Hat Muk Kaeo

Hat Muk Kaeo is a quiet stretch of sand in Laem Klat subdistrict, Trat province, running along the coast between the neighbouring Hat Sai Ngoen and Hat Sai Kaeo. The name roughly translates to “pearl and glass beach,” a nod to the shells scattered along the sand and the clarity of the water. Entry is free, and the beach is open daily.

Casuarina and coconut trees line the shore, giving natural shade for most of the day, and the water is calm and clear enough to see the sandy bottom in the shallows. The sand slopes gradually, making it comfortable for swimmers of most abilities rather than a beach that demands caution. Only one resort operates directly on the beach, which keeps the crowds light even at midday. A handful of family-run stalls sell grilled fish, som tam, and cold drinks — bring cash, since there are no ATMs nearby.

Hat Muk Kaeo isn’t an isolated stretch — it connects along the same coastline to Hat Sai Ngoen and Hat Sai Kaeo, so you can walk further in either direction if you want more sand to yourself. The overall feel is closer to a residential fishing coastline than a tourist strip, with longtail boats moored just offshore and Laem Klat’s small community going about its day around you.

Weekdays here are genuinely quiet; you can often have long sections of sand to yourself, with little more than a few longtail fishing boats offshore and the sound of waves and rustling casuarina needles. Weekends bring more local families for picnics and swimming, though it never approaches the crowds of Trat’s more developed beaches.

Insider Tip: Sunset is the best time to visit — the beach faces a direction that catches good evening light, and the day-trippers who do come tend to leave by late afternoon.

December through March brings the calmest seas and least rain, though the beach is swimmable most of the year. It’s about a 20-minute drive from Trat town along coastal roads; there’s no direct public bus, so a rental car or motorbike taxi is the practical way in. The Irrawaddy Dolphin Point at Laem Klat sits in the same subdistrict, and Hat Lan Sai is a short drive further along the coast if you want to see more of this stretch of Trat.