Introducing Trang

A Whole World to Discover

Trang's white sand beaches, virgin tropical rain forest, incredible caves and waterfalls and provincial town charm, make Trang Province one of Thailand's best kept secrets.

In the south west of Thailand, just over an hourีs flight from Bangkok, Trang is one of Thailand's most beautiful regions, with a long coast bordering the Andaman Sea. The province offers an unique experience to visitors, seldom found now in other parts of Thailand.

The region is remote and offers guests, spectacular, unspoilt natural beauty. Offshore, dozens of almost deserted islands with white sand beaches and turquoise waters are just waiting to be explored. Inland, rugged limestone cliffs with dramatic waterfalls and caves, virgin rain forests and vast rubber plantations invite visitors. Much of the area is protected national parks.

Seldom visited by tourists, the region has remained largely unchanged for centuries. The character of the province is charmingly uncommercial, giving visitors an insight into the real Thailand.

A Brief History

Centre for Trading

Trang is one of the oldest towns in southern Thailand. Over 2000 years ago, it was an important port with the town standing on the mouth of the river, where Kantang is today. Goods were landed here by merchants from India and Arabia and transported across the narrow peninsular to Surat Thani and Nakhon Si Thammarat to be exchanged for the silks and treasures of China. This avoided having to circumnavigate Singapore, through pirate infested waters.

The trade supported a number of maritime empires, which controlled the region from Sumatra to Indochina, with Trang as a link point. This changed when Ayuthaya became capital of Thailand and a powerful Siam regained control of the region. The region once again grew in importance, when the great King Chulalongkorn visited in 1890.

Introduction of Rubber

In the late 19th century, a Governor of Trang paved the way for the future economy of the region, when he introduced rubber trees from Malaysia. Trang had the first rubber plantation in Thailand and you can still see the first rubber tree, which was brought to Thailand.

Interesting Architecture

In 1915, the town was moved from the coast (Kantang) to the current safer inland location. Today it is still possible to see traces of the original character, with shop houses and villas reflecting a tropical Sino-Portuguese style of architecture. The traditional Kantang Market in Trang is also worth a visit with an interesting combination of fruit and vegetables and some local fabrics, including sarongs. In addition, there are a number of interesting Buddhist and Chinese temples in the town. Trang has a strong Chinese community and the atmospheric Tamkonjiea Chinese temple, is a good place to observe people at worship.

If you visit Kantang, the beautiful railway station is particularly quaint. The nearby wooden villa of a former city father, Phraya Rassada, is also quite charming and now houses a small museum with many fascinating old photographs of former times. Kantang is also an excellent place to check out the catch of the day as fishermen bring a shore baskets full of freshly caught fish.

Local Culture

Due to it's remoteness from Bangkok, the south has developed it's own culture with unique types of music, dance and entertainment.

Li Kae Pa

Li Kae Pa is a song and dance drama following the adventures of an Indian merchant who married a local girl. Three performers act out the story, accompanied by the music of tambourines, cymbals, gongs and pipes. The lead character wears a bearded mask and performs both solo and chorus numbers with dramatic, humorous or romantic themes.

Shadow Plays

A popular art in southern Thailand, buffalo hide is cut into figures for the dramas. The figures are held up behind a lit screen, creating shadows, and the puppeteer sings verses of the stories, which have complex plots often taken from the great Hindu epics. The performance is accompanied by the same music as Nora. These performances are a key feature of temple fairs and rural celebrations and usually last all night.

Manora or Nora

Native to southern Thailand, the performance combines movement, traditional costumes and lyrics, which are created 'ad lib' to the accompanying music. Quick wits are required for the performer to create words, which are meaningful and rhyme.

Festivals

Festivals in Thailand are a chance to celebrate and "let the hair down" a little. The atmosphere is always lively and fun and a great way to enjoy Thai spirit at it's best.

Trang Product Fair

Held from the 2nd to the 13th of April, this fair combines traditional performances of singing, dancing and shadow plays with contests, pageants and the sale of local products.

Cake Festival

Trang is well known for making delicious cakes, particularly in the village of Ban Lam Phu Ra, where the tradition dates back generations. August, when the festiveal is held, is therefore a particularly delicious time to visit the province.

Roast Pork Festival

The traditional recipe for roast pork involves fermenting it with herbs and then grilling until the skin is crispy and the meat tender. This special recipe, famous throughout Thailand, is celebrated during this September festival. Trang roast pork is traditionally eaten with coffee for breakfast.

Ta Phao Shell Festival

Held at Pak Meng Beach, near the hotel, this festival promotes conservation and protecting the environment. Amongst the highlights is a contest to gather the taphao shells, which are plentiful on the beach.

Vegetarian Festival

Although Phuket is most well known for this festival, the Thai Chinese inhabitants of Trang, also celebrate the vegetarian festival around the full moon in October. After nine days and nights of a strict vegetarian diet, there is a great procession and the lighting of thousands of firecrackers.

King's Birthday and Red Cross Fair

To celebrate the King's birthday, from the 5th to the 15th of December there are traditional entertainments throughout the town and the shops are full of a variety of locatl produce. This is the largest annual festival in Trang.