Hua Thanon is a Muslim fishing village just south of Lamai: brightly painted boats at the water's edge, a morning seafood market where fish is sold by the crate, and daily life that has nothing to do with tourism. People come here to eat, not to swim. Central Lamai is 10 minutes away, Chaweng 25, the airport 35–40.
The shoreline is a working one — boats, jetties and stony bottom in places — so for a beach you drive to Lamai. What the catalog offers here is two hillside pool villas with a view over the gulf, at $84 and $95 a night, monthly from $1,480. That's a deliberate choice in favour of privacy and a real village behind the gate, rather than a beach holiday on your doorstep.
Best for: Travellers who want a view villa with privacy and don't mind a ten-minute drive to the beach.
FAQ
Why go to Hua Thanon?
For the seafood and a genuine slice of island life: the fish market and village cafés are considerably cheaper than the tourist areas, where prices run 20–30% above the Thai average.
Where do you swim?
At Lamai, 10 minutes along the ring road. The village itself sits on a working shore with boats and jetties — there is no real beach here.