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Open Days: Daily

Opening Hours: All day

 

Sunthorn Phu Monument in Rayong is a landmark that reflects both the literary memory and the local identity of Thailand’s Eastern region. This memorial was created to honor the works of the great poet whose influence on Thai language and culture runs deep, and who was recognized by UNESCO in 1986 as a World Eminent Personality in literature. It is located on Highway 3145 along the Klaeng–Laem Mae Phim coastal route, about 5 kilometers from Laem Mae Phim. It’s easy to reach and is often included in Rayong itineraries together with nearby beaches and bays.

 

The grounds are landscaped as a shady garden—good for strolling, photography, or relaxing before or after a beach day. The eye-catching center is a bronze statue of Sunthorn Phu seated with pen and palm-leaf manuscript—symbols of language and imagination—surrounded by sculptures from the epic Phra Aphai Mani: Phra Aphai Mani, Sin Samudra, the Mermaid, and even the Giant Butterfly. These pieces bridge the world of literature with on-the-ground experience. A half-hour loop usually covers the main photo spots and garden ambience.

 

The monument was officially opened on May 25, 1970, and has since become the focal point for “Sunthorn Phu Day” on June 26 each year. Expect chanted verse readings, speech contests, short stage adaptations from Phra Aphai Mani, and exhibitions about the poet’s life and works. More than remembrance, these activities reconnect children and youth with Thai literature in a real-world setting.

 

If you visit in the morning, the light is soft and flattering—especially for diagonal angles with the Mermaid sculpture and reflecting pond. Late afternoon to sunset brings warm golden tones before the sun dips into the sea. Wear cushioned shoes (the garden is spacious and you’ll walk a bit). Families will find shaded pavilions. For photographers, take a few steps back from the main statue and frame the horizon line with the tree row to get epic depth without needing an ultra-wide lens.

 

Many travelers pair the monument with a relaxed half-day route: photo stop at Sunthorn Phu Monument, lunch and beach time at Mae Phim Beach (5 km), golden-hour views at Ao Khai (6 km), and a final stop at Klaeng Market (10 km) for local produce, dried seafood, and seasonal fruit. Culture and coast in one unhurried arc.

 

Though it’s an outdoor space, tranquility is the signature. Along the paths you’ll spot inscriptions about Sunthorn Phu and small narrative plaques linking the poet’s life and works with the landscape—shoreline, wind, waves, sea creatures—the natural elements that often appear in his travelogues and in scenes from Phra Aphai Mani. The place is like an “open-air classroom” that makes literature tangible, not just text in a book.

 

Facilities include parking, small seasonal vendors (especially during the annual festival), public restrooms, and mostly flat walkways suitable for seniors and children. Bring water, a hat or umbrella on hot days, and please carry your trash out to ease the load on local staff.

 

If you enjoy a route with stories, skim short summaries of the characters before you walk. It helps you “hear” a dialogue between sculptures and imagination—like the scene of Phra Aphai Mani with his flute, reflecting the human capacity to meet power and violence with art (music), or Sin Samudra with the Mermaid, inviting a look at family beyond conventional frames—rarely told so plainly in that era.

 

For deeper learning, read the on-site panels and note key terms to research later—such as the poet’s birthplace, Ban Kraem in Klaeng District, or the honorific “Phra Sunthonwohan” which he received later in life. Little research windows during the trip link the real world with knowledge more playfully than you might expect.

 

Getting there by car from Bangkok offers multiple options: Highway 3 (Sukhumvit) via Chonburi–Pattaya–Sattahip to Rayong (about 220 km); Highway 34 (Bang Na–Trat) connecting to Sukhumvit at Bang Pakong (similar distance); Highway 36 (bypass) from Chonburi to Rayong (about 210 km); or Highway 7 (Motorway) connecting to Highway 36 to Rayong (about 175 km). From Klaeng District, follow signs to Laem Mae Phim for roughly 12 km; the monument sits visibly by the roadside.

 

Without a private car, take a Bangkok–Klaeng or Bangkok–Rayong bus, then transfer to a local songthaew or taxi to the monument along Highway 3145 in the Laem Mae Phim area. Total travel time is roughly 4–5 hours depending on route and traffic; allow extra time on weekends and holidays when coastal roads get busy.

 

Seasonal tip: during the rainy season (May–Oct) the garden is lush and the air clears after showers—check rainfall radar before departure. Cool season brings especially pleasant weather; late-year skies are crisp, with blue sky, green canopy, and bronze statues giving high-contrast, photogenic scenes.

 

As a “rest-stop for the heart” for language lovers, this space is more than a park. It’s a place to pause and listen to Thai—light, shadow, and symbols at play. That might be why many people return even after they’ve photographed every angle.

 

For a slow one-day plan: arrive around 8–9 AM, stroll and shoot photos for 60–90 minutes, head to Mae Phim Beach for lunch and lounging, swing by Ao Khai at 4 PM for golden hour, finish at Klaeng Market before dusk. You get literature, sea, local life, and souvenirs in one day.

 

Safety & privacy: the area is generally safe and lit in early evening. If crowds thin, stay near the main paths and parking areas, keep valuables secure, and follow local staff guidance.

 

If you’re introducing children to literature, bring simple character cards for a quick name-guessing game, or read a short passage about “Phra Aphai Mani’s flute” while standing by the plaza—showing how books converse with real places can make learning feel alive.

 

All told, Sunthorn Phu Monument is more than a check-in spot. It’s a living commons of memory, still doing its quiet work—linking people with language, stories with everyday life.

 

 

A: It was officially opened on May 25, 1970 (B.E. 2513) and remains a key cultural site and learning space in Rayong.

 

A: The central bronze statue of Sunthorn Phu, multiple scenes from Phra Aphai Mani, shaded gardens, photo paths, pavilions, and interpretive panels about the poet’s life and works.

 

A: Yes. “Sunthorn Phu Day” is held every June 26, featuring verse recitals, speech contests, exhibitions, and performances related to Thai literature.

 

A: Take a Bangkok–Klaeng or Bangkok–Rayong bus, then transfer to a local songthaew or taxi to Highway 3145 in the Laem Mae Phim area. The last leg is a bit over 10 km.

 

A: Generally no; it’s an open-air public park.

 

A: Early morning or late afternoon for softer light and cooler temperatures—great for photos and strolling.

 

A: Mae Phim Beach for daytime lounging, Ao Khai for golden hour, Wat Sunthonpradit for a temple stop, and Klaeng Market for souvenirs.