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Published on January 6, 2008

The annual Hua Hin vintage car parade and 16-day art festival coaxed 80 classic automobiles into the seashore sunshine this year. With a combined value topping Bt200 million, the cars and their proud owners made a 225-kilometre journey from Bangkok to the southern seaside resort town, where plenty of fun awaited.

The convoy set off on December 14 from the Sofitel Centara Grand Bangkok bound for the Sofitel Centara Grand Resort and Villas Hua Hin, an eight-hour jaunt with stops at several attractions along the way.

At the Seaside Court at Hua Hin Market Village, everyone participated in a ceremony honouring His Majesty the King, then enjoyed a welcoming buffet dinner set up on an 80-metre-long table. The Thai dishes were prepared by chefs from the five-star member hotels of the Hua Hin Hoteliers Club.

The dinner was open to the public, Bt80 buying a great feed with live music and stage shows.

On Day 2 there was a charity fund-raising parade around the city so that residents could see what all the fuss was about. More money was raised for good causes at the gala dinner and auction that followed, which included a competition for best period costume.

The dinner took place by the Sofitel pool, tickets costing Bt2,480.

Among the honorary guests were Tourism Authority of Thailand deputy governor Juthaporn Rerngronasa and Vintage Car Club of Thailand president Kwanchai Paphatphong.

Eighty Hua Hin-based artists spent 80 hours creating a five-by-10-metre portrait of the King to commemorate his 80th birthday.