Transferred under the power of French Indochina and back under Thailand again, Trat has suffered several attempted attacks in order to seize it back again. Trat has become one important location both historically, culturally, and economically for the country because of its excellent strategic location in the area. Merchants have used the island to gain access into the rest of the country in order to sell their wares, Thus, Trat has gained significance in its status as a province in Thailand.

Geography of Trat

The location of the province of Trat has always been one that has served the province well, although these advantages were also wanted by other countries as well. The southernmost part of Thailand’s border into another country, the Cardamom mountain range serves as the defining point for Thailand to have a boundary with Cambodia in the Trat area. Trat faces three Cambodian provinces adjacent to it, and not only is the mainland portion part of the province, but Ko Chang, the second largest island in the country is also included under its jurisdiction. Aside from this, the small islands in the surrounding areas which make up the Mu Ko Chang Marine Park, a wildlife reserve that is in line with other similar areas in Thailand. Seven districts make up the whole province, and it’s located more than three hundred kilometers from Bangkok.

Traveling to Trat

Tourists going into Trat would have several options in order to find their way into the province at their disposal. You could always proceed to Trat by car, which takes you along the national highway. The same route is used when going in by bus, which also gives you the option to take whatever bus type serves your need best. First class buses are available going in from Bangkok. As an alternative and much faster option, you can go in to the province by plane, then ferry. This is with Bangkok Airways servicing this route. From the airport you could get arrangements for a shuttle to take you directly to the ferry pier, which will take you to Trat.

Places to See

One of the main attractions of Trat used to be the gemstone mining industry. Today that still remains, and visitors can still buy Siam Rubies direct from the source at Bo Rai, open from early morning until before noon. But then of course, the city itself is a gem, with plenty of tourist attractions ensuring that you won’t get bored exploring the province and getting to know it better.

In Amphoe (district) Khlong Yai, plenty of beach strips can be found, with one over two hundred meters long, with a grove of pine trees running parallel to it. Khlong Yai hosts plenty of fishing and beach areas, with plenty of blue waters, and one could easily cross over the Cambodian boundary. If you plan to do so as well, bring your passport with you as passports are a requirement to gain entry into the country.

Things to Do in Trat

Agriculture is a big part of the culture and traditions as well as the economy in Trat. The wide varieties of seasonal fruits are grown in this province, which can be found in few places other than Trat. One such fruit would be the durian, infamous for its sweet taste but ultimately strong smell. Orchards grow durian and other fruits to sell in the marketplace. You can take your pick of the available fruits in season, and send yourself on a journey tasting the different types of produce in the province.

Shopping for souvenirs and other niceties would not disappoint you in Trat, with local wares vying to catch the eyes of buyers, with wide varieties of products like gemstones, shrimp paste and other processed foods, rubbing oil and fighting cocks out for sale. Plenty of local festivals are also on the calendars of residents, and one of those would be the Trat Independence day, celebrated for four days, from the 23rd of March until the 27th, and held in commemoration of the return of the province to under the Thai after the occupation of the French.

Investing in Trat Properties

There has been a sharp increase in the property prices in and around Trat, and most of these properties are classified under the luxury and international properties market, with savvy consumers from other countries scooping up these real estate gems for themselves. The prices for these pieces of land have grown as much as thirty percent in the last year, and it’s still not what the market is capable of doing. Growth is still relatively stable and just enough to meet the demands of property buyers. At these price levels though, it’s still way behind ultra-developed land areas like Singapore or London. Trat Still has a long way to go when it comes to the potential price growth of its land.

Low labor costs continue to be part of the main attractions to property developers in this area, along with much of Thailand, but Trat is more suited to the luxury developer because of the high number of expatriates looking to settle in the area, away from the hustle and bustle of city life in the capital of Bangkok. Housing units and villas are of course available for purchase and development, and you can find plenty of online listings for available properties for your purchase in an online search.

Putting up your money in Trat is a nice way to invest in real estate, with the possibility of high growth and returns, and for the profit-oriented buyer, purchasing multiple properties here in the same area could easily mean that buying one for yourself and several others up for sale could let you, in effect, get your property for free. Plenty of developers will gladly help you arrange your purchase so you can get yourself into your new Trat property, and you can sell some of your own additional properties and make a tidy sum off of it.