Location: Rayong
Top Things to do in Rayong
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The 10 Best Things to Do in Rayong, Thailand
Rayong (Thai: ระยอง, pronounced [rā.jɔ̄ːŋ]) is a city (thesaban nakhon) on the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand. It covers the tambon Tha Pradu and Pak Nam and parts of tambon Choeng Noen and Noen Phra, all within Mueang Rayong district. As of 2016 the population was 64,256 (Est.). The main industry is fishing, and it is the main producer of Thailand's fish sauce. It is also the center of the chemical and auto industries. In 2012 Ford Motor Company opened an assembly plant in Rayong to expand Ford's presence in the ASEAN area, employing some 2,200 people.
Restaurants in Rayong
1. Rayong Aquarium
Overall Ratings
4 based on 252 reviews
Reviewed By Umesh99
Very cheap even for foreigners also - 30 Thb only. You can easily spend an hour or more here. I liked the Seating area outside - it has nice view of sea.
2. The King Taksin Shrine
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 39 reviews
Reviewed By David B - Rayong, Thailand
There is probably no more enigmatic character in Thai history than King Taksin (1734-1782), who led Siam to victory over the Burmese after the second fall of Ayutthaya in 1767. He subsequently unified Siam and moved the capital to Thonburi, site of the present day Bangkok.
In later life King Taksin the Great, as he became, was reported to have gone insane and was executed after a coup to remove him from the throne. There are different accounts of his execution. One states that he was beheaded. Another account states that he was put to death in the traditional way of executing Siamese royalty - by being put into a velvet sack and beaten to death with a club of scented sandalwood (the purpose of this bizarre method of execution was to avoid spilling royal blood on the ground).
His executioner and coup leader, General Chao Phraya Chakri became the next king and founder of the current Chakri dynasty in Thailand.
During his wars with the Burmese, King Taksin spent a period in Rayong, and this is commemorated with the King Taksin Shrine, located in Wat Lum Mahachai Chumpon, one of the principle Buddhist temples in Rayong.
The shrine features a life-size bronze statue of Taksin, which is now covered with gold leaf by generations of devote admirers.
There is also a photograph of a portrait of Taksin and some of his royal regalia, including his hat and some swords are on display in a glass case.
The surrounds of the shrine have assumed a surreal air with dozens of plaster statues of toy soldiers, sailors, chickens, and other kitsch, finished off with garlands of plastic flowers.
If you are interested in Thai history, check out Wikipedia on Taksin before you visit the Shrine. It will give your visit added meaning.
Because Taksin was partly Chinese, the King Taksin Shrine is built in the Chinese style.
3. Central Plaza Rayong
Overall Ratings
4 based on 46 reviews
Reviewed By roydenton - Rayong, Thailand
There are relatively few foreigners living in Rayong, so the target market is mainly middle-class Thais (the website and FB page are only in Thai). As mentioned under "Passione Shopping destination, Rayong", Central Plaza is the newer option for mall shoppers, making a grand total of two big malls in the city. Being part of the nationwide Central Group of malls, it follows a familiar formula, although has fewer outlets than in bigger cities; the 'usual predictable suspects' re clothing, food, electronics, sport, etc. are present. It is clean, spacious and well air-conditioned. Sadly for me, there is no bookshop selling English books (Asia Books once had an outlet in Passione under that mall's former name, Laemtong, but it closed due to lack of trade) - a reflection on the local customer base. The food supermarket has a range of imported goods, my main reason for visiting. For a more rewarding shopping experience (plus other attractions), locals and expats still go to Pattaya in Chonburi province.
4. Mae Ramphueng Beach
Overall Ratings
4 based on 118 reviews
Reviewed By David B - Rayong, Thailand
I previously have written several reviews of Mae Ram Phueng Beach, and invariably I have been highly critical of the appalling pollution and piles of rubbish, flotsam, and detritus from Rayong's thriving fishing industry, that accumulates along the beach, sometimes in piles a couple of meters high.
Lately I have noticed a marked improvement and I believe I should record that in this review, although I am not sure what authority is responsible for the clean ups.
I walk my dogs on Mae Ram Phueng Beach early each morning, often before sunrise.
The beach has an east-west orientation, and sometimes I am treated to a sunrise of spectacular proportions, with the sky painted purples, blues, reds and yellows straight from an artist's pallette. For me, this is the best time of the day on the beach and I never cease to enjoy it with my dogs.
PS: I always carry the necessary equipment to ensure my dogs do not leave anything behind.
5. Yom Jinda Road (Old Town Rayong)
Overall Ratings
4 based on 56 reviews
Reviewed By StevoCCC - Penang, Malaysia
Yom Jin Da is a heritage town hidden from the developed Rayong town. It is located at the Yom Jin Da street next to a river. The building was really well preserved and nice. There are many restaurant that are serving traditional Thai food with an antique decoration everywhere. There is an event once a month which you can experience the unusual crowds during that time and there will be many stalls which are selling local delicacies. You might wanna take a short stroll down this memory lane.
