Ban Nam Khem Tsunami Memorial Park

Open Days: Daily

Opening Hours: The memorial park is open daily. The exhibition building is open from 08:00 to 17:00.

 

Ban Nam Khem Tsunami Memorial Park in Phang Nga Province is one of Thailand’s most meaningful coastal memorial sites. It is located by the sea in Ban Nam Khem, Bang Muang Subdistrict, Takua Pa District, about 7 km from Takua Pa town. The park was created to remember the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, which struck Thailand’s Andaman coast on 26 December 2004 and caused severe loss in Ban Nam Khem. This place is not simply a seaside public park. It is a site of remembrance, mourning, disaster education, and community recovery.

 

The memorial covers about 5 rai and includes a relaxation garden, exercise area, children’s playground, exhibition building, memorial walkway, and coastal public space. Its most powerful feature is a walkway between two walls. One side is a curved concrete wall shaped like a giant wave, with a dark polished surface that creates a solemn atmosphere. The other side is a sloping wall paved with bricks and ceramic tiles, carrying brass plaques engraved with the names of those who died. Walking through this space is a quiet act of remembrance.

 

Another important symbol is an old fishing boat damaged by the tsunami and placed within the memorial area. Seen through an opening in the wave-shaped wall, the boat stands as a physical reminder of the force of the sea that struck the village. It is not displayed as decoration. It is a witness to the disaster and helps visitors understand that the tsunami was not an abstract event, but a real tragedy that changed families, livelihoods, homes, and the fishing community of Ban Nam Khem.

 

Ban Nam Khem has long been a coastal community linked with fishing, seafood trade, marine transport, and boat routes to Ko Kho Khao. The village includes people from different backgrounds who built their lives around the sea. When the tsunami struck, the loss was not only measured in numbers. It affected families, local identity, memory, and the everyday life of the entire community.

 

About 1,400 people are commonly associated with the loss at Ban Nam Khem. The engraved names on the memorial wall are therefore the emotional center of the park. Each name represents a life: a parent, child, relative, neighbor, fisher, vendor, or community member. Visitors should walk through the memorial area respectfully, avoid loud behavior, avoid inappropriate photography, and allow the space to remain peaceful for families and mourners.

 

Inside the central exhibition building, visitors can learn more about the background of the memorial, the construction of the site, and the community before and after the tsunami. Photographs and displays help explain how Ban Nam Khem changed from a devastated coastal village into a community that rebuilt itself. Visiting the exhibition before walking through the outdoor memorial gives stronger context to the structures outside.

 

Near the memorial is a statue of Prince Chumphon Khet Udomsak, also known as the Father of the Royal Thai Navy. The statue is about 1.5 times life-size and is deeply respected by fishermen and seafarers. Many local fishermen pay respect before going out to sea. Its presence near the memorial connects maritime faith, community life, and remembrance.

 

The memorial park is also part of daily community life. After visiting the memorial, travelers can walk toward Ban Nam Khem Beach, see fishing boats, feel the sea breeze, visit local seafood restaurants, buy community-made souvenirs, or arrange local village tours. This makes the area both a memorial site and a living coastal community.

 

Getting There is straightforward by private car, rental vehicle, or local transport from Takua Pa and Khao Lak. From Takua Pa town, travel toward Bang Muang Subdistrict and Ban Nam Khem, about 7 km away. Continue toward the seafront and Ban Nam Khem Pier. The memorial is near the coast and can be found on map applications as “Ban Nam Khem Tsunami Memorial Park.”

 

From Khao Lak, visitors can follow Phet Kasem Road north toward Takua Pa, then turn into Bang Muang and Ban Nam Khem. From Phuket, more travel time is needed because the route passes Khok Kloi, Thai Mueang, Khao Lak, and Takua Pa. The memorial is easy to combine with Khao Lak, Old Takua Pa, Bang Sak Beach, Little Amazon Takua Pa, and Ko Kho Khao.

 

The best times to visit are morning and late afternoon, when the weather is more comfortable for walking outdoors. The exhibition building should be visited between 08:00 and 17:00. Late afternoon gives a softer seaside atmosphere, but visitors should still behave respectfully near the memorial wall and the names of the victims.

 

This site is suitable for families, students, disaster-awareness groups, cultural travelers, and visitors who want to understand the deeper history of Phang Nga. Children can learn about natural hazards, evacuation awareness, and the importance of listening to official warnings. Adult visitors can reflect on memory, community resilience, and the relationship between coastal life and disaster preparedness.

 

Visitors should bring a hat, water, comfortable shoes, and light rain protection during the rainy season. Photography is acceptable in general areas, but visitors should avoid disrespectful poses, climbing the walls, touching the name plaques, placing objects on memorial structures, or using the site as a casual backdrop without understanding its meaning.

 

The memorial also carries an important disaster-preparedness lesson. Since the 2004 tsunami, Thailand’s Andaman coast has strengthened warning systems, evacuation routes, community awareness, and disaster education. A visit to Ban Nam Khem should remind travelers that knowing natural warning signs, following alerts, moving to higher ground, and understanding evacuation routes can save lives.

 

A short visit of about one hour is enough to walk through the wave wall, name wall, fishing boat memorial, exhibition building, and seaside area. A longer half-day route can include Ban Nam Khem Pier, Wat Nam Khem, seafood restaurants, and the local village. A full-day route can continue to Ko Kho Khao, Old Takua Pa, Bang Sak Beach, or Little Amazon Takua Pa.

 

Overall, Ban Nam Khem Tsunami Memorial Park should be visited with respect. It is a memorial to loss, a record of a major natural disaster, and a symbol of how a coastal community rebuilt itself. Its meaning lies not only in the sea view, but in the wave wall, the damaged fishing boat, the engraved names, and the continuing life of Ban Nam Khem. For travelers who want to understand Phang Nga beyond beaches and islands, this memorial offers one of the province’s most powerful and human stories.

 

 

A: It is located by the sea in Ban Nam Khem, Bang Muang Subdistrict, Takua Pa District, Phang Nga Province, about 7 km from Takua Pa town and near Ban Nam Khem Pier.

 

A: The memorial park is open daily. The exhibition building is open from 08:00 to 17:00. Morning and late afternoon are the most comfortable times to walk around the site.

 

A: No. There is no public entrance fee for the memorial park.

 

A: Visitors can see the wave-shaped concrete wall, the wall of victim names on brass plaques, the damaged fishing boat memorial, the exhibition building, public garden areas, playground, beach, and the Prince Chumphon Khet Udomsak statue nearby.

 

A: Ban Nam Khem was one of Thailand’s worst-affected communities during the 26 December 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, with about 1,400 deaths commonly associated with the village.

 

A: Nearby places include Ban Nam Khem Pier, Wat Nam Khem, Ban Nam Khem Tsunami Museum, Ko Kho Khao, Bang Sak Beach, Old Takua Pa, and Little Amazon Takua Pa.

 

A: About one hour is enough for the memorial and exhibition. Allow 2 – 3 hours if adding the beach, seafood restaurants, Ban Nam Khem Pier, or a short community walk.

 

A: Visitors should behave respectfully, avoid climbing the walls, avoid touching the name plaques, keep noise low near memorial areas, avoid littering, and supervise children near the beach and playground.