TOURISM UPDATE

Phuket, 20 November 2009 — Twenty contestants in the Miss Belgium 2010 beauty contest are to visit Phuket during 16-23 November, 2009, as part of the efforts by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to generate publicity and attract more visitors from Belgium and other countries of the European Union.

The TAT Paris office together with BEST Tours, a major Belgian tour operator, won the support of the organizer of the beauty pageant to select Phuket as the backdrop destination for the various fashion and other film-shoots featured in the beauty pageant.
The contestants, along with organisers and accompanying media members, will travel to Phuket by XL Airways, a charter flight operating from Brussels to Phuket.

Mrs. Juthaporn Rerngronasa, TAT Deputy Governor for International Marketing said, “TAT will organise a welcome reception which will be based on the Loi Krathong theme. The beauty contestants will be provided with traditional Thai costumes which they can wear and join the Loi Krathong event, after which they can participate in activities like elephant riding, Thai cooking demonstration, spa treatment, etc”.

Belgium is one of the major sources of visitors from Europe. In 2008, arrivals from Belgium totalled 75,223 up 8.95% over 2007. In January – September 2009, Belgian visitor arrivals to Thailand at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport totalled 42,317, a decline of 5.95% over the same period of 2008.
Belgian visitors to Thailand can obtain a visa-free entry at all international airports and stay up to 30 days
On 19 October, 2009, Mr. Pisan Manawapat, Thai Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium, together with Mrs Pataraporn Sithivanich, Director of TAT Paris, attended the press conference of Miss Belgium 2010, organized by Miss Belgique 2010 Company in Antwerp.

Over 300 participants attended the press conference, including media, politicians, designers, movie stars, and executives from major sponsors of Miss Belgium 2010. A fashion show by Miss Belgium 2010 contestants saw them on the cat-walk carrying traditional North Thailand umbrellas, followed by a Thai cultural show which was widely covered by hundreds of media.
Thailand, particularly Phuket, will get widespread media coverage via the Miss Belgium 2010 pageant for at least 1-2 months before and after the finals. The pageant is expected to be promoted and broadcast by TV Channel Club RTL and RTL TVI in French and JIJF TV Station in Flemish. It will show the contestants visiting major Thai tourist attractions and otherwise having a nice time in Thailand.

The final round of the pageant will be held in Knokke town, a major beach attraction in Belgium (same as Saint Tropez in France). On 10 January, 2010, it will be broadcast on VIJF TV channel and RTL Channel during the prime time 20.10-23.30 hrs with a projected viewership of over 1 million in Belgium, Luxemburg, and surrounding countries.

Thailand has hosted several beauty pageants in the past and itself has two Miss Universe titles to its credit. Associating itself with beauty pageants generates widespread publicity, especially for the key target, women travellers.
Previously, TAT Paris office has supported the Miss France 2009 pageant, also using Phuket as a backdrop. In early 2008, the Miss Czech 2008 contest highlighted Thailand as the backdrop destination for the various fashion and other film-shoots featured in the TV campaign.

Miss Poland 2009 contestants also visited Thailand during the first two weeks of October 2009. The 24 beautiful ladies from different cities in Poland visited Pattaya and Phuket as a part of their “Polonia Preparation Camp”. They enjoyed seaside activities that were showed during the Miss Poland television pageant on 24 October, 2009.

Kanchanaburi Province

Kanchanaburi Province
A province in the Central Plains, Kanchanaburi is frequented by tourists who have been attracted by its long history and ancient civilizations, a location of the Bridge over the River Khwae – ‘Kwai’ as it is known internationally and scene of the historic World War II. Producers of the movie the Bridge Over the River Kwae are guilty of giving the river and bridge both the wrong spelling and mis-pronunciaton. It is pronounced ‘Kwae’ as in the English word ‘Hay’. The province is also famous for its natural attractions such as forests, mountains, caves and waterfalls.


Geography
The province is located in the west of Thailand, and is situated 129 km from Bangkok and covers a total area of approximately 19,483 km² being the country’s third largest province after Nakhon Ratchasima and Chiang Mai. Topographically, it is covered with timber and evergreen forests. The district covers the source valleys of the rivers Kwae Yai and Kwae Noi ("River Kwai"), which merge at the city Kanchanaburi and form the Mae Klong River there.

