Laem Son On

Laem Son On is a pine-shaded point at the northwestern end of Songkhla’s Samila Beach, right where the Gulf of Thailand meets Songkhla Lake — a spot locals call the “Garden of Two Seas.” It’s a park and viewpoint rather than a swimming beach: free to enter, open roughly 06:00-18:00, and built around a naval monument rather than a stretch of sand.

At the tip stands a 1987 monument to Admiral Prince Chumphon Khet Udomsak, considered the father of the modern Royal Thai Navy and honoured by local fishing crews as “Sadet Tia” — boats still stop here so crews can pay respects before heading out to sea. Nearby, the head of a large water-spouting naga statue rises from the point; the same sculpture continues in sections along the coast road, with its body at Laem Samila and its tail further on toward Chalatat Beach. Rows of casuarina pine give the name — “son on” means young pine — and shade the walkway along the point.

From the tip, the view opens over Ko Nu and Ko Maew (“Rat Island” and “Cat Island”), the two small islets that have symbolised Songkhla for generations, with a clear run at sunset over the Gulf. On the inland side, the same viewpoint looks across Songkhla Lake — the reason for the “two seas” name. Food stalls set up under the pine trees selling snacks and drinks, and the pace is local rather than touristy; this is a spot Songkhla residents use for an evening walk more than a beach day.

Insider Tip: Come for sunset rather than midday. The naga statue and monument photograph best in late-afternoon light, and the pine shade makes the walk out to the point far more comfortable than the open sand further along at Samila.

It sits within walking distance of Laem Samila and the golden mermaid statue, and pairs naturally with an evening loop along Songkhla’s old town before or after.