With a history dating back more than 2,000 years, Takua Pa, formerly known as Takola, made its fortune from tin mining and was an important port for trading with foreign merchants, especially those from China and Europe.
Today’s Takua Pa district has left its mining era behind and moved on to a new chapter as Phang-nga’s main tourist attraction. Old town Takua Pa is a charming quarter, albeit lesser known, where you can travel back in time to the past.
You will enjoy the traces of its heyday whether or not you are a history buff.
Itinerary
- 1. Cross the iconic Boon Sung Steel Bridge
- 2. Bask in history at the former Tao Ming Chinese School building
- 3. Admire the well-preserved Sino-European architecture of Khuninn’s residence
- 4. Enjoy a break at Seen Cafe@Takua-pa
- 5. Photograph the street art of Takua Pa
- 6. Shop for locally made Tau Sar Piah – mung bean pastry
If you are not driving to Takua Pa, you have the option of using the service of its blue songthaew, commonly called Rot Pho Thong, a modified wooden pick-up truck, to tour the old town. You can find and hire this classic local vehicle at Takua Pa bus terminal to reach old town Takua Pa, which is about 9 kilometers away.
The old town tour route costs about 700 baht.
For more information about the songthaew trip, contact TAT: Phang-nga or call 0 7641 3 400-2.
Boonsung steel bridge or Kok Khanoon bridge .
This 200-meter bridge was constructed in 1965 by a tin mining company with the steel from its dredging vessel. Its workers used the bridge to cross Takua Pa river to the company site, and villagers to their homes. It is still used these days by local residents. The bridge is about 3.5 kilometers from the old town center.
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Ratbamrung Road, Tambon Bang Nai Si, Amphoe Takua Pa, Phang-nga. 
https://goo.gl/maps/ddQE2udtYmUDHdLV8
Tao Ming Chinese School .
The bright yellow building was once Takua Pa’s first and only Chinese school founded to educate the children of Hokkien immigrants who came to work in the tin mines. The school is now closed but you can walk around outside and admire the Sino-European structure.
- Montri 2 Road, Tambon Takua Pa, Amphoe Takua Pa, Phang-nga.
- https://goo.gl/maps/Nnj4MQADpnMk3Yjj8
Ban Khun In, the residence of Khun In.
Another Sino-European building, this well-maintained mansion was the residence of Takua Pa’s former district chief Khun Intarakiri, a nephew of Takua Pa’s former governor Phraya Senanuchit (Nut Nagara). The mansion is not open to the public.
- Montri 2 Road, Tambon Takua Pa, Amphoe Takua Pa, Phang-nga.
- https://goo.gl/maps/DNMaaTj6tJtq8u8a6
Seen Café @takua-pa
Change arrives slowly in old town Takua Pa. While many old style eateries still stand proudly, the younger generations of Takua Pa residents are embarking on their own paths, as you can witness at Seen Cafe @takua-pa, whose owners have renovated the abandoned property.
The café focuses on its signature coffee but also serves both sweet savory dishes. Take a break from the old town tour for some refreshments and a homemade bakery!
- U-dom Thara Road, Tambon Takua Pa, Amphoe Takua Pa, Phang-nga.
Open Friday – Wednesday from 10:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. closed Thursdays 
09 1716 9365 - https://goo.gl/maps/JyQTmz8LYBBgCu7X7
Sri Takua Pa road
The old town of Takua Pa was once one of the wealthiest trading centers for tin, contributing a significant income to Thailand, which from 1967 to 1984 always ranked among the world’s top tin exporters. As you are walking along Sri Takua Pa road, let your mind travel back in time and imagine it as a vibrant street lined with the offices of foreign tin mining companies, hotels, banks and an assortment of shops in the Sino-European style of architecture.
Takua Pa even held provincial administrative status before being absorbed into Phang-ng a province. Some of the buildings have been turned into residential homes but you can still find old restaurants, general stores and barber shops in business.
While strolling along Sri Takua Pa road, look for Thai Wattana store, which you are welcome to enter to admire interesting vintage objects at no admission. It doesn’t have fixed opening dates or times but is usually open during Takua Pa walking street market. The de facto store-cum-museum was formerly a major general store that sold stationery, text books and many other goods including electrical appliances.
The covered walkway at the front is a main characteristic of Sino-European shophouses. It allows people to pass from shop to shop sheltered from the sun or rain.
If nothing else, Sri Takua Pa is still prosperous with good eateries. And among them is Aunty Prenchit’s yentafo noodle shop, which has been around for more than 60 years. Her red sauce is made to perfection while the rice noodles are fresh and the pork bone broth tasty.
- Open daily from 10:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
- https://goo.gl/maps/tbs3LC1tGYTRrYAZA
Sin Chai Tung Chinese Shrine is at its busiest during the annual vegetarian festival in October when colorful rites will be performed to banish negative energy from homes.
Every Sunday between November and May, Sri Takua Pa will be closed to traffic and turned into a walking street dotted with local eateries and a myriad of local stalls. Though you will find the road pretty quiet during the rainy season, it is always worth of a visit. Witnessing elderly locals going quietly about their business could be a welcome distraction from our own dramas!
Attention street art fans! Don’t miss the graffiti paintings of old Takua Pa. The most iconic one is inspired by tin mining while some are less noticeable or hidden on wall buildings – keep looking for them while touring the old town!
Tau Sar Piah – mung bean pastry Old town Takua Pa is home to many famous shops selling Tau Sar Piah – flaky pastry with bean paste filling. You can choose from sweet and salty flavors and either is perfect paired with Chinese tea. Tau Sar Piah of old town Takua Pa is second to none and among the famous bakeries are Tuangrut, Nanthawan and Mae Ari.
