Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
RANONG PROVINCE
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Ranong
POP 29,096
On the eastern bank of the Sompaen River's turbid, tea-brown estuary, the frontier town of
Ranong is a short boat ride - or a filthy swim - from Myanmar. This border town par ex-
cellence (shabby, frenetic, slightly seedy) has a thriving Burmese population (keep an eye
out for men wearing traditional
longyi,
Burmese sarongs), a clutch of hot springs and some
tremendous street food.
Once a gritty, grotty backwater, today the town is basking in transit tourism to Ko
Phayam and Ko Chang, and clearly benefiting from a stabilised political situation in My-
anmar. Suddenly there are boutique hotels and a style-conscious local scene, relatively
speaking. Meanwhile, more and more dive operators specialising in live-aboard trips to the
Surin Islands and Burma Banks are establishing themselves here too, adding a pinch of an
expat feel. Ranong is absolutely worthy of a night or two.
