Cha-am district
Cha-am is a district in the southern part of Phetchaburi province, western Thailand.
The district was established in 1897 with the name Na Yang. In 1914 the centre of the district was moved to Ban Nong Chok in Cha-am district is a former residence of King Vajiravudh or Rama VI who ruled Siam from 1910 to 1925.Toponymy
Its name "Cha-am" is said to have originated from the word "Cha-an" meaning "to wash the saddle". In the Ayutthaya period, Viceroy Ekathotsarot raised an army to fight against the Burmese in this area, and washed his saddle here. Hence the name "Cha-an" and was distorted into "Cha-am" like todayLocation
Cha-am lies south of Bangkok on Phet Kasem Road. Just a few trains stop at the town's railway station. Frequent bus and minibus services link Cha-am with neighbouring towns, such as Hua Hin, and with Bangkok. The district to the north is Tha Yang district. to the south is Hua Hin district of Prachuap Khiri Khan province, also a beach resort.Administration
Cha-am district is divided into nine sub-districts.Economy
Tourism plays a significant role in the economy of Cha-am and Phetchaburi Province. The province, however, has dropped from the fourth to the sixth most popular destination in Thailand due to coastal erosion, much of it in Cha-am, caused by rising sea levels leading to "deteriorating scenery".Education
Several tertiary educational institutions and universities are in Cha-am and surrounding districts including Silpakorn University, Suan Dusit Rajaphat University, Stamford International University, and Webster University Thailand.