha Am, not far from the fisherman pier. “Taley” means “sea” in Thai but the restaurant has no seaview at all, though it’s walking distance from the sea. Prices are slightly higher than around but the quality is there, with large king shrimps, crabs, and various fishes.

On our way back we stopped at an Environment Research Project, and realized that we had actually visited this attraction together years ago. The project developed quite nicely, too bad it doesn’t get much visitors, we had the whole tour bus for ourselves and only 2 other guys. It’s free to access, and you always have nice breezes.

Cha Am

Laem Phak Bia Environment Research Development Project

Parks

Laem Phak Bia, situated along the Gulf of Thailand in Phetchaburi province, is recognized for its mangrove forests and serves as a vital habitat for diverse bird species and wildlife. The Laem Phak Bia Royal Project, initiated by H.M. King Bhumibhol Adulyadej, is dedicated to environmental research and development, focusing on the preservation of the wetland ecosystem. This initiative employs environmentally sustainable methods to manage wastewater and solid waste of the Phetchaburi city, through three wastewater treatment methods, including oxidation ponds, constructed wetlands, and mangrove forests.

Visitors can explore the project through a guided tour bus which first brings you through the wastewater treatment zones, a lot of different bird species can be seen along the way (we saw tiny sandpipers, cormorants, many kinds of egret and the larger grey heron). The bus than stops
at the entrance of the mangrove forest walkway, where an elevated walk through the mangrove trees offers sightings of colorful crabs, mudskipper amphibious fishes, and birds. There is a tower that provides panoramic views of the mangroves and a ponton on the sea, complemented by a gentle breeze.

We finally stopped on the way back at another seafood location, with another round of crabs, but also my favorite basil chili shells. The restaurant was in Bang Tabun Waterfront, nothing special, a rustic Thai seafood place.

Regarding Hua Hin and particularly hotels, check the article “Hua Hin: Anantara or Centara?“, and if you want to explore more South of Hua Hin, “A few days at the Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park“.