Huay Yang, Thailand, January 2025 - Why this village keeps calling us back.
We keep going back to our friends in Huay Yang, Thailand. It is a peaceful and relaxing paradise for anyone seeking a friendly community, beautiful beaches and great services.
It is our 8th time in the little village of Huay Yang, Thailand. We have rented a house in different residential areas here, most of them owned by Swedish people, and there is a reason why we keep coming back to this Paradise. Here we will share an update of what it is like in Huay Yang in high season, January 2025, and why you should consider a visit.
Slow down at Surin beach, one of the many options of beaches in Huay Yang.
Escape to Warm Weather & Amazing Beaches
As many others from Northern Europe we needed a break from the cold and dark days. We decided to go back to Huay Yang just a week before Christmas and managed to find flight tickets for a reasonable price with SAS Airways from Copenhagen Airport. We sent out a request for a rental in our Facebook group (Hyra bostad Huay Yang) and managed to find a place to stay ❤️
See links at the end of this post for more information about rentals.
A typical residential house in Huay Yang, most of which are owned by Swedish expats.
This time we are staying in one of the Orchid areas. All the residential areas have a common pool and no matter where you stay, you are never far from the beach.
The beaches of Huay Yang are between 7-10 km long and you can always find a more quiet spot even in the high season. We love spending our days at the pool or at the beach. We also explore the village and take day trips with our motorbike rental. This, plus the amazing Thai food and friendly people is one of the reasons we love Huay Yang. Here you find Swedes and Thai mostly, but we also run into people from other parts of the world. It is a place to make new connections and friends that we love to keep coming back to year after year.
Huay Yang is an authentic fishing village only 4.5 hours south of Bangkok. It is easily reached by taxi from the airport of Suvarnabhumi.
Daily Life and Some Hot Topics
Besides laying at the pool, swim in the ocean and relaxing there is plenty to do while visiting this little fishing village. For first timers it can be a little hard to know your way around but the fun part is to explore by yourself! Many people rent a saleng (picture below) where you can fit your whole family. It is easy to drive around in the village on the small roads. Please know that in Thailand they drive on the left side of the road so if you are not used to it; take it easy! It is important to respect the rules and regulations as well as local etiquette. For motorbikes you need an international MC license.
Some hot topics at the moment (among both westerners and thai) is that young people without experience are driving around in the village and it can easily cause accidents. Another topic is people entering stores or restaurants in only a bikini top or men without t-shirts. For the thai people this is a no go. Please leave your beach style at the beach and contribute to keeping Huay Yang as the beautiful place it is. For those from Sweden that are familiar with Köpingsvik on Öland. We don’t want another Köpingsvik 🫣
There are restaurants both right at the beach and in the village. Huay Yang has many new food places as well as small little streetfood stalls. There are several massage places, hair dressers, manicure and pedicure services as well as kite surfing for those interested to try something new. As we now are on Huay Yang we see lots of activities like people walking, running and biking or swimming. Many residental areas offer a gym and there are also local gyms in Huay Yang. There is something for everyone, whether you come as a family with young children or a couple or even by yourself!
A typical Saleng in Huay Yang that you can rent from Huay Yang Travel. It makes it easy to bring home your latest purchased groceries or flowers.
Where to Eat & Popular Thai Food
We love trying the different food places which offer both local Thai food as well as western food. You can find pizza and burgers as well as steaks and potatoes if you get tired of Papaya Salad, Red curry with steamed rice or the delicious fried shrimp with plum sauce or home made spring rolls. The options are endless! Everyday we indulge in fresh fruit from the local fruit stalls as well as freshly made fruit shakes and juices. You don’t have to be afraid to go hungry in Huay Yang! The prices are more than affordable so you won’t break the bank. On average we spend around 400-500 baht for a dinner for 2, all drinks included. You can find a Pad Thai for around 80-100 baht (as of todays rate 100 baht is 31 SEK).
Freshly made Spring Rolls as a starter or a simple lunch is a popular dish.
During our visits we have seen some new places popping up and we have made some favourites, even though we haven’t even visited all the restaurants yet. In the village our absolute favourite is Cha Bar Kitchen. We have been going there from when they first started their restaurant in 2018. Today they are one of the restaurants filled with guests every evening and the food and service is excellent ⭐️ Here you find wonderful dishes like Red Curry and fresh starters as well as dishes from the Northern part of Thailand. There are even some Indian dishes and yummy Naan bread and perfectly cooked meat like a wonderful stew. In high season it is best to come early (around 5-6 pm) or to book a table if you want to make sure to get a table.
Cha Bar Kitchen in Huay Yang opened in 2018. A picture right before it fills up with guests at this popular Thai Restaurant.
Another restaurant we recommend in the village is Kritsna (or Kritsana) which is on the main road where most massage and service places for tourists are located. You find it right by the road and they have great Thai food. We like the Phad Thai, Papaya salad and Chicken Cashew Nuts.
TIP! If you are not fond of spices make sure to say not spicy or little spicy. Be aware that even a little spicy can be VERY spicy for some people. Don’t miss the famous Mango Sticky Rice dessert if it is in season. An absolute treat!
Mango Sticky Rice with Coconut milk - one of our favourite desserts when the mangos are in season.
Ranchen is a place worth mentioning and a popular place to meet, dine and wine with friends. They offer both Thai and western dishes and have an extensive menu and a bar. Here you find the popular ”Turkish pepper shot”. Tony and Esan (Nick) have been running this place for years and they have different offers during the year. Here you can find freshly baked cinnamon rolls and buns as well as different activities in the evenings, like quiz nights or pizza buffets and even “Julbord” for those celebrating Christmas in Huay Yang and wanting some traditional Swedish food.
