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Voykit pocket guide · Thailand
Rayong
Spend 1–2 days in Rayong for a beach break, fruit orchards and a day trip to Ko Samet; skip if you lack time for the Gulf coast.
Rayong is a modest Gulf‑coast city with quiet beaches, a fruit‑festival season and easy access to nearby islands. One full day covers the city shrines, a park and a market; a second day adds a boat trip to Ko Samet or a hike in Khao Chamao‑Khao Wong National Park.
- Country
- Thailand
- Best months
- Nov–Feb (dry, cooler)
- Avoid
- May–Oct (monsoon, heavy rain)
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- THB
- Money
- Currency is the Thai baht (THB, ฿). Cards work in malls, hotels and many restaurants; street food, markets, boats and small taxis are cash.
- SIM and data
- AIS and TrueMove H sell tourist SIMs at airport arrivals; passport registration is required.
- Emergency
- Police 191 · Ambulance / Tourist police 1669
- Plugs
- Types A, B, C, O · 220 V · 50 Hz · Most sockets take flat US pins and round European pins; type O is the Thai three-pin standard. UK plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food: Nothing.; Sit-down restaurant: Leave ฿20–100 or the coins; skip it if a 10% service charge is on the bill.; Taxi / Grab: Round up to the next ฿10 or ฿20.; Massage: ฿50–100 per hour to the therapist, in hand.; Guide / driver day: ฿300–500 for the guide, ฿200–300 for the driver.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: ฿20–50.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Street refill machines charge about ฿1 a litre; bottled water everywhere.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in malls and hotels; squat toilets with a water bucket in rural stops. The hose ('bum gun') replaces paper; paper goes in the bin in older buildings. Some public toilets cost ฿3–5.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Fresh fruit (durian, rambutan) | 50–150 baht per kilo |
| Street‑food noodle bowl | 30–60 baht |
| Bottled water (500 ml) | 10–15 baht |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- UTP · U‑Tapao Rayong‑Pattaya International Airport
- Military field with limited commercial flights; nearest airport for Rayong.
Typical fares
- Bangkok → Rayong bus (standard)
- about 150 baht, 2 h (check)
- Boat Pak Nam → Ko Samet
- ≈200 baht round‑trip (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Songthaews and local minibuses run between the bus terminals, the city centre and nearby beaches. Taxis are cheap (≈3,000 baht from Bangkok). Rental scooters are common for short trips to the riverfront and parks.
See and do
Known for
- Rayong Fruit Festival
- Ko Samet island
- Khao Chamao–Khao Wong National Park
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Ko Samet | Bus to Pak Nam (≈17 km (11 mi)) then 30‑min boat; total ~1 h each wayBus to Pak Nam (≈11 mi (17 km)) then 30‑min boat; total ~1 h each way | ≈2 h total |
| Khao Chamao–Khao Wong National Park | Drive or taxi east 45 km (28 mi) via Hwy 36; 1‑h travel each wayDrive or taxi east 28 mi (45 km) via Hwy 36; 1‑h travel each way | ≈3 h total including short hikes |
| Supattra Land Orchard | Taxi or scooter north 15 km (9.3 mi); 20‑min driveTaxi or scooter north 9.3 mi (15 km); 20‑min drive | ≈1 h total |
Sleep
- Purimas Beach Hotel and Spa
- Beachfront, air‑conditioned rooms, pool and airport transfers; rates from 2,300 baht per night.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | ขอโทษkhǎw thôot |
| Thank you | ขอบคุณkhàwp khun |
| How much? | เท่าไหร่thâo rài |
| Where is the bus stop? | ป้ายรถเมล์อยู่ที่ไหนbpâi rót mee yùu thîi năi |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: A wai (palms together, slight bow) to return a greeting; a smile and nod for shop staff; avoid: Waiing children or service staff first — it confuses; hugging strangers
- Head and feet: Keep feet on the floor, sit with legs folded to the side in temples; avoid: Touching heads (even children's), pointing feet, stepping over people or food
- Temples: Covered shoulders and knees, shoes off, sit lower than monks; avoid: Women touching monks or handing them things directly; climbing Buddha images
- Monarchy: Stand for the royal anthem in cinemas and at 08:00 and 18:00 in public places; avoid: Any joke or comment about the royal family; stepping on a banknote
- Keeping calm: Stay polite and smiling when things go wrong ('jai yen' — cool heart); avoid: Raising your voice; public anger loses the argument
- Names: Khun plus first name ('Khun Somchai'); nicknames are normal; avoid: Using the family name alone
- Home visit: Shoes off; bring fruit or sweets; step over the threshold, not on it; avoid: Sitting with feet towards the family shrine
- Beckoning and pointing: Palm down, fingers waved towards you; point with the whole hand or chin; avoid: Pointing at people with a finger or with your foot
Scams and watch-outs
- The city sits near a large oil refinery – check air‑quality alerts during windy days.
- Some attractions (e.g., the City Pillar Shrine) have limited opening hours; confirm before visiting.
Rayong is generally safe for tourists; stay alert near industrial zones and follow local advice on sea conditions.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Rayong yet. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Rayong Fruit Festival
- Ko Samet island
- Khao Chamao–Khao Wong National Park
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Rayong, revision 5242872 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5242872
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/rayong). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.