Rayong: the gateway to Ko Samet island

On Thailand's eastern coast, Rayong remains the departure point for the island of Ko Samet, famous for its fine white sand.

Local taxis and minibuses remain the most common way to proceed to the island.

The port of Ban Phe, just outside Rayong, remains the main boarding point to reach the island of Ko Samet by ferry.

A few minutes by boat, Ko Samet, protected as a national park, shelters beaches of finest white sand among the most celebrated in eastern Thailand.

Continuing along the continental coast, one visits the fruit orchards of Rayong, a region famous for the production of durian and other fine tropical fruits.

Toward evening, Rayong's markets sell fresh seafood and fish sauce, a traditional product for which the province is known throughout Thailand.

Ko Samet, protected as a national park since 1981, maintains more limited tourism development compared to other Thai islands thanks to stricter building restrictions.

Rayong remains Thailand's leading fish sauce-producing province, a fundamental condiment in local cuisine produced according to fermentation techniques passed down through generations of fishing families.