Several National Parks are located in the forests of the mountain area of the province - the Erawan, Sai Yok, Khao Laem, Khaoen Sri Nakarin and Chaloem Rattanakosin National Parks are located in the province. The Thungyai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary in this province is also listed in the UNESCO world heritage list.

History
Archaeology found in Kanchanaburi dates back to the 4th century which proves of trade with surrounding countries even in that time. Very little is also historically known about the actual Khmer influence in Kanchanaburi but there is evidence of their occupation with Prasat Muang Singh – one of the country’s most well-known Khmer sites.

Not much was historically recorded about Kanchanaburi province before the reign of King Rama I, but some historians believe that the province played much strategical importance during the Ayutthaya period. In 1982 the Fine Arts Department found many human and elephant skeletons and swords in Phanom Thuan District. Thus, this site might even have been the location of the famous battle of King Naresuan against the Burmese crown-prince, most commonly assigned to the Don Chedi district in Suphanburi province nearby.

With the rise of the Chakri Dynasty and General Chakri (who would later become King Rama I) Kanchanaburi certainly played a distinctive strategical point as defense against the invading Burmese.

For foreigners however, it is only Kanchanaburi’s recent history which really stands out with the name ‘The Death Railway’. During the Japanese occupation of Thailand in 1942 POWs both allies and Asian laborers were ordered by the Japanese to build a Thailand-Burma railway. Eventually, an unprecedented more than 100,000 POWs (16,000 allies and 90,000 local Asian laborers) died from horrific working conditions.

Transportation
River

Locals seldom use the river as a mode of transportation these days but instead for the sake of tourist-orientated scenic boat rides and karaoke dinners.

Roads

Kanchanaburi’s districts are inter-connected by 3 main highways which also link to neighbouring provinces.

Airport

There is no public airport in Kanchanaburi.

Rail

Kanchanburi is the final destination on the western route from Bangkok’s little-used Bangkok Noi Train Station.

Bus Air-conditioned buses ply to and from Bangkok while travel to the province’s districts and surrounding provinces is done by non- air-conditioned buses.

Songthaew (public passenger pick-up vehicles)

Songthaews are generally the most popular form of public transport in the provincial town and rural areas.

Samlor (trishaws)

Cycle-samlors are the most popular form of transport within the town for foreign visitors going to and from each of the sight-seeing attractions.

Motorbike-taxi This is a popular mode of public transport for the daring wishing to get from A to B in the shortest amount of time.

Tourism

Located just 129km from Bangkok, Kanchanburi is also a favourite holiday destination for Bangkokians and other Thais residing in the central region.

Most foreigners when they think of Kanchanaburi they think of the River Kwai Bridge and the history of the Second World War. Kanchanaburi however, has so much more in the way of waterfalls, mountains, dams, fishing, boating, trekking and cave exploration. Sai Yok National Park is very popular.
The province is most famous for The Bridge Over the River Kwai, which was built next to the town of Kanchanaburi crossing the Mae Klong river. The Death Railway ran all the way from the Kwae river valley up to the Three Pagodas Pass. Today only the lowest part of the railway to Nam Tok is still in use. In Kanchanaburi city, there is a war museum and a large cemetery of prisoners of war who died during construction of the Death Railway.

Nine Army War History national park (Uttayan Haeng Chart Songkram Kao Tab) located at Ladya field, Tambon Chongsadao. It’s around 40 kilometers from Kanchanaburi downtown. This place has provided historical evidence of the nine army war. The nine army war was the war between King Rama I of Thailand and King Padung of Burma. The war ended as a victorious one for Thailand.

In the Sai Yok district, there is a Buddhist Tiger Temple where tame tigers roam freely once a day. Also in Sai Yok is the Mueang Sing historical park, ruins of a Khmer town and temple, as well as the Sai Yok National Park with the two Sai Yok waterfalls.

