Rachakarun Centre of the Thai Red Cross Society

Open Days: Daily

Opening Hours: The main center area is accessible 24 hours / Rachakarun Pavilion is open 08.30 – 16.00

 

The Rachakarun Centre of the Thai Red Cross Society, Khao Lan, in Trat Province is one of Thailand’s most meaningful humanitarian, historical, educational, and seaside destinations. Located at Ban Khao Lan in Mai Rut Subdistrict, Khlong Yai District, along Highway 318 on the Trat-Khlong Yai route, the center was formerly known as the Thai Red Cross Society Centre, Khao Lan. It was established through the royal compassion of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, Queen Mother, in her role as President of the Thai Red Cross Society, to help Cambodian refugees who fled war and crossed into Thailand in search of safety.

 

This site is not only a quiet coastal attraction. It is a place where one of the most important humanitarian stories on Thailand’s eastern border is remembered. In the late 1970s, large numbers of Cambodian refugees arrived in the Khao Lan area after escaping conflict in their homeland. The Thai Red Cross Society became deeply involved in providing shelter, food, medical care, child welfare, education, vocational training, and basic support to people who had lost homes, families, and security.

 

In the beginning, many refugees lived under trees and used whatever materials they had to protect themselves from sun and rain. Later, temporary shelters, medical units, schools, training areas, and service buildings were established. The Khao Lan center became a symbol of humanitarian assistance and compassion. It shows how organized support, kindness, and public service can help preserve human dignity during times of crisis.

 

After the Cambodian refugees gradually returned to their homeland, the refugee-assistance mission at Khao Lan ended in 1986. However, the memory of the place did not disappear. In 1992, on the occasion of the 60th birthday anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, Queen Mother, the area was developed into a commemorative and educational site. Rachakarun Pavilion was built as a royal tribute museum and a memorial to the humanitarian work carried out under royal patronage.

 

Rachakarun Pavilion is the most important learning area within the center. Inside, visitors can see exhibitions about the royal duties of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, Queen Mother, and the history of assistance provided to Cambodian refugees. The museum includes historical information, photographs, realistic models, and objects that help visitors understand the living conditions and relief work of that period. It is both a museum and a place of remembrance.

 

One of the most moving exhibition sections features models of Cambodian refugees in daily-life scenes such as cooking, sewing, and carrying out ordinary tasks. These displays help visitors understand that the refugee story is not simply about numbers or politics. It is about real people who lived through fear, displacement, hope, and the struggle to rebuild life in a temporary place of safety.

 

The center also enshrines a Sukhothai-style Buddha image in the Subduing Mara posture, created according to the royal initiative of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, Queen Mother. It served as a spiritual anchor for Cambodian refugees who had fled war and needed comfort, hope, and emotional strength. Today, the Buddha image remains a sacred and respected place for local people in Trat and visitors who come to pay homage.

 

Another important area is the Royal Auspicious Tree Garden, which presents auspicious trees associated with Thailand’s provinces. Visitors can walk through the garden and learn about symbolic provincial trees from across the country. For Trat Province, the provincial tree is the sea almond, or Hoo Kwang. This garden is not only a pleasant green space, but also a botanical learning area that connects nature with national identity.

 

The center also has an herbal garden for visitors interested in traditional plants and Thai local health wisdom. Medicinal herbs have long been part of Thai everyday life, and the garden offers an opportunity to learn about useful plants in a peaceful seaside setting. Together with the tree garden, it adds an ecological and educational dimension to the center.

 

Behind the center is Rachakarun Beach, a quiet sandy beach suitable for walking, relaxing, and enjoying the sea breeze. The beach has a calm atmosphere and is less crowded than many popular seaside destinations. It is especially suitable for families, student groups, training groups, and travelers who want a peaceful seaside stop without traveling to an island.

