Joanna James
Bordering Palin and Battambang of Cambodia, Chanthaburi is a culturally rich city that is often overlooked by many. Read on to know about a list of five attractions in the city.
The city of Chanthaburi is home to a large Vietnamese community. Most of them arrived at the city between the 19th and 20th centuries to avoid religious oppression and various other problems that they faced in their own country. This is why Chanthaburi is home to Thailand's biggest and most beautiful church: The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. Constructed during the 17th century, the church consists of a monument of the Virgin Mary near the altar. Gothic-styled tinted windows add to the charm and beauty of this beautiful church.
300 years ago the shores of the Mae Nam Chanthaburi river was home to one of the most famous cities in Thailand it was a hub for fisherman and farmers wanting to sell their goods as the river provided an easy way for them to transport their stocks. As time went by many Vietnamese and Chinese refugees and merchants started to find asylum in this town. The riverbanks of Chanthaburi Waterfront Community which span across an area of 1 kilometre, presently is home to an assortment of restaurants, art galleries, street food vendors and coffee shops. The city has many buildings that are heavily influenced by Chinese architecture and is a great place to aimlessly explore.
Chanthaburi was governed by the French during the 19th century and their architectural influence is still visible when you explore the city. You'll also see many buildings influenced by Chinese architecture and a large number of temples as you walk through this city because of the Chinese and Vietnamese communities that co-exist in this city in harmony. The Red building or Tuk Daeng is one of the city's most iconic structutures which was built during the French rule and was used to accommodate French soldiers. It is one of the cities registered historical landmarks that you should definitely check out if you're an architecture enthusiast or a history buff.
Located close to some of the best Chanthaburi restaurant properties, the gem market is one of the city's most famous and busy commercial strips. The market normally is open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays between 10AM-3PM. Most of the serious gem sales happen on Saturday where you'll be able to buy some of the world's rarest and most beautiful gems for the unbelievably inexpensive prices. Even if you aren't going to buy anything it's an interesting place to watch gem traders conduct their business and negotiate an amicable price with their customers.
Consisting of several mountains and getting its name from one of Thailand's most popular waterfalls, the Namtok Philo National park is a great place for nature lovers and hikers. At a height of 924 metres, Map Wa Krork is one the tallest mountain at this park and is believed to be a waterway that provides water to streams like Klong Narai and Klong Phlio. Located 14 kilometres southeast of Chanthaburi, the entrance of the Namtok Philo National park is lined with various food stalls to grab a quick bite to eat once you're finished exploring the park. Most hotels and resorts similar to Chatrium Golf Resort Soidao organize excursions for its guests to visit this park and immerse themselves in the natural beauty.
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