A week of celebrating the history and culture of Hua Hin focusing on the early 1920’s will conclude on 31st August at the 10th annual ‘Hua Hin of Yesterday’.
In 1921, the Director of the State Railway, Prince Purachatra built The Railway Hotel, coinciding with the construction of railway line from Bangkok. The Royal Hua Hin Golf Course was also built during this era.
But essentially it was the resort’s royal endorsement which has given Hua Hin a special character of its very own. By 1926, Hua Hin was set to be a popular seaside retreat for the higher echelon of Thai society, complete with two royal palaces (Klai Kang Won and Maruekhathaiyawan).
Although the history of our location certainly precedes these developments, the nostalgia on show during the ‘Hua Hin of Yesterday’ event was all about these glory days beginning in the 1920’s, begging the question; should there be a centenary celebration of modern Hua Hin sometime soon?
After an opening parade of classic motor vehicles, much of the nostalgia was about the fashion, with the most elegant ladies dressed ‘to the nines’ in traditional silks and elaborate long dresses of the period on the stage or just mingling in the crowds alongside reconstructed shopfronts and the everyday street scenes of days gone by. But as a family event, a festival atmosphere included bright lights, food stalls and entertainment to suit all ages.
As a follow up to the Hua Hin Food Festival, ‘Hua Hin of Yesterday’ was a demonstration of why the Royal Coast has emerged at the forefront of Thailand’s domestic tourism destinations.
