Ban Hua Thanon

Ko Samui

LoginSave

This vibrant little village is home to Ko Samui's historic Muslim community, where the headscarf and pâh sîn (male sarong) count peaks. You get a genuine glimpse of local life, especially after midday on a Friday, when locals arrive dressed in their colourful 'Friday best' to pray in a huge congregation at the beautiful village mosque. The surrounding alleys are a hive of activity with locals socialising as the waft of delicious halal street food fills the air.

Few tourists venture here, so you will have the village almost entirely to yourself.

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

  • Aerial view of Ang Thong National Marine Park, Koh Samui, Suratthani, Thailand.

    Ang Thong Marine National Park

    26.57 MILES

    Known officially as Mu Ko Ang Thong Marine National Park, this series of jungle-covered islands – the inspiration for Alex Garland’s cult classic novel,…

  • Bathers at Nam Tok Na Muang waterfall.

    Na Muang Waterfall 1

    3.16 MILES

    Spilling down from the island's highest points, this is the first of two waterfalls – close to each other – that are lovely in full spate, pouring frigid…

  • Hat Than Sadet

    Hat Than Sadet

    21.42 MILES

    This lovely beach of leaning coconut trees has the royal seal of approval, literally. Behind the collection of shacks that line the sands and azure waters…

  • Fisherman's Village

    Fisherman's Village

    8.07 MILES

    This concentration of narrow Chinese shophouses in Bo Phut has been transformed into cool boutique hotels, restaurants, cafes and bars. The accompanying…

  • Hat Thong Yi

    Hat Thong Yi

    24.2 MILES

    For a real escape, head as far down the main beach road as you can, till it joins the 4073, and turn left to follow the coast further south past Hat Nai…

  • Phaeng Noi waterfall

    Nam Tok Phaeng

    20.14 MILES

    Nam Tok Phaeng is protected by a national park and is a pleasant reward after a short but rough hike. After the waterfall (dry out of season), it's a…

  • Bottle beach on Koh Phangan

    Hat Khuat

    24.06 MILES

    This lovely, secluded cove has a stretch of soft sand overlooked by green hills and is a superb choice for a relaxing day of swimming and snorkelling…

  • Kuan yin, chinese temple overlooking Chaloklum Bay at Koh Phangan, Thailand; Shutterstock ID 197205806; Your name (First / Last): Josh Vogel; GL account no.: 56530; Netsuite department name: Online Design; Full Product or Project name including edition: Digital Content/Sights

    Shrine of Our Lady Guanyin Phangan

    22.42 MILES

    This colourful Chinese temple cascades down a serene jungle-covered mountainside overlooking the Island's green canopy. Dedicated to Guanyin, the Buddhist…

View more attractions

Nearby Ko Samui attractions

1. Guan Yu Temple

0.09 MILES

The shrine of the 3rd-century Chinese general, Guanyin (also called Yunchang), worshipped as a bodhisattva in Mahayana Buddhism, is dominated by a…

2. Ko Samui Central Mosque

0.18 MILES

This photogenic green and gold, domed mosque, built in the Mughal style, sits in the heart of Ko Samui's historic Muslim village. Arrive outside of prayer…

3. Hat Ban Hua Thanon

0.25 MILES

This beach in the south of the Muslim village of Ban Hua Thanon offers an authentic picture of a real Thai fishing community. Ancient, disintegrating…

4. Wat Racha Thammaram

0.8 MILES

This temple (the name means Snake Stone) on the south side of Rte 4169 has a recently built red-clay temple hall, decorated with a fascinating display of…

5. Wat Samret

0.83 MILES

Wat Samret, west of Ban Hua Thanon has several standout features, a Mandalay sitting Buddha carved from solid marble, common across India and northern…

6. Orthodox Church of the Ascension

1.27 MILES

Ridiculously photogenic, this beautiful, baby blue, Russian orthodox church with gold onion domes (similar to the nearby mosque) sits halfway up a…

7. Hin-Ta & Hin-Yai

1.29 MILES

At the south end of Hat Lamai, you’ll find these infamous genitalia-shaped stone formations (also known as Grandfather and Grandmother Rocks) providing…

8. Wat Khunaram

1.64 MILES

The mummified remains of the temple's former abbot who foresaw his own death in 1973, Luang Phaw Daeng, is the key reason worshippers visit this small…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting: 
    {
  "url": "thailand/hat-lamai-the-southeast/attractions/ban-hua-thanon/a/poi-sig/1243048/1342057",
  "destination": "Ko-Samui",
  "continent": "Asia",
  "country": "Thailand",
  "region": "Ko-Samui",
  "position": "superzone"
}