Rayong Province Guide: History, Towns and Local Products
Rayong is a province of contrasts. Its coast hides Ko Samet, a small island of fine white sand beloved by Bangkok weekenders, while inland lie durian orchards and, along the shore at Map Ta Phut, one of the largest industrial estates in Southeast Asia.
The sections below cover King Taksin's stop here after the fall of Ayutthaya, the districts from the islands to the orchards, the fruit season and festivals, and the fish sauce and fruit the province is known for. Makers based here will find a few ideas on selling further afield, too.
Rayong
Ko Samet, Orchards and Industry
An eastern coast of white-sand islands, fruit orchards and fish-sauce makers, next to one of Thailand's biggest industrial zones.
By the SnapSellGo Thailand Desk · Updated September 2026 · 8 min read
Made in Rayong
Specialities of Rayong. Makers from the province are setting up shop.
The "Known for" cards describe what Rayong is famous for; real listings take their place as soon as producers publish.
Why Rayong is richer than it looks
Rayong sits at the heart of the Eastern Economic Corridor with Chon Buri and Chachoengsao, and in 2016 its per capita earnings were the highest of any Thai province. Much of that wealth comes from the petrochemical and industrial estates around Map Ta Phut.
Yet the province also has one of Thailand's most visited marine parks. Khao Laem Ya–Mu Ko Samet National Park received more than 1.27 million visitors in fiscal year 2024, and Ko Samet's statues recall Phra Aphamani, the epic by the poet Sunthon Phu.
Ko Samet
A small island of fine white sand, part of a national park with more than 1.27 million visitors in 2024.
An industrial powerhouse
Rayong had the highest per capita earnings of any Thai province in 2016.
Taksin's navy
After Ayutthaya fell in 1767, Taksin built a new navy in Rayong.
Sunthon Phu's epic
Statues on Ko Samet recall Phra Aphamani, the poet's most famous work.
Rayong: a timeline
Rayong's recorded history is short but eventful: a king's campaign, a great poet and a late-20th-century industrial boom.
- 1767After the fall of Ayutthaya, Taksin arrives in Rayong and builds a new navy before moving on to Chanthaburi.
- 1800sThe poet Sunthon Phu writes Phra Aphamani, whose scenes are linked to Ko Samet.
- 1916Rayong City is renamed Rayong province.
- 1980s–1990sThe Eastern Seaboard programme turns Map Ta Phut into a major industrial zone.
- 2016Rayong records the highest per capita earnings of any Thai province.
Rayong district by district
Rayong has eight districts, 58 sub-districts and 388 villages, from the island of Ko Samet to the inland orchards.
| District | What you find there |
|---|---|
| Mueang Rayong | The capital, Map Ta Phut's industrial estates, Ban Phe pier and the island of Ko Samet. |
| Klaeng | Orchards and the Sunthon Phu memorial park. |
| Ban Chang | U-Tapao airport and the western coast. |
| Khao Chamao | Inland forest and waterfalls in the Khao Chamao–Khao Wong National Park. |
Dates to plan a trip around
Rayong's year turns on its fruit and its beaches. These are the moments to plan for.
Local products and what OTOP means here
Thailand's OTOP programme, One Tambon One Product, pins each product to its home sub-district, and in Rayong the list begins with fish sauce. The province's coastal towns have long fermented anchovies into nam pla, and shrimp paste is made in the fishing villages.
Inland, orchards grow durian, mangosteen and rambutan, sold fresh in season and dried or processed the rest of the year.
Real products from Rayong makers appear in the carousel at the top of this page as soon as they are listed. Sellers pay no commission on SnapSellGo, only a yearly shop fee.
Short on time? A day on Ko Samet from Ban Phe. Into food? A fish sauce factory and the fruit markets in May. Into literature? The Sunthon Phu memorial in Klaeng. Buying local? A bottle of Rayong fish sauce.
Good to know before you go
Is Ko Samet in Rayong?
Yes. Ko Samet belongs to Rayong province and is part of the Khao Laem Ya–Mu Ko Samet National Park. Boats leave from Ban Phe pier.
What is Rayong known for?
Ko Samet, fish sauce, durian and other fruit, Map Ta Phut's industrial estates and its link with the poet Sunthon Phu.
What did King Taksin do in Rayong?
After the fall of Ayutthaya in 1767, Taksin came to Rayong and built a new navy before moving on to Chanthaburi.
Why is Rayong a rich province?
Its industrial estates, especially around Map Ta Phut, make it one of Thailand's wealthiest provinces. In 2016 it had the highest per capita earnings in the country.
Sources: Wikipedia entries for Rayong province, Ko Samet and Sunthon Phu; Department of National Parks visitor figures (fiscal year 2024). Population: 2024 registration data. Exact festival dates vary each year with the lunar calendar. Cover photo: Ko Samet beach panorama by robot42, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0.