Kanchanaburi War Cemetery (Don Rak) (สุสานทหารสัมพันธมิตรดอนรัก) The immaculately maintained cemetery contains the remains of 6,982 Allied POWs who perished during the construction of the ‘Death Railway’. Its settings remind visitors of the war and its after-effects.

Death Railway (ทางรถไฟสายมรณะ), the strategic railway tracks began from Nong Pla Duk Station in Amphoe Ban Pong, Ratchaburi, and ran via Kanchanaburi across the Khwae Yai River, westbound to the Three Pagodas Pass, to end at Thanbuyuzayat in Burma. The total distance within the Thai territory was 300 km., taking only one year to complete from October 1942 – October 1943. After the war, some part of the tracks was demolished and some submerged under the lake of Khao Laem Dam.

Mueang Sing Historical Park (อุทยานประวัติศาสตร์เมืองสิงห์) is better known as Prasat Mueang Sing (ปราสาทเมืองสิงห์), The laterite sanctuary was constructed in the late Lop Buri Period ca. 11th – 13th century A.D. Influenced by ancient Khmer culture, its principal tower is encircled by a laterite wall, moat and earthen mound and was built in a mixture of the folk school of art and Bayon style of King Jayavarman VII’s period in Cambodia.

Hell Fire Pass Memorial Museum (ช่องเขาขาดพิพิธภัณฑสถานแห่งความทรงจำ), located within the Division of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Office of Development, Armed Forces Development Command. Established by the Australian Government, it houses a mini-theatre and collection of data, photographs, equipment and utensils used during the construction of the Death Railway.

Sai Yok National Park (อุทยานแห่งชาติไทรโยค), a park since 1980, most of the area is limestone mountains with mixed deciduous forest. It is a former location of a Japanese camp during WWII as evident from traces of stoves.The park is also home to the world’s smallest species of bat.

Wat Pa Luangta Bua Yanasampanno (วัดป่าหลวงตาบัว ญาณสัมปันโน) or commonly referred to as the Tiger Temple is quite a controversial tiger conservation area where various kinds of wild as well as domestic animals live together freely in the nature and are friendly to the monks and visitors.

Erawan National Park (อุทยานแห่งชาติเอราวัณ) Formerly called Khao Salop National Park (อุทยานแห่งชาติเขาสลอบ), it was proclaimed a national park on 19 June, 1975, with an area of 373,735 rai (597,976,000 square metres). Later, its name was changed to Erawan National Park as the highest level of the waterfall, Namtok Erawan, looks like Elephant Erawan’s head.

Khuean Srinagarindra National Park (อุทยานแห่งชาติเขื่อนศรีนครินทร์) It was announced on 23 December, 1981, to be a national park with an area of 953,500 rai (1,496,800,000 square metres). Interesting tourist attractions include Tham Sawan (ถ้ำสวรรค์), Tham Neramit (ถ้ำเนรมิต), Tham Nam Mut (ถ้ำน้ำมุด), Tham Phra Prang (ถ้ำพระปรางค์), Namtok Huai Mae Khamin (น้ำตกห้วยแม่ขมิ้น).

[edit] Activities

Star Watching Kirdkao Observatory (หอดูดาวเกิดแก้ว) situated in Tambon Lum Rang, is a place to gain knowledge about stars and nature. A corner for star-watching is arranged, an observatory in a dome shape and accommodation in a capsule shape.

Forest Trekking Sangkhla Buri Jungle Trek This service is offered to tourists by hotels in Amphoe Sangkhla Buri. The programme starts with rowing boats along Huai Song Ka Lia, riding elephants and rafting.

Mountain Biking Mountain Biking is very common along routes in the province to any tourist attractions to experience the beautiful geographical features of Kanchanaburi.

Rafting, Canoeing, White Water Rafting are also very common along various routes such as Noi River, Kwae River Song Ka Lia River.

Elephant Trekking Kanchanaburi has many elephant camps providing elephant trekking.

