Thongson Bay is a chain of small coves on the northeast cape, next to Choeng Mon and the Wat Plai Laem temple. What's built here is villas and small houses on the slopes, nearly all with a panoramic view over the gulf towards Koh Phangan. There are effectively no shops or cafés of its own: groceries mean a run to Choeng Mon or Chaweng, 12 minutes to the airport and 15 to Chaweng.
The coves are rocky and secluded — getting into the water often means picking your way over boulders — but the water is clear and you'll rarely meet anyone. For actual swimming, neighbouring Choeng Mon is 5–10 minutes away.
The catalog has 6 listings (5 villas and 1 apartment), from $20 a night with a median of $26, which for these views is one of the better deals on Samui; monthly from $320. A scooter is mandatory: the climbs to the houses are steep and punishing on foot in the heat.
Best for: View hunters with their own transport who want a hillside villa without paying Plai Laem prices.
FAQ
Can you swim in Thongson Bay?
In the coves themselves, with caveats: the shore is rocky and in places you enter over boulders. The proper sandy beach is Choeng Mon, 5–10 minutes away, where the cafés and rental shops are too.
What about infrastructure?
There is almost none — a handful of villas and the sea view. Shops, restaurants and pharmacies are in Choeng Mon and Chaweng, 10–15 minutes by scooter.