Rayong is blessed with its abundance of nature beauty.  It has a well deserved reputation for producing seafood products such as shrimp paste, fish sauce and dried seafood, and tropical fruits of which rambutan, mangosteen and durian are the most famous.

Topography
In general the geography of Rayong is marked by a series of mountains interspersed by flat plains and large tracts of land under forest, rubber and fruit plantation.  Offshore, there are many islands which are well-known by the tourist, such as Ko Samet and Ko Mun.

Location
Rayong is located in the east coast of Thailand on the northern shoreline of the Gulf of Thailand, about 179 kilometers from Bangkok.
Rayong has an extensive coastline stretching for approximately 100 kilometers, and some 3,552  kilometers square in area, and is divided into 6 administrative districts and 2 sub-district.  To the north and the west they are bordered by the province of Chonburi, the east by Chanthaburi Province and the south by the Gulf of Thailand.  The total population of the province is about 508,398 persons. (In  1996)

Climate
The climate is tropical, generally warm and humid with abundant rainfall, average temperature is around 28 C.  The best months are November through February.

History

Rayong was mentioned in the Thai history during the late Ayutthaya period, when the former capital was razed to the ground by the invading Burmese. At this time Phraya Tak, later to become King Taksin of Thonburi, led a band of patriots and broke out through the cordon of besieging troops who has surrounded the capital. Then he made this way towards the coast stopping in Rayong to build up his navy before proceeding on to Chantaburi.  Because of his courage and bravery, the soldiers and local populations anointed him as "King" in Rayong. Once he has built up sufficient troop strength, Phraya Taksin returned to Ayutthaya and routed the Burmese and set up a new capital in Thonburi

How to get there

By Bus
Rayong is connected by regular bus services with Bangkok and other towns and provinces (Pattaya, Chonburi, Chanthaburi, Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen, Nong Khai, Surin and Ubon Ratchathani) Air conditions leave Bangkok to Rayong from Eastern Bus Terminal on 
Sukhumvit Road, Ekamai. 
Tel. (066) (02) 7123662 Rayong: Tel. (066) (038) 861354-5 and from North Eastern Bus Terminal (Morchit 2) on Kampaengpet Rd. Jatujak. Tel (066)(02) 7123662 Ext.1
Bangkok- Rayong (Ekamai)
Air conditioned buses from Ekamai leave Bangkok  every 30-40 minutes from 04:30 a.m. until 07:20 p.m. and from Rayong Starts at 03:30 a.m. until 08:30 p.m.  One way fare is 101 baht.  The trip takes about 3 hours Second Air conditioned buses leave Bangkok from 03:30 a.m.-04:30 p.m. One way fare is 87 baht.
Bangkok-Rayong (Morchit 2)
Air condition buses  Morchit 2 leave Bangkok  every 01:30 hour from 04:30 a.m. until 09:00 p.m. And from Rayong starts at 04:30 a.m. until 07:30 p.m One way fare is 100 baht. The trip  takes about 3:30 hours
Bangkok-Ban Phe 
Air condition buses leave Bangkok to Ban Phe every 1 hour from 05:00 a.m. until 8:30 p.m. and leave Ban Phe to Bangkok from 04:00 a.m. until 06:30 p.m. One way fare is 108 baht.
Bangkok-Klaeng (Sam Yan)
Air condition buses leave Ekamai Terminal from 05:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m and leave Kleang from 04:30 a.m.-07:30 p.m. every 1 hour. One way fare is 103 Baht. The trip takes about 4 hours. Bangkok: Tel. (066) (02) 3912237 Klaeng: Tel. (066) (038) 674144
Ubonratchathani-Rayong
Air condition buses leave Ubonratchathani and Rayong from 06:30 a.m.-07:30 p.m. (Through Srisaket, Surin, Burirum, Nakornratchasima, Chachoeng-sao, and Pattaya) One way fare is 440 Baht. The trip takes about 13 hours. Ubon: Tel. (045) 255577 Rayong: Tel. (066) (038) 615205,616009
Nong Kai-Rayong
Air condition buses leave Nong Kai from 07:00 a.m.-07:20 p.m. (Through Udonthani, KhonKaen, Korat, Chachoeng-sao and Pattaya and leave Rayong from 07:00 a.m.- 08:20 p.m.) One way fare is 396 baht. The trip takes about 14 hours. Contact to 407 Pattaya Tour, Nong Kai: Tel. (042) 411261 Rayong: Tel. (066) (038) 612179
Nakornratchasima- Rayong
Air condition buses leave Korat 06:00 a.m.- 09:00 p.m. and leave Rayong from 06:00 a.m. -09:.00 p.m. One way fare is 201 baht. Second class leave from 06:30 a.m.- 04:00 p.m. One way fare is 160 baht. Contact to Rayong bus station Tel. (066) (038) 611379 Nakornratchasima: Tel. (044) 256006-9
Chiang Mai-Rayong
V.I.P.buses leave Chiang Mai from 05:00 a.m.-05:45 p.m. and leave Rayong at 08:15 a.m., 04:10 p.m., 05:45 p.m. One way fare is 575 baht Air condition buses leave Chiang Mai from 05:00 a.m.-05:45 p.m. and leave Rayong at 05.00 p.m. One way fare is 505 baht. Tel. (044) 6155205
Chanthaburi-Rayong
Regular buses leave Chanthaburi from 05:30 a.m.-05:30 p.m. every 30 minutes. The trip take about 2:30 hours. One way fare is 40 baht.

