Bang Saen is a beach town on the Eastern Gulf Coast of Thailand. It is the closest beach to Bangkok.

Understand

Bang Saen is a town that is famous throughout Thailand. It is the closest pleasant beach getaway spot from Bangkok as well as any provinces north of Chonburi. Most visitors typically come from provinces to the north and northeast of Chonburi. It is much closer, cheaper and more free of hassle than Hua Hin or Pattaya's beaches.

Bang Saen is a sleepy town weekdays. The town is a host to a major university, Burapha University. During the day, most of the people you will see are students. On weekends, travellers, families, and groups of friends come from surrounding areas or other provinces in Thailand to spend a day at the beach.

Nearly all of the visitors to Bang Saen are Thai. There are foreign tourists all year round, though they are small in number. There is a Scandinavian Village in Bang Saen, with probably 200-300 residents. Many menus and shop names are in English as well as Thai.

Bangsaen Beach legend

The story goes that there was a fisherman's village that had Kamnun Bire as the headman. He was widowed and had a handsome son, who was named Saen. Many ladies in the village aimed to marry him, but he did not care about any of them. One day, Saen went to play with a kite on the beach, but the waves and the wind were very strong, so the string snapped and his kite flew away. After the storm gradually subsided, Saen tried to find his kite, so he climbed a mountain. Then he found a lady who had picked up his kite on the mountain peak. Her name was Sammuk, and she was so beautiful that Saen fell in love with her. He wanted her to give his kite back they got to know each other. After that, he came to see her every day, and both of them loved each other more and more. A couple of months later, Saen gave a ring to Sammuk and promised that they would love each other till the end of the world. If they broke the promise, they would commit suicide by jumping down the mountain where both of them first met. Then one day, Bire found out the truth then he was furious and did not allow Saen to see Sammuk. She waited for Saen every day until she heard a rumor that Bire would provide a lady to marry Saen. Both Sammuk and Saen felt sad, but they could not do anything. During blessed water ceremony on the wedding day, Sammuk turned over the ring to Saen and jumped off the mountain immediately. She jumped off the mountain as they had promised, then Saen jumped off following Sammuk. Bire was very upset and built a memorial monument for Saen and Sammuk.

Get in

The only way into Bang Saen is by van or bus. It is close to Sukhumvit Rd. So you can take transport directly into Bang Saen, or take any transport that goes along Sukhumvit (which is usually either to or from Bangkok or Pattaya).

Bus from Bangkok Arrive at Bang Saen either directly or via Pattaya. If you take a bus to Pattaya, you must get off at Nong Mon Markets (tell the bus driver you want to stop at Nong Mon). You can take a bus to Pattaya or Bang Saen from Mo Chit or Ekamai bus stations in Bangkok. The thing about taking a bus to Pattaya is that they come far more often and the buses to Bang Saen may only stop at Nong Mon and continue further south anyway.

Minibus Minibus stations are at Victory Monument in Bangkok. There are a few stations that go to Bang Saen. There is one very close to Center One (just outside of McDonalds) and there is one next to Century Plaza. They are the fastest ways to Bang Saen and usually go directly into Bang Saen and stop at either Laem Thong or near Burapha Hospital, though it depends the company. If you can't find a minibus to Bang Saen, you can take a minibus to Pattaya, but ensure that you get off at Nong Mon (tell the van driver specifically).

From Nong Mon into Bang Saen via songthaew (red bus) Songthaews will usually always travel to and from Bang Saen Sai 2. Sometimes though for special occasions they will travel to and from Bang Saen Sai 1. Tell the driver where you would like to go to. The trip is 10 baht, paid on exiting, although it could be 15 or even 20 baht if late at night.

Taxis usually cost from 700-800 baht from Bangkok to Bang Saen (excluding the expressway tolls). Expect about 500-600 baht from Suvarnabhumi Airport (excluding the 50 airport fee and expressway tolls).

If you are going from Pattaya, take a bus to Bangkok and ask the driver to stop at Nong Mon.

Get around

There are two main transportation methods in Bang Saen. Either a motorcycle taxi or a songthaew. There are two colours of songthaew operating in Bang Saen, the red ones generally operate between Bang Saen beach, along Long Haad Bang Saen Road (where both Burapha University and Laemtong shopping centre are located), and then north along Sukhumvit Road to Chonburi town. The orange ones usually head south from Nong Mon market, along Sukhumvit Road, to Si Racha.

See

• 1 Institute of Marine Science Aquarium and Museum (สถาบันวิทยาศาสตร์ทางทะเล), Burapha University, 169 Long Had Rd, Bang Saen, ☏ +66 38 391671(-3). Tu-Su, 08:30-16:00 (feeding time 14:30), holidays 08:30-17:00 (feeding times 10:30, 14:30). A modern aquarium with a realistic underwater environment. 20 baht/adult, 10 baht/child. 

Do

• Bang Saen Beach (หาดบางแสน). A well-known holiday beach only 14 km from the provincial town. In 1943, the government built the first holiday resort in the country here. 
• Ko Pra Sai Wan Lai Festival. Based on an ancient tradition formerly called the Wan Lai Merit-Making Ceremony. Villagers from various places gather to make merit for the Thai New Year (Songkran). Activities include building sand stupas, water-throwing, games and folk sports. 

Drink

Along Long Had Bang Saen Rd, but before the corner of Bang Saen Sai 2 Rd there are numerous pubs and 2 clubs. Browse around before entering anywhere. The 2 clubs are Burdoc, which plays both Thai and English music and Be Chic, which plays Western music.

Sleep

There is a whole range of accommodation, from the cheapest being a small fan room for 150 baht to luxury hotels for 3,000 baht.

Go next

Routes through Bang Saen

Bangkok ← Chonburi ←

W  E

→ Si Racha → Trat