Bird Watching In Kanchanaburi bird-watching is done at national parks that consist of fertile ecology that is suitable to be birds’ habitat. Well-known sites for bird-watching are as follows:

* Khao Namphu Wildlife Conservation Promotion and Development Station, Tambon Tha Kradan, Amphoe Si Sawat
* Around Kroeng Krawia Swamp near Namtok Kroeng Krawia, Amphoe Sangkhla Buri.
* Thung Yai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary and Salak Phra Wildlife Sanctuary
* Tao Dam Mine Forest, Amphoe Sai Yok
* Srinagarindra Dam and Vajiralongkorn Dam (Khao Laem Dam)

Golf Kanchanaburi’s rural areas are home to several golf courses. The courses are popular due to their close vicinity to Bangkok and natural scenery.

[edit] Cultural Tourism

Ban Nong Khao is one district in Kanchanaburi, about 12 km. away from the province. Villagers here still live simply in an agricultural society and old-style houses practicing culture and traditions which has been transmitted from generation to generation.

Homestay at Ban Khao Lek Ban Khao Lek is a small Karen village, situated in the middle of a valley in the area of Chaloem Rattanakosin National Park with splendid nature. Most villagers earn a living by farming and collecting products from the forest. They live a simple life and mainly rely on nature. They practice Karen culture from generation to generation.

[edit] Agrotourism

In Kanchanaburi, there are 2 seedless raisin vineyards for visiting.

Rai Khun Mon in Tambon Nong Kum is a mixed cultivation farm with organic vegetables and plants of various kinds of processed agricultural products such as corn milk, vegetable juice, dehydrated banana or jack-fruit, vegetable juice-coated Krayasat dessert, bio-diets for health.

Suan Onanong Chuan Chom It is the largest desert rose (‘Chuan Chom’ in Thai) garden in Kanchanaburi with an area of 40 rai (64,000 square metres).

[edit] Shopping

Kanchanaburi doesn’t really have much in the way of good markets or department stores. The shopping places that exist in Kanchanburi include:

* The Night Market located near Kanchanaburi Railway Station sells the likes of clothes, shoes, bags, collectables, souvenirs, DVDs and CDs etc.
* Kan Superstore in Kanchanaburi Town Centre is just a normal department store with a supermarket.
* Tesco Lotus Megastore is on Sang Chuto Road
* Birdland Books, situated on River Kwai Road, is Kanchanaburi's largest used book stores. They have books in several different languages. They also have a branch in Sangkhlaburi.

[edit] Nightlife

Not so long ago, Kanchanburi Town had grown to be rather infamous for its Disco Rafts which used to sail down parts of the River Kwae all night long blaring out loud disco music. A couple of these parts included guesthouses which used to make a decent living until the boats noisy arrival. Just recently however, local authorities have clamped down on such boats. The rafts are still running but they are far quieter than in the past. Typical, nightlife available in Kanchanburi Town includes:

* The town has a couple of discos which are popular with the younger trendier crowd.
* Some live Music Joints play Thai folk.
* Karaoke clubs can be found in some of the many hotels and customers can either sing to everyone or rent a private room.
* Barbecues are large Thai-style restaurants which play music and serve alcohol.
* Sing-a-Songs are popular with Thai males. Singers sing on the stage
* Down by the river there are a few bar beers which are popular with foreign male tourists who fancy a beer and the company of friends or hostesses. Many also have free pool to play.
* Most of the guesthouses down by the river sell alcohol and play music.

Local Culture
Folk Culture and Traditions

Ram Yoei is a local dance of the Kanchanaburi local people that has been performed for more than 500 years. They perform Ram Yoei on Songkran Day and New Year, etc. Men and women must form a circle, one person will lead to sing and another will sing to the other’s lyric in reply, and Luk Khu (chorus) will sing along and dance to the rhythm of Klong Yao drums. At present, Ram Yoei is played only in Amphoe Phanom Thuan.

Lifestyle
Most of the local rural people work in the field of agriculture. Even though most of them are of Thai ancestry, there is also a lot of Mon and Karen blood around. As minority, people have dwelled in the area for hundreds of years, Kanchanburi enjoys plenty of popular folk festivals.

Events & Festivals
Mineral Water and Waterfall Bathing Day (งานวันอาบน้ำแร่แช่น้ำตก); held at Hin Dat Hot Spring, at the beginning of November. In the festival, there are booths of agricultural products and tourism exhibition of Amphoe Thong Pha Phum. Visitors watching will have a chance to bath in the Hin Dat Hot Spring and enjoy the view of Namtok Pha Tat.

