Chonburi Province

The word chon originates from the Sanskrit word जल; jala meaning 'water', and the word buri from Sanskrit पुरि; puri meaning 'town' or 'city'. Hence the name of the province literally means 'city of water'.

Chonburi has been recognized since the Dvaravati Period, and during the reigns of Khmer Empire and Sukhothai Kingdom. Chonburi was initially only a small agricultural town and a small fishing community scattered around, but during the [[Ayutthaya Kingdom] (1350-1767), Chonburi was classified as a commodore class city. According to the Triphum map, it appeared the important towns from north to south such as Bangsai (บางทราย; today is a sub-district of Chonburi), Bangplasoi (บางปลาสร้อย; today is a downtown of Chonburi), Bangphrarua (บางพระเรือ; Today is a sub-district of Si Racha) and Banglamung (บางละมุง, today is a district of Chonburi Province) Although it is a small town, it enriches natural resources both on land and at sea. There were agriculture and fishing from past. Moreover, they contacted with the Chinese sailing who came to trade with Siam.

The provincial seal shows the hill Khao Sam Muk, on which there is a sala with a statue of the goddess, Chao Mae Sahm Muk, who, it is believed, protects seafarers and the local population.[6]

The provincial tree and flower is the "New Guinea rosewood" (Pterocarpus indicus, called Mai Pradu in Thai).

The provincial motto is "Beautiful beaches, delicious khao lam, sweet sugar cane, delicate basketry products, and buffalo racing."[7]

The province is on the Bay of Bangkok, the northern end of the Gulf of Thailand. The Khao Khiao mountain range stretches from the northwest to the southeast of the province. The plains of the north were long used for farming. Laem Chabang, between Chonburi and Pattaya, is one of the few deep-water harbours of Thailand.

The provincial permanent legal population rose at nearly four percent annually from 1,040,865 in 2000 to 1,554,365 in 2010.[5] There is a large floating population of long-term residents (non-Thai) without permanent status, on perpetual tourist visa and/or migrant workers (legal or not), as well as heavy, short term tourist influxes.

Chonburi Province consists of 11 districts (amphoe). These are further subdivided into 92 subdistricts (tambon) and 710 villages (muban). As of 31 December 2018 there are: 1 Chonburi Provincial Administrative Organisation - CPOA (ongkan borihan suan changwat chonburi), 1 Pattaya City Special Local Government, 2 City municipalities (thesaban nakhon) and 10 Town municipalities (thesaban mueang).[9] Further there are: 35 Subdistrict municipalities (thesaban tambon) and 50 Subdistrict Administrative Organisations - SAO (ongkan borihan suan tambon).[10]

Map	#	Name	Thai	Population (2018)	Subdivisions
	— Districts —
	1	Mueang Chonburi	เมืองชลบุรี	335,063	18 tambon — 107 muban
	2	Ban Bueng	บ้านบึง	103,377	8 tambon — 52 muban
	3	Nong Yai	หนองใหญ่	23,625	5 tambon — 24 muban
	4	Bang Lamung	บางละมุง	315,437	8 tambon — 72 muban
	5	Phan Thong	พานทอง	69,429	11 tambon — 76 muban
	6	Phanat Nikhom	พนัสนิคม	124,637	20 tambon — 185 muban
	7	Si Racha	ศรีราชา	301,799	8 tambon — 73 muban
	8	Ko Sichang	เกาะสีชัง	4,560	1 tambon — 7 muban
	9	Sattahip	สัตหีบ	165,492	5 tambon — 40 muban
	10	Bo Thong	บ่อทอง	50,318	6 tambon — 47 muban
	11	Ko Chan	เกาะจันทร์	37,670	2 tambon — 27 muban

Many hospitals exist in Chonburi, both public and private. Chonburi has one university hospital, Burapha University Hospital. Its main hospital operated by the Ministry of Public Health is Chonburi Hospital. Hospitals operated by other organisations such as the Thai Red Cross Society (Queen Savang Vadhana Memorial Hospital), and the Royal Thai Navy (Queen Sirikit Naval Hospital) are also found in the province.

Health	Education	Employment	Income
34	2	2	7
Housing	Family	Transport	Participation
74	18	5	72
Province Chonburi, with an HAI 2017 value of 0.6613 is "high", occupies place 6 in the ranking.

Since 2003, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Thailand has tracked progress on human development at sub-national level using the Human achievement index (HAI), a composite index covering all the eight key areas of human development. National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) has taken over this task since 2017.[3]

Map with provinces and HAI 2017 rankings

Some nine million visitors to the province were recorded in 2012, of which 6.1 million were from abroad, most of these being Russian, 2.2 million visitors.[11]

Chonburi Buffalo Race (งานประเพณีวิ่งควาย) In Ban Bueng and Nong Yai Districts. The animals are dressed outrageously or with creatively by owners. Assembled in the courtyard in front of the town hall, the buffaloes partake in racing, or take part in physical fitness and fashion contests. The Chonburi Buffalo Race festival started more than 100 years ago.[12] Usually, the races will be complemented with booths selling locally made items, stage performances, games and beauty contests.[13] The annual Buffalo Race, held around the 11th lunar month, normally in October. It takes seven days and takes place on the field in front of the city and provincial government offices. The highlight of the festival is the buffalo race which is on the last two days. This race is 100 meters–long. The prize for the first nose past the finish line is a trophy and some money.[14]

Songkran day in bangsaen or " Ko Phra Sai Wan Lai Bangsaen" is a tradition that has been held continuously for a long time, covering ten years, at Bang Saen beach and Laem Thaen, Saen Suk Subdistrict, Mueang District, Chon Buri Province. Between April 16-17 of each year. The highlight of this event contest which will be provided for the contestants to build a sand Buddha at Bangsaen beach. In which each Buddha sand arch  There is a magnificent decoration. Combined with the sea atmosphere and Thai decorations , this place has become one of the most beautiful Songkran festivals in Thailand. In addition, there are many interesting activities awaiting in the event. Such as merriting alms to monks, bathing Buddha images, pouring water on the elders, traditional sporting events, sea boxing competitions, oyster sheep competitions, selling seafood and local food, selling local products (OTOP)  ), Concerts from famous artists etc.

• Chonburi F.C.
• Sriracha F.C.
• Pattaya United F.C.
• Supreme Chonburi VC

Reports (data) from Thai government are "not copyrightable" (Public Domain), Copyright Act 2537 (1994), section 7.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chonburi Province.

• Chonburi travel guide from Wikivoyage
• Provincial administration (Thai)