 

The appeal of the Rachakarun Centre lies in the fact that it combines several experiences in one place. Visitors can learn humanitarian history at Rachakarun Pavilion, pay respect to the Buddha image, walk through gardens, relax on the beach, or stay overnight in accommodation managed by the center. It is suitable for historical travel, educational visits, family relaxation, youth camps, and group seminars.

 

The center provides accommodation for the public in several room types, from smaller rooms to large group houses. Facilities include air-conditioning, television, hot water, private bathrooms, meeting areas, camping space, and areas suitable for youth camps. This makes the center practical for schools, organizations, families, and groups looking for a quiet place by the sea with historical meaning.

 

For educational travelers, the center is highly valuable because it explains the human consequences of war and the role of the Thai Red Cross Society in humanitarian assistance. The exhibitions show that relief work is not only about food and shelter. It also includes healthcare, child protection, education, vocational support, emotional care, and the restoration of human dignity.

 

For general travelers, the center can be included in a route from Trat town toward Khlong Yai District. Highway 318 links Trat town with the southern coastal and border areas of the province. Along the route, travelers can find coastal communities, seafood restaurants, beaches, and quiet local attractions. A half-day visit is enough for the museum and beach, while those with more time can stay overnight or continue to Ban Chuen Beach, Mai Rut, Khlong Yai, or Ban Hat Lek border area.

 

A good way to visit is to begin at Rachakarun Pavilion to understand the history of the place, then continue to the exhibition models, the Buddha image, the Royal Auspicious Tree Garden, the herbal garden, and finally Rachakarun Beach. This route helps visitors understand that the site is not only beautiful, but also filled with memory, compassion, and historical significance.

 

Getting There from Trat town is straightforward. Take Highway 318, the Trat-Khlong Yai road, toward Khlong Yai District for about 48 km. The center is located on the seaside of the road at Ban Khao Lan in Mai Rut Subdistrict, with clear signage at the entrance. Travelers can visit by private car, rental car, or local hired vehicle. From Bangkok, the route passes through Chon Buri, Rayong, and Chanthaburi before reaching Trat and continuing south toward Khlong Yai.

 

Visitors should dress politely when entering Rachakarun Pavilion and paying respect to the Buddha image. At the beach, visitors should keep the area clean and follow staff guidance. Because this place carries both historical and emotional meaning, it is best visited with respect for the site and for the people whose lives were connected with it.

 

The Rachakarun Centre of the Thai Red Cross Society, Khao Lan, is worth visiting because it reveals a side of Trat that goes beyond islands, beaches, and seafood. It is a place of humanitarian history, royal compassion, public service, education, and quiet seaside rest. A visit here allows travelers to understand the value of compassion and the importance of helping fellow human beings during times of hardship.

 

 

A: It is located at Ban Khao Lan, Mai Rut Subdistrict, Khlong Yai District, Trat Province, along Highway 318 at around Km. 48 on the Trat-Khlong Yai route.

 

A: It was once used by the Thai Red Cross Society to provide humanitarian assistance to Cambodian refugees who fled war, and it now serves as a learning center, museum, and seaside recreation area.

 

A: Visitors can see exhibitions about the royal duties of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, Queen Mother, the relief mission for Cambodian refugees, photographs, models, and related historical objects.

 

A: Yes. Rachakarun Beach is located behind the center and offers a quiet seaside atmosphere suitable for walking, relaxing, and enjoying the coastal scenery of Trat.

 

A: Yes. The center provides several types of accommodation for the public, families, groups, training programs, and youth camps. Reservations can be made by calling 087-600-0686 or 039-510-821.

 

A: Take Highway 318 toward Khlong Yai District for about 48 km. The center is on the seaside of the road at Ban Khao Lan in Mai Rut Subdistrict.

 

A: It is suitable for families, students, educational groups, travelers interested in humanitarian history, seaside visitors, and organizations planning camps or seminars.

 

A: Visitors can continue to Mai Rut Beach, Ban Chuen Beach, Mai Rut Community, Khlong Yai District, and Ban Hat Lek Border Checkpoint.