Koh Samui: A Paradise in the Gulf of Thailand
Koh Samui, a stunning island located in the Gulf of Thailand, was first mentioned in the Chiweewan book penned by Prince Krom Phrayanuphan Wongworadet in 1932. This historical document provides evidence of people settling on the island during the late Ayutthaya period and speaks of three pagodas constructed during the Thonburi era. The origin of the name “Samui” remains unclear; however, several theories suggest connections to the Hainan Chinese word “Shao Muay” (first defense), the Tamil word “Soi” (wind wave), or the southern Thai tree “Ton Mui.”