Taxi
Leave Chanthaburi at Vong Vian Nampu (fountain) area and leave Rayong at Clock tower area from 06:00 a.m.-05:00 p.m. (Monday from 5:00a.m.) The trip take about 1:30 hours The fare is 400 baht /4 persons.

Van
Leave Chanthaburi at Vong Vian Nampu area and leave Rayong at Clock tower area from 06:00 a.m.-05:00 p.m. (Monday from 05:00 a.m.) The trip take about 2 hours. The fare is 500-600 baht per 5-6 persons.
Rayong- Chonburi
Regular buses (Old line) (Through Mabtapud-Ban Chang-Sattahip-Pattaya-Sriracha and Bangsaen). The fare is about 40 baht.
Regular buses (New line) (Through Mabkha-Yag Krathing Lai) The fare is about 40 baht.
Taxi leave Rayong at OTANI hotel area and leaving Chonburi at Tambon Tha Kian from 06:10 a.m. until 06:30 p.m. every 50 minutes. The trip take 1 hour. One way fare is 120 baht.
Contact Bangsaenmahanakorn, Chonburi. Tel: (066) (038) 282537

Local Transportation
Public urban transportation within Rayong is in the form of minibuses. Local buses leave the bus station at Rayong Trade Centre for various destinations throughout the day .The fare is 5-20 baht depend on the distance.

Boat to Ko Samet 
Kho Samet can reach by boat from Ban Phe.Boats leaving Ban Phe for Kho Samet through the day from 6:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. One way fare is 30 baht. The trip takes 40 minutes.

By Air
Bangkok  Airways operates regular scheduled flights from Samui Island to Rayong-Utapao International Airport. For information contact Bangkok Airway Tel. (066) (02) 2293456,  Don Muang office Tel. (066) (02) 5352497-8 and Pattaya office Tel. (066) (038) 411965, 710084 Samui office , Tel. (066) (077) 425012 Orient Thai Airline operates regular scheduled flights from Chaing Mai-Rayong-Utapao-Bangkok.  For information contact Orient Thai Airline in Utapao , Tel: (066) (038) 2455967 and Chaing Mai office  Tel. (066) (053) 201566-7, 272040 Phuket office  Tel. (066) (076) 232302-3

Festivals & Events

Fruit Fair
This  annual fair , usually during the middle of May,  celebrates the abundance of local fruits and products. Besides stalls selling local fruits and products, there are colorful floats decorated with fruits, parades, musical, and dance processions, beauty pageants, fruits contests and exhibitions of local products. 

Phra Chedi Klang Nam Fair
This annual celebration is held in the twelfth lunar month during Loi Krathong festival, to pay homage the Chedi. The fair also features exciting boat races.

Sunthorn Phu Fair 
This annual fair ,held on June,26 at Sunthon Phu's statue tambon Kram Klaeng district. There are ceremony to respect Sunthon Phu and exhibition such as literary work and drama.

Year New and Red Cross Fair
This  fair is held from December 28 until January 3 with a  board range of entertainment spectacles and special exhibition of government and private agencies.