Beaches of Chonburi

Chonburi is a province of Thailand located in eastern Thailand. Pattaya, a major tourism destination in Thailand, is located in Chonburi, along with Laem Chabang, the country’s primary seaport. The population of the province has grown rapidly and now totals 1.7 million residents, although a large portion of the population is floating or unregistered. It is known for having many accessible beaches.

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Bang Saen

Bang Saen Beach simply known as Bang Saen is in Tambon (subdistrict) Saen Suk, Mueang Chonburi district, Chonburi province, eastern Thailand. It is about 108 km (67 mi) east of Bangkok. It is a popular beach due to its proximity to Bangkok and Pattaya.

I first went there with office colleagues back in 2020. It was my first time on a Thai beach and we got drunk on bottles of cheap beer.

We rode on a Crazy Sofa and it was an intense experience. I suspect the JetSki driver pulling us was extra aggressive because my colleagues bargained with him a lot on the price.

The sunset is not so peaceful because of the sheer amount of water sports happening around you.

Since then, I only went there again one more time.

Pattaya

Pattaya is on the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand, about 100 kilometres (62 mi) southeast of Bangkok, and has a population of 351,391 as of 2025. It is mostly known for its vibrant nightlife and rampant prostitution. It is also known for attracting cheap tourists who have no civic sense.

Luckily, I went there first in 2021, during peak COVID, when it was almost completely empty. I doubt anyone will experience it like that ever again.

Pattaya seemed a bit paradoxical for me. Before this, I assumed most beaches were in small towns or hamlets (like Goa) or away from the city (like San Francisco). It took me a while to reconcile that a beach can be next to a fully developed city.

Since then, the tourists have returned in droves and now I only go here for motorcycle rides, or when with family, just pass by it, never stopping.

Jomtien

Jomtien or Jomtien Beach is a town on the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand about 165 km (103 mi) south-east of Bangkok in Bang Lamung District, Chonburi Province. It is about 3 km (1.9 mi) south of Pattaya and is home to high-rise condominiums, beach side hotels, beaches, and restaurants.

It is also our preferred beach for day trips, because it is less touristy.