From Wikitravel

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

[edit] 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 typical come from provinces to the north and northeast of Chonburi. It is much closer, cheaper and less hassle free than Hua Hin's Beaches or Pattaya's Beaches.

Bang Saen is a sleepy town during the weekdays. The town is a host to a major university, Burapha University. During the day, most of the people you will see are students from the university. On the weekends, travellers, families or 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. There are probably around 200-300 Scandinavians living there. Throughout Bang Saen though, there are 100-200 foreigners

For this reason, many menus and shop names have bilingual writings.

There are few services in English, but maybe 10-20% of people speak at least basic English. However higher professional people generally always speak English well. But nearly everyone will try to help you if you speak directly to them. Don't be afraid to talk to anyone to get some help, if they can't help you they might find someone who can speak English for you. In a town like Bang Saen, it's very normal to approach anybody for help. All of the restaurants in the shopping centre, Laem Thong, have bilingual (Thai-English) menus. Nearly all of the restaurants along the beach have English menus.

[edit] Get in

Getting in is tricky, but it's so easy if you know the tricks. Practically, the only way in is by Van or Bus. Bang Saen is very close to sukhumvit road. 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 and Pattaya).

Bus from Bangkok

Arrive at Bang Saen either directly into Bang Saen or to 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 Ekkamai 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.

Vans

Van stations are at Victory Monument. Vans are the fastest way into There are a few stations that go to Bang Saen. There is one very close to Center One (just outside of where McDonalds is) 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 the Burapha Hospital, though it depends on which company it is. If you can't find a van to Bang Saen then again, you can take a van to Pattaya bus ensure that you get off at Nong Mon (tell the van driver specifically).

From Nong Mon into Bang Saen via SONG THAEW (RED BUS)

The song taew's will usually always travel to and from Bang Saen Sai (Street) Sorng (2). Sometimes though for special occasions they will travel to and from Bang Saen Sai (Street) Neung (1). Please specify to the driver where you would like to go to. The trip is 10 Baht, paid after travelling, although it could be 15 or even 20 Baht for late at night.

By Taxi, usually costs fromm 700-800 Baht from Bangkok to Bang Saen (excluding the express way tolls). Expect about 500-600 from Suvarnabhumi airport (excluding the 50 Airport fee and express way tolls).

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

[edit] Get around

There are two main transportation methods in Bang Saen. Either with a motorcycle taxi or with a Song Taew.

[edit][add listing] See

• Institute of Marine Science Aquarium and Museum, Burapha University, 169 Long-Hard Bang Saen Rd, ☎ +66 38 391-671(-3), [1]. Tu-Su 08:30-16:00 (feeding time 14:30), hols 08:30-17:00 (feeding times 10:30, 14:30). 20 baht/adult, 10 baht/child.  edit

[edit][add listing] Do

[edit] Festivals

• Ko Pra Sai Wan Lai Festival. It is 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.  edit

[edit][add listing] Buy

[edit][add listing] Eat

[edit][add listing] Drink

Public drinking occurs basically all along Thanon Bang Saen Sai 1. The mostly northernly area of this road has a seawall and places to sit and drink. There's also restaurants around here. The centre of the road is next to beached sitting spots, though on the other side there is virtually nothing there. The southern most part of the road also has a seawall and you can sit on the concrete there. Next to this concreted area are many restaurant/pubs to sit down at. You can drink at the beach any time you wish, but party go-ers and university students usually drink at any time during the night. You can purchase alcohol from 7/11 after 5pm, but before 12 midnight. Though many nameless convenient stores continue to sell alcohol after 12 midnight, it's best to get alcohol before midnight.

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

The crowds are normally always Thai people. There are only a small amounts of incidents or violence. A lot of the violence, if it happens, is domestic violence or violence between gangs. If you're doing nothing bad, then everyone will definitely leave you alone, even more so, since you are a foreigner. You can be friends with most people, but remember everyone is very different, everyone has different feelings about meeting new people and meeting foreigners, which you probably won't be able to understand. Remember that if you're quite intoxicated, it can really irritate or threaten Thai people. Most westerners are usually quite understanding to random crazed drunk people, but Asians are not so withstanding to drunk behaviour. If you're drunk, it would be best not to approach anyone. Even though people are drunk, they are keeping that drunkenness within their group of friends, not to random people, as it might be enticing a fight.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

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

[edit] Contact

[edit] Get out

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