Rayong (Thai: ระยอง, pronounced [rā.jɔ̄ːŋ]) is a city (thesaban nakhon) on the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand and the capital of Rayong province. It covers tambons Tha Pradu and Pak Nam and parts of tambons Choeng Noen and Noen Phra, all within Mueang Rayong district. As of 2016 the population was 64,256 (est.). The main industry is fishing, and it is also the main producer of Thailand's fish sauce.[citation needed] It is also the center of the chemical and auto industries. In 2012 Ford Motor Company opened an assembly plant in Rayong to expand Ford's presence in the ASEAN area, employing some 2,200 people.[1]

Rayong
ระยอง
City of Rayong
เทศบาลนครระยอง
Chakphong, Klaeng district, Rayong
Chakphong, Klaeng district, Rayong
Official seal of Rayong
Location in Rayong province
Location in Rayong province
Rayong is located in Thailand
Rayong
Rayong
Location in Thailand
Coordinates: 12°40′27″N 101°16′44″E / 12.67417°N 101.27889°E / 12.67417; 101.27889
Country Thailand
ProvinceRayong
DistrictMueang Rayong
Government
 • TypeCity Municipality
 • MayorWorawit Sopchokchai
Area
 • Total
16.95 km2 (6.54 sq mi)
Population
 (2016)
 • Total
64,256
 • Density3,800/km2 (9,800/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+7 (ICT)
Area code(+66) 38
Websiterayongcity.go.th

Rayong was named an Asia-Pacific City of the Future by the Financial Times in 2017.[2]

Etymology

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Rayong comes from the Chong word for Pterocarpus macrocarpus, (commonly known as Burma Padauk, and in Thai “Pradu”) a tree that is common in the region. [3][4]

History

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During the late Ayutthaya period, when the former capital of Thailand was being destroyed by the invading Burmese, general Phaya Tak marched his troops to Rayong in order to build up his navy before proceeding on to Chanthaburi. He was later anointed "king" in Rayong. Phaya Tak later became King Taksin of the Kingdom of Thonburi, after which he returned to Ayutthaya, defeated the Burmese and set up a new capital in Thonburi.[5]

Yomjinda Road bisects one of Rayong's oldest settlements. The road follows the Rayong River which, in the reign of King Rama VI, was the chief means of transport. The community rehabilitated the old town and today it has become a tourist destination.[6]

Education

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  • Rayongwittayakhompaknam School

People

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Climate

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Climate data for Rayong (1991–2020, extremes 1981-present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 37.0
(98.6)
37.5
(99.5)
37.9
(100.2)
40.0
(104.0)
39.5
(103.1)
38.0
(100.4)
38.0
(100.4)
38.0
(100.4)
37.3
(99.1)
37.2
(99.0)
37.3
(99.1)
37.5
(99.5)
40.0
(104.0)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 31.9
(89.4)
32.4
(90.3)
33.0
(91.4)
34.0
(93.2)
33.5
(92.3)
32.7
(90.9)
32.2
(90.0)
32.0
(89.6)
31.8
(89.2)
32.3
(90.1)
32.8
(91.0)
32.2
(90.0)
32.6
(90.6)
Daily mean °C (°F) 26.5
(79.7)
27.8
(82.0)
29.0
(84.2)
30.0
(86.0)
29.9
(85.8)
29.5
(85.1)
29.0
(84.2)
28.8
(83.8)
28.3
(82.9)
27.7
(81.9)
27.5
(81.5)
26.4
(79.5)
28.4
(83.1)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 22.2
(72.0)
24.5
(76.1)
26.4
(79.5)
27.3
(81.1)
27.3
(81.1)
27.0
(80.6)
26.8
(80.2)
26.6
(79.9)
25.7
(78.3)
24.7
(76.5)
23.7
(74.7)
22.1
(71.8)
25.4
(77.6)
Record low °C (°F) 14.5
(58.1)
16.3
(61.3)
17.5
(63.5)
19.0
(66.2)
22.3
(72.1)
21.5
(70.7)
22.0
(71.6)
22.5
(72.5)
21.7
(71.1)
18.3
(64.9)
17.0
(62.6)
13.3
(55.9)
13.3
(55.9)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 29.3
(1.15)
32.2
(1.27)
70.5
(2.78)
84.7
(3.33)
190.5
(7.50)
177.9
(7.00)
176.5
(6.95)
128.2
(5.05)
268.8
(10.58)
196.3
(7.73)
44.3
(1.74)
7.5
(0.30)
1,406.7
(55.38)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 2.2 2.6 4.0 5.2 10.8 12.0 11.0 9.8 14.6 13.3 4.2 1.1 90.8
Average relative humidity (%) 75.0 76.4 77.5 77.0 78.7 79.1 79.5 80.0 82.3 82.2 74.5 70.6 77.7
Mean monthly sunshine hours 229.4 211.9 201.5 204.0 155.0 114.0 117.8 114.7 108.0 145.7 189.0 226.3 2,017.3
Mean daily sunshine hours 7.4 7.5 6.5 6.8 5.0 3.8 3.8 3.7 3.6 4.7 6.3 7.3 5.5
Source 1: World Meteorological Organization[8]
Source 2: Office of Water Management and Hydrology, Royal Irrigation Department (sun 1981–2010)[9](extremes)[10]

References

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  1. ^ Priddle, Alisa (2 May 2012). "Ford opens assembly plant in Thailand". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 5 May 2012.
  2. ^ Newton, Tim (29 September 2017). "Punching above its weight – Rayong, Thailand". The Taiger. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  3. ^ Kanchanawan, Nitaya (December 2011). "Thai-ization" (PDF). The Journal of the Royal Institute of Thailand. III: 48–49 – via Thaiscience.info.
  4. ^ Rojas-Sandoval, Julissa (June 16, 2017). "Pterocarpus macrocarpus". Cabi.org. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  5. ^ "Rayong Province, Thailand tourism portal". www.tripsthailand.com. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  6. ^ "Yomjinda old town". Travelfish. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  7. ^ Atthakor, Ploenpote (17 July 2014). "Green activist movement loses warrior". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  8. ^ "World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991–2020". World Meteorological Organization. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  9. ^ "ปริมาณการใช้น้ำของพืชอ้างอิงโดยวิธีของ Penman Monteith (Reference Crop Evapotranspiration by Penman Monteith)" (PDF) (in Thai). Office of Water Management and Hydrology, Royal Irrigation Department. p. 98. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  10. ^ "Climatological Data for the Period 1981–2010". Thai Meteorological Department. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
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