Boat and Raft People’s Day (งานเทศกาลชาวเรือชาวแพ); held every year at the beginning of November at Song Khwae Road near the riverside in front of the city of Kanchanaburi. Activities are folk performances, Thai typical music performance, academic exhibition concerning conservation of rivers and canals, water sports such as riding long-boat, speed-boat and jet-skiing.

River Kwae Bridge Week (งานสัปดาห์สะพานข้ามแม่น้ำแคว); held every year around the end of November until the beginning of December to commemorate the significance of the Death Railway and the Bridge over the Khwae River taking place in World War II. Visitors can see the historical and archaeological exhibition, folk performances, booths of products, entertaining activities, and light and sound show.

Local Food
Kanchanburi is a province famous for its freshwater fish. The most popular dining areas are the Song Kwae Road waterfront area and the riverside restaurants in the vicinity of the River Kwae Bridge. Although, there are ‘jungle’ food restaurants illegally selling imported meat of endangered animals from Burma, such as deer etc., the government does in no way support the trade.

Medical Health Care
In town there is the Kanchanaburi Memorial Hospital and lots of clinics and pharmacies.

Retirement
Retirees in Kanchanburi quote the following reasons for settling down in Kanchanburi:

* It has only a small international expat community, so giving the place a more Thai feel
* Folk from Kanchanaburi are noted for their friendliness and hospitality
* The weather is typically Thai
* It has convenient public transport and it is near Bangkok

Media/Contact
Nationwide Television, cable TV channels are also available in Kanchanaburi. International newspapers and magazine are only found in tourist areas.

The area dialling code for Kanchanaburi Province is 034 - from overseas, it is +66 34 XXX XXX.

Landline telephone, all mobile phone systems, high-speed internet (ADSL), post offices and parcel services are mostly found in tourist areas.

Chainat Province

Chainat ProvinceChai Nat (Thai ชัยนาท) is one of the central provinces (changwat) of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are (from north clockwise) Nakhon Sawan, Sing Buri, Suphan Buri and Uthai Thani.

Venerable Luangpu Suk, Renowned Chao Phraya Dam, Famous Bird Park and Tasty Khao Taengkwa Pomelo

Geography
Chai Nat is located in the flat river plain of central Thailand's Chao Phraya River valley. In the south of the province the Chao Phraya (formerly Chai Nat) Dam impounds the Chao Phraya river, both for flood control as well as to divert water into the country's largest irrigation system for the irrigation of rice paddies in the lower river valley. The dam, part of the Greater Chao Phraya Project, was finished in 1957 and was the first dam constructed in Thailand.

History
Originally the city was located at Sankhaburi. In the reign of King Mongkut (Rama IV) the main settlement of the province was moved to its present-day location. During the wars with the Burmese it was an important military base to confront with the Burmese arms. As all these confrontations were successful the city gained the name Chai Nat, which means place of victory.

Symbols
The provincial seal shows the Buddhist wheel, the Dhammajakra. In the background is a mountain (Khao Phlong) and a river (Chao Phraya River). The wheel symbolizes the faith of the residents.

The provincial tree is the Bael Fruit Tree (Aegle marmelos), and the provincial flower the Rainbow Shower Tree (Cassia javanica).

Administrative divisions
Chainat is subdivided into 8 districts (amphoe). The districts are further subdivided into 53 subdistricts (tambon) and 474 villages (muban).

1. Mueang Chainat
2. Manorom
3. Wat Sing
4. Sapphaya



5. Sankhaburi
6. Hankha
7. Nong Mamong
8. Noen Kham

Tourism
Sights

Chainat Bird Garden or “Suan Nok ChaiNat”. This place is the most famous traveling place in Chainat. It is the biggest Bird park in Asia. There are many bird species here, This garden is open from 8 AM – 5 PM

Chainatmunee National Museum. It is in area of Wat PhrabharomThatviharn The museum is a two storey building. The second floor was the place for the Buddha from Tarawadee time till present. The first floor is for the Sankalok Buddha, ornaments, and ancient tools.