Opening hours are normally from 17-22 during the season.
TIP! We heard they have Napolitan Pizza which get great reviews.
Ranchen’s Bar where they serve the popular Turkish Pepper Shot.
Beach Restaurants
If you want to eat at the beach we have 2 favorite places. All Days is a restaurant that offers lunch and they are also open for dinner in the evening. Here you also find good food and excellent service that is also popular among the Thai. The owner Pop and her team do their best to keep all their customers happy. We love their fresh coconuts, smoothies, Papaya Salad and all the different Thai dishes. Enjoy the view of the ocean as you try all kinds of food in different flavours. And why not try their Hot Pot BBQ in the evening. They will be happy to show you how to grill your food right at the table.
Opening hours for all restaurants can vary depending on the season and how busy it is.
The Chef from All Days with a freshly made Papaya Salad (and we actually learnt how to make it!) Thank You All Days!
Dinner with friends at All Days in the evening, right at the beach.
Tasty Roti (Thai pancakes) with mixed fruit and Ice Cream.
Our Friend Kai ❤️
Kai’s beach restaurant is next door (okay there are no doors…) to All Days. Kai is our special friend and we always love going there for some food and a fun chat. She often stays in the little kitchen and has been serving guest for an eternity and she has a huge heart ♥️. Try the shrimps, spring rolls or ask her for a hot coffee with coconut milk. No problem!
Kai and her son in front of the kitchen. We delivered some treats for them during low season as a Thank You for all our fun days at Kai’s.
Popular Thai Dishes to Try
Red Curry - Gaeng Phet (แกงเผ็ด)
A creamy and spicy curry made with red curry paste, coconut milk, and your choice of meat or tofu. Often includes vegetables like bamboo shoots and Thai basil.Panang Curry - Gaeng Panang (แกงพะแนง)
A rich and slightly sweet curry with a thicker texture, flavored with Panang curry paste, coconut milk, kaffir lime leaves, and a touch of peanuts.Tom Kha Soup - Tom Kha Gai (ต้มข่าไก่)
A fragrant coconut milk soup infused with lemongrass, galangal, and lime leaves, featuring tender chicken and a hint of spice.Pad Thai - Phad Thai (ผัดไทย)
Thailand’s iconic stir-fried rice noodle dish, mixed with tamarind sauce, eggs, tofu, shrimp or chicken, and topped with crushed peanuts.Green Curry - Gaeng Kiew Wan (แกงเขียวหวาน)
A mildly spicy green curry with coconut milk, Thai basil, eggplant, and meat or tofu, known for its vibrant green color from green chilies.Tom Yum Soup - Tom Yum Goong (ต้มยำกุ้ง)
A tangy and spicy hot and sour soup with shrimp, flavored with lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime leaves, and fresh lime juice.Massaman Curry - Gaeng Massaman (แกงมัสมั่น)
A fragrant and slightly sweet curry with Indian influences, featuring tender meat, potatoes, peanuts, and spices like cinnamon and cardamom.Som Tam - Som Tam (ส้มตำ)
A refreshing green papaya salad tossed with chili, lime, fish sauce, peanuts, and sometimes dried shrimp.Fried Rice - Khao Pad (ข้าวผัด)
Simple and delicious Thai fried rice, stir-fried with eggs, vegetables, and your choice of meat, often garnished with lime and cucumber.Stir-Fried Basil - Pad Kra Pao (ผัดกะเพรา)
A flavorful stir-fry with minced meat or tofu, Thai basil, garlic, and chilies, usually served over rice with a fried egg on top.Mango Sticky Rice - Khao Niew Mamuang (ข้าวเหนียวมะม่วง)
A classic Thai dessert of sweet sticky rice paired with ripe mango and drizzled with creamy coconut milk.Spring Rolls - Por Pia Tod (ปอเปี๊ยะทอด)
Crispy deep-fried rolls filled with vegetables and sometimes meat, served with a sweet chili dipping sauce.Chicken Satay - Satay Gai (สะเต๊ะไก่)
Grilled chicken skewers marinated in Thai spices, served with a rich and creamy peanut sauce.Thai Omelette - Khai Jiao (ไข่เจียว)
A fluffy Thai-style omelette, often served over rice and enhanced with fish sauce and green onions.Grilled Pork Skewers - Moo Ping (หมูปิ้ง)
Tender, marinated pork skewers grilled to perfection, commonly enjoyed as a street food snack.Thai Hot and Sour Curry - Gaeng Som (แกงส้ม)
A spicy and tangy soup-like curry made with tamarind, vegetables, and fish or prawns.
Seen by Veen - What is Next
We have so much more to share, about things to do while staying in Huay Yang but it is time to end this blog post with the promise to share more of our special place in Thailand.
We are also working on a new video for our YouTube channel with more in depth content about Huay Yang. It will show the areas to stay, the food, the people we meet and the local village. We will share interviews with people and hope you will enjoy! Last but not least it will be about nature and day trips you can make while staying in Huay Yang.
Thank you for joining us in our journey and please leave a comment or subscribe to our channels if you wish to support us. It is highly appreciated 🤗
TIP! You find rentals at the website: www.thailandbo.se or huayyangtravel.com
Warm Wishes and Happy New Year!
Seen by Veen
Seen by Veen - Anneli & Jeannette
