Ranong General Information

Ranong province

Ranong is the first southern province on the western coast, located 568 kilometres from Bangkok. It is known for the long rainy period, which lasts for 8 months each year. Ranong occupies an area of 3,298 square kilometres and is bordered by Myanmar and the Indian Ocean to the west. Within its compact area, Ranong contains various natural attractions and is blessed with hot springs and unspoiled mangrove forests.

A mountainous and heavily forested province, Ranong is best known as a fishing and trading port.  It was settled by the Hokkian Chinese, and their strong influence is evident in the town.  Ranong town is a gateway to Myanmar, with colourful longboats ferrying produce and people across the narrow divide that separates the two countries.  The traffic is even heavier these days since a casino opened at Victoria Point.  The famous hot springs are just outside of town, where an arboretum and various first-class hotels cater to visitors eager to benefit from the medicinal properties of the mineral waters.

The name Ranong is actually the Thai corruption of Rundung a Malay principality under the overlordship of Malay Sultanate of Kedah. Rundung gradually succumbed to repeated Thai invasions in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Khaw Soo Cheang was a Chinese from Zhangzhou-fu, Fukien Province,He was an officer of the "Small Knives Secret Society" which was fighting to restore the Ming Dynasty. His other name was Khaw Teng Hai and his alias was Khaw Soo Cheang [Pls see the Chinese inscription on his tomb in Ranong]. In 1810 he arrived in Penang and stayed in Sungai Tiram which is about 1 kilometer from the present Bayan Lepas International Airport. Khaw Soo Cheang subsequently went into trading and satrted a small sundires shop business under the name of Koe Guan. Subsequently he started trading up the coast of what is today Southern Thailand.

Khaw soo Cheang had 6 sons of which Khaw Sim cheng was the eldest, Khaw Sim Kong the second son, Khaw Sim Chuah the third son, Khaw Sim Khim the 4th son , Khw Sim Teik the fifth son and Khaw Sim Bee the sixth son.

From trading Khaw Soo Cheang diversified into Tin Mining ,shipping, supplying labour etc. In 1844 he was appointed Royal Collector of tin royalties in the Ranong area, and receiving the title and name Luang Ratanasethi. 1854 King Mongkut made him governour of Ranong and elevated him to Phra. At that time Ranong was a subordinate of the Chumphon province, but in 1864 due to the good performance of the governour it was elevated to full provincial status, and he became the title Phraya. Khaw Soo Cheang successfully defended the new province from been invaded and annexed by the Burmese. The family became close to the Royal Thai court and were especailly close to Prince Damrong who stayed at the family home in Penang which was given the name Chakrabong in honour of the thai Royal family.

His eldest son Khaw Sim Cheng died before him and after he died in 1882 his second son Khaw Sim Kong became the new governor . In 1896 Sim Kong became the commissioner of Monthon Chumphon, His fourth son Sim Khim became became governor of Kraburi and his fifth son Sim Teik became governor of Langsuan. Khaw Sim Bee the youngest son [[Ratsadanupradit Mahison Phakdi became governor of Trang, and in 1900 commissioner of Monthon Phuket.

The Khaw family founded Eastern shipping company. Eastern Trading company, Tongkah Harbour and an insurance company known as Khean Guan.

In his will dated 1872 Khaw Soo Cheang divide his estate into 16 parts of which 15 parts was distributed to his descendants. One 16 was used to set up Koe Guan Kong Lun the family trust which came into existence in 1905. Under the terms of the Trust Deed ,it was stated that 21 years after the death of the last person whose name appeared in the Trust deed the trust would be vested. The last person whose name appeared on the trsut deed who passed away was his great grand son Khaw Bian Ho who died on October 21st 1972. 21 years later on October 21st 1993 the Trust was vested and the Trustees begun the process of winding up Koe Guan Kong Lun.

However after his death in 1913 a commissioner from outside the area was appointed, to stop the traditionally inherited administrative power of the family. The family essentially divided into the Malaysian and Thai partion of the family. In 1932 all Chinese immigrants and their descendants had to adopt a Thai name after the military coup., The family of Khaw Soo Cheang on the Thai side of the border was given the name Naranong or from Ranong by the Thai King and became the Na Ranong family. In Malaysia and else where the family is still known as the Khaw family

Khaw Soo Cheang , Khaw Sim Kong. Khaw Sim Teik and Khaw Sim Bee's tombs are today located in Ranong. The tombs of Khaw Sim Khim and Khaw Sim Chuah are located in Penang. Today the ledest son sim Cheng and the thris sons Sim Chuah's family are extinct.

Distances from Amphoe Muang (Town) to Other Districts :

La-un 43 kilometres
Kapoe 52 kilometres
Kra Buri 57 kilometres
Suk Samran 85 kilometres

Distances from Ranong to Neighbouring Towns :

Chumphon 117 kilometres
Takua Pa 174 kilometres
Surat Thani 219 kilometres
Krabi 296 kilometres
Phuket 300 kilometres