Wat ThammaMulviharn. The main temple of Chainat since Ayudhaya time. This temple was located at Thammamul hill slope, on the bank of Chaophraya river.

Chaophraya Dam. There are ten thousand teals here in January. The viewpoints here attract visiting travelers.

Chai Nat Bird Park (สวนนกชัยนาท) This sanctuary has the biggest aviary in Asia (26 rai) allowing various bird species to live in their natural habitat.

Wat Thammamun Worawihan (วัดธรรมามูลวรวิหาร) The temple enshrines Luangpho Thammachak, a standing Buddha image in a posture of persuading relatives not to quarrel, with a lotus-shaped base. Another attraction is the boundary marker, which is made from red sandstone in the Ayutthayan style, around the ordination hall or Phra Ubosot.

Wat Phra Borommathat Worawihan (วัดพระบรมธาตุวรวิหาร) There is an old pagoda in the U Thong style housing Lord Buddha's relics highly worshipped by people from Chai Nat and other neighbouring provinces. The annual fair to worship the Lord Buddha's relics are held during the full moon day of the sixth lunar month.

Chai Nat Muni National Museum (พิพิธภัณฑสถานแห่งชาติ ชัยนาทมุนี) This archaeological museum is a 2-storey adapted Thai-style building. Downstairs displays celadon Buddha images, tools, and ornaments from the Dvaravati to Rattanakosin period. While upstairs displays various Buddhist votive tablets from the Dvaravati to Rattanakosin period.

Wat Pak Khlong Makham Thao or Wat Luangpu Suk (วัดปากคลองมะขามเฒ่า หรือ วัดหลวงปู่ศุข) This shady temple offers pleasant scenery and is famous for Buddha amulets. Other attractions are Luangpu Suk’s traditional Thai style residence, as well as, the mural paintings depicting the story of the Lord Buddha made by H.R.H. the Prince of Chumphon and his entourage.

Wasan Crocodile Farm (ฟาร์มจระเข้วสันต์) It is located at No. 121, Mu 3, Tambon Makham Thao. There are different kinds of animals such as crocodiles, tigers, rays, and various bird species.

Wat Intharam (วัดอินทาราม (ตลุก)) This century-old temple features outstanding attractions like the twin belfries, century-old Chinese pavilion, and an 8 x 9-metre Thai-architectural scripture hall built in the middle of a pond.

Chao Phraya Dam (เขื่อนเจ้าพระยา) is The nation’s first large dam. Water is released from the Northern region to the Central lower basin and the Gulf of Thailand for the purposes of irrigation, agriculture, conservation of marine animals, and generating hydroelectric power for the province.

Wat Karuna (วัดกรุณา) This temple houses Chai Nat’s largest sandstone Buddha image named Phra Phutthamaha Sila or Luangpho Hin Yai , which is highly revered by the local people.

Khun San Statue (อนุสาวรีย์ขุนสรรค์) Khun San or Hero of the Noi River is one of the Bang Rachan folk leaders who fought courageously 7 times against the Burmese. He was the first volunteer from Amphoe Sankhaburi dating back 223 years ago.

Wat Phra Mahathat (วัดพระมหาธาตุ) is the royal temple of Mueang Phraek or Mueang San. The temple houses a distinguished prang with a fluted spire like the shape of a star fruit. The prang housing Lord Buddha’s relics is made from brick on a square shaped base (a plinth) in the Lop Buri style.


Wat Song Phi Nong (วัดสองพี่น้อง) Legend has it that Chao Sam, one of the three siblings, incited the other two siblings named Chao Ai and Chao Yi against each other for the throne. Both Chao Ai and Chao Yi died and Chao Sam became the ruler. Chao Sam then built one prang and one chedi for his late brothers.

Wat Phra Kaeo (วัดพระแก้ว) is another ancient temple housing a beautiful square-based stupa. In front of the stupa stands a Buddha image hall known as Wihan Luangpho Chai, where a delicately carved sandstone lintel was found at the back of the image.

