Cha-am District


Cha-am District is a district in the southern part of Phetchaburi Province, western Thailand.
The district was established in 1897 with the name Na Yang. In 1914 the centre of the district was moved to Ban Nong Chok in Cha-am District is a former residence of King Vajiravudh or Rama VI who ruled Siam from 1910 to 1925.

Location

Cha-am lies 173 km south of Bangkok on Phet Kasem Road. Just a few trains stop at the town's railway station. Frequent bus and minibus services link Cha-am with neighbouring towns, such as Hua Hin, and with Bangkok. The district to the north is Tha Yang District. Twenty-seven kilometres to the south is Hua Hin District of Prachuap Khiri Khan Province, also a beach resort.

Administration

Cha-am District is divided into nine sub-districts.

Economy

Tourism plays a significant role in the economy of Cha-am and Phetchaburi Province. The province, however, has dropped from the fourth to the sixth most popular destination in Thailand due to coastal erosion, much of it in Cha-am, caused by rising sea levels leading to "deteriorating scenery".

Education

Several tertiary educational institutions and universities are in Cha-am and surrounding districts including Silpakorn University, Suan Dusit Rajaphat University, Stamford International University, and Webster University Thailand.