Koh Samui Travel Guide

Surat Thani · Thailand

About Koh Samui

Ko Samui or Koh Samui (Thai: เกาะสมุย, pronounced [kɔ̀ʔ sāmǔj]), often locally shortened to Samui, is an island off the east coast of Thailand. Geographically in the Chumphon Archipelago, it is part of Surat Thani Province, though as of 2012, Ko Samui was granted municipal status and thus is now locally self-governing. Ko Samui, with an area of 228.7 square kilometres (88.3 sq mi), is Thailand's second largest island after Phuket. In 2018, it was visited by 2.7 million tourists. == History == === Early Period === According to oral tradition, the island of Ko Samui was first inhabited in about the 6th century, settled by fishermen from the Malay Peninsula and visited by passing traders from southern China. It has also been claimed by some local historians that the island was used as a safe haven during storm seasons. However, recent archaeological evidence suggests that Ko Samui may have been inhabited significantly earlier, more than 2,000 years ago, with bronze ritual drums with etchings of birds, boats, and spirits being found in the southern hills on the island. Beginning in the thirteenth century, Ko Samui was part of Siam's feudal system and at the time the island acted as a crucial intermediary for ongoing trade between China and India. As a result of its position in Southeast Asia, the island began receiving immigrants from many ethnic and religious groups. At the time, Ko Samui was connected to the muang system through Nakorn Si Thammarat and Thai people constituted the ethnic majority, moving the island to a more agrarian society.