Haad Rin is a small town on Thailand’s fifth biggest island, Koh Phangan. Until 10 years ago it was an obscure place that few people had heard of. That all changed as the Full Moon Party started gaining international recognition as the best party in Asia. So has Haad Rin got better or got worse?
The answer to the question really depends on what you are looking for in a beach holiday. Haad Rin is blessed with two beaches – one sunrise and one sunset beach. In between is the small, hidden beach of Haad Leela. The town of Haad Rin has nearly every convenience tourists could want including a new night club – Club 9. There are Muay Thai gyms, ATM machines, convenience stores and a ferry pier. There are restaurants serving pub grub, Japanese sushi, Israeli food, Indian food, Thai food and even Scandinavian fare.
In terms of convenience, Haad Rin has greatly improved since the early hippy days of the 1980s. The accommodation at Haad Rin has also gone up-market. The focus now is more on resort rooms with air-con, hot water, TV and fridge. There are plenty of places with communal pools. However, nothing really comes under the luxury category. For that it is necessary to head north to Thong Nai Pan Noi beach that has 3 luxury resorts.
The downside of Haad Rin is that it is a tourist trap. Things cost a bit more in Haad Rin than on the other beaches of Koh Phangan. Many of the Thais working in Haad Rin seem to have replaced their genuine smiles for mercenary grins.
Another issue is the parties. It is not just the Full Moon Party. There are several warm-up parties on the days leading up to the full moon. While the music and atmosphere can be great in the bars in Haad Rin, it can also be loud. Many people staying on Haad Rin Nok complain about the loud music late into the night even when the bars are empty.
Many people now come to the Full Moon Party but prefer to stay on one of the other beaches in Koh Phangan, or even come over from Koh Samui for the night. The party has slightly taken over Haad Rin.