6. Wat Pa Pradu
Overall Ratings
4 based on 40 reviews
Reviewed By David B - Rayong, Thailand
The reality is that once you have seen a dozen Thai Buddhist temples, you have seen them all.
But if you happen to be in Rayong, Wat Pa Pradu is worth a brief visit. First of all, it is an old and historic temple. It was built during the Ayuthaya period, making it anything up to 300 or 400 years old.
Secondly, it has a reclining Buddha, nearly 12 m long and 3.6 m high that is rare in that it lies right to left, not the normal left to right. This makes it a particularly revered Buddha image, as attested by the layers of gold leaf that have been pasted on it over the centuries by devote Buddhists.
Next to the temple is the Wat (temple) Pa Pradu School, one of the leading high schools in Rayong.
You can easily find Wat Pa Pradu. Drive up or down Thanom Sukhumvit, which is the main road through the center of town. When you see the high rise Rayong Hospital you will see the school next to it. The temple is behind the school.
7. Seang Chan Beach
Overall Ratings
4 based on 63 reviews
Reviewed By David B - Rayong, Thailand
Seang Chan Beach is the beach nearest to Rayong City, But it is certainly not the most attractive beach in Rayong Province. Although it is a long sandy beach, it has been cut up into many tiny bays with the building of large rock groins in arcs out into the sea, obviously to stop beach erosion. But it means this beach is no good for serious swimmers. And the plus side, it is a very safe beach if you have small kids who want to paddle and build a sand castle or two.
The real attraction of this beach are the numerous seafood restaurants, some of them little more than shacks. But they serve splendid Thai seafood dishes and your are guaranteed it is fresh because most of the fish and seafood is still alive in saltwater tanks for your selection.
8. Suan Son (Phe Arboretum)
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 54 reviews
Reviewed By David B - Rayong, Thailand
Suan Son (named after the casuarina pines that line the back of the beach) is about 23 km east of Rayong city.
It is a long stretch of golden sand beach on the Gulf of Thailand, looking over to Koh Sanmet a 40 minute ferry ride across the water.
Suan Son has many restaurants along the service road. Some are little more than kitchens in a shack with deck chairs, others are a little more up-market with tables and Seating.
But they all serve deliciously fresh seafood, some so fresh it is still alive. Pick your own blue swimmer or sand crabs live or a live sea bass or choose from a wide range of shell fish, including oysters and mussels.. They will be cooked and served to you in minutes, so you cannot get any fresher than that.
Best of all the prices are very reasonable compared to seafood restaurants in the big cities.
9. Sky View Tower and Mangrove Research Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 19 reviews
Reviewed By David B - Rayong, Thailand
Bus loads of eco tourists are now pulling up at the Rayong Mangrove Research Center to walk the boardwalks through coastal and riverine mangrove Forests and to climb the Sky ViewTower at the end of the boardwalk for a panoramic view of Rayong River and the surrounding mangrove Forests.
It is only recently that the importance of preserving mangrove Forests was truly appreciated and here at the Rayong Mangrove Research center, many communities, including school and college students have taken on mangrove replanting projects as part of their eco-studies.
The Mangrove Research Center has a public information center highlighting the importance of mangrove Forests to maintaining a healthy foreshore, including as a breeding ground for young fish, crabs and other seafood, as well as being home to a wide variety of birds. There is also reputed to be a colony of crab-eating monkeys in the forest, but I did not see any. Unfortunately all the signage in the information center is in Thai, but there are enough photographs and diagrams.for anyone to be able to piece together the story.
The whole project was established with collaboration between Rayong Municipal Council, Rayong River and Mangrove Preservation Association, and IRPC Public Company limited, and was built to celebrate the birthday of His Majesty, King Bumibol Adulyadej's 84th birthday.
The boardwalks through the mangrove Forests are 400 meters long. At the end is the Sky View Tower, which is 22 meters high, with 11 levels up a spiral staircase.
This attraction is a "must see" for anyone even remotely interested in the ecology and conservation of Planet Earth.
10. Rayong The City Pillar Shrine
Overall Ratings
4 based on 28 reviews
Reviewed By David B - Rayong, Thailand
This week I have been playing host and tour guide for friends from Australia. One of the places we visited was the Rayong City Pillar Shrine.
In Thailand city pillars embody the ethos and community spirit, and are places of pray, meditation and thanksgiving.
The Rayong City Pillar Shrine is located on Lak Mueang Road in Rayong Town.
Originally built of wood, the shrine housing the pillar later replaced by a concrete construction with strong Chinese architectural influences
Apart from daily worship here, celebration is held each year during the Songkran festival in mid-April.
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