Cha Am

As most foreign beachgoers choose to stay at nearby Hua Hin, Cha-am is very much a Thai resort. 178 km from Bangkok, it is quiet on weekdays, busier on weekends and bustling on holidays. With no real center, the town stretches along the length of the white-sand beach, said to be Thailand’s longest. However, the post office and market are near the train station, and these three landmarks constitute the old center.