Monkey Park (สวนลิง)

The temple houses rubber plantations and is home to a number of monkeys. Its pleasant area next to the Noi River houses a much revered Luangpho Thao Buddha image.

Wat Klai Kangwon (วัดไกลกังวล) or Khao Saraphat Si Charoen Tham (เขาสารพัดศรีเจริญธรรม)

On top of the hill sees ruins of an ordination hall and the Lord Buddha’s footprints, as well as, a panoramic view of the area. There is the annual Tak Bat Devo ceremony, which literally means offering of food to Buddhist monks.


Wat Phichaiyanawat (Wat Ban Chian) (วัดพิชัยนาวาส) (วัดบันเชี่ยน) The ordination hall or Phra Ubosot built in the middle of the pond enshrined the principle Buddha image of Luangpho To, which is in the posture of accepting offerings from an elephant and a monkey.

[edit] Local Products

Chai Nat’s handicraft products are unique, good quality, and value for money. Each district offers different products as follows:

Dakkhanon Mattress (ที่นอนดักคะนน) Stuffed with kapok, this mattress is made by the locals of Ban Dakkhanon, Tambon Thammamun.


Benjarong Pentachrome Ceramics (เครื่องเบญจรงค์) These five-coloured ceramics are made in the finest and most sophisticated craftsmanship. Every piece of the ceramics is hand painted with a traditional Thai design. They come in plates, bowls, cups, jars, and tea sets

Reed Mat and Bamboo Weavivng Products (เสื่อกกและเครื่องจักสาน) Amphoe Manorom features beautifully good quality products from reed and bamboo such as reed mats, bags, baskets, shallow bamboo baskets, fruit trays, and fans.

Manorom’s Pomelo (ส้มโอมโนรมย์) The most famous is the Khao Taengkwa variety with its sweet-crispy taste, large size, and is available throughout. The annual fair is held in August.

Water Hyacinth Woven Product (ผลิตภัณฑ์ผักตบชวา) By making good use of this local plant, water hyacinths are made into a variety of affordable and delicate handicraft products and household decorations such as bags, baskets, slippers, flower pots, trays in the shape of a chicken, and vases

Herbal Shampoo Products (ผลิตภัณฑ์แชมพูสมุนไพร) Made from kaffir limes, aloe, butterfly pea, turmeric, and soapberry, these renowned good quality herbal shampoo, conditioner, and bath gel, are products of the Tha Sai.

Pottery (เครื่องปั้นดินเผา) These famous, durable, and stylishly designed pottery products such as flower pots, mugs, plates, watering utensils, and household decorations.

Huai Krot Sugar This palm sugar in soft cakes is derived from sugar palm trees, which are grown extensively in Tambon Huai Krot. Traditionally produced, Huai Krot Sugar is very sweet and aromatic, and an essential ingredient for making Thai desserts.

Brown Rice Brown rice is very nutritious because it is traditionally milled.

Artificial Flowers and Trees These are made from various materials such as plastic or sa paper.


Hand-woven Textile Utilizing their spare time from cultivation, local housewives produce the uniquely traditional hand-woven textile such as the tube skirt or pha sin with the decorative piece woven in discontinuous supplementary weft technique known as tin chok, which is the influence of Laotian ancestors, who previously migrated to Chai Nat.

Culture
Festivals

Straw Bird Fair, Chai Nat’s Product Fair and Red Cross Fair (งานมหกรรมหุ่นฟางนกนานาชาติ งานของดี และงานกาชาดจังหวัดชัยนาท) This annual fair is organized by making good use of straw, a by-product in rice farming. Various species of huge straw birds will come perching on elaborately decorated floats during the straw bird procession and the competition is held in front of Chai Nat City Hall. The event is held annually during Chinese New Year in February.

Chai Nat Pomelo Fair (งานส้มโอชัยนาท) Chai Nat is one of several provinces famous for producing exceptional pomelo. The best known are of the Khao Taengkwa variety having a well-rounded shape, smooth skin, thin peel, sweet-crispy taste and a little sour, but not bitter. The fair is held during late August - early September in front of Chai Nat City Hall and features many activities such as pomelo contest, varieties of exhibitions by provincial authorities, and young shoot and pomelo sales.