Choeng Mon, Koh Samui: An Area Guide for Visitors
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Choeng Mon sits on the north-east corner of Koh Samui, a quiet bay between Chaweng and Big Buddha beach. It is a small, low-key stretch of coast: a crescent of sand, a scatter of resorts behind it, and two of the island's best-known temples a few minutes' drive away.
Where Choeng Mon sits on Koh Samui
Choeng Mon is a small bay on Koh Samui's north-east coast, between Chaweng and Big Buddha beach (Bang Rak). Chaweng's long beach lies to the south, and Bang Rak, home of the Big Buddha, to the west.
The area is compact. Big Buddha and Wat Plai Laem are both a short drive away, around five minutes by most estimates, while Bophut's Fisherman's Village and Chaweng are further round the coast and worth planning as their own trip rather than a quick detour.
Choeng Mon Beach
Choeng Mon Beach is a crescent of pale sand with rocks at one end and a small island, Ko Fan Yai, just offshore that you can wade out to at low tide. (It is not the same island as Koh Faan, home of the Big Buddha.) The water is generally calm, and the bay is known as one of the quieter corners of the island.
The beach itself is public, even where resorts line the sand behind it. There's no real town centre here, so most people base a day around the beach, a temple visit, and a meal rather than shopping or nightlife.
The temples next door
Two of the island's best-known temples sit a few minutes away on the Bang Rak side. Wat Phra Yai, the Big Buddha, is a seated golden figure about 12 metres tall on the small islet of Koh Fan, joined to Samui by a causeway. Wat Plai Laem is built around a lake, with a large white statue of Guanyin standing out in the water. Both are free to enter, both ask that shoulders and knees are covered, and they sit close enough together to see in one morning.
For what the statues actually represent, the names visitors most often mix up, and a realistic plan for seeing both before the coach parties arrive, read our guide to Big Buddha and Wat Plai Laem.
Getting around Choeng Mon
Arriving from the airport, Chaweng or Bophut is covered separately in how to get to Choeng Mon. Once you are here, moving around is its own question.
Choeng Mon isn't on Koh Samui's main ring road, so the shared songthaew trucks that run frequently between other beaches are a comparatively rare sight out here. Most visitors instead rely on a taxi arranged through their hotel or villa, or a ride-hailing app such as Grab or Bolt, which covers Choeng Mon and the surrounding tourist areas.
Renting a scooter or small car gives more flexibility, and this stretch of coast is close enough to the sights that it can make sense for a day. Samui's roads have a reputation for steep sections, sudden rain and mixed traffic, though, so it's worth being a confident, experienced rider before choosing that option. Wear a helmet, and check that your licence and travel insurance cover riding a scooter in Thailand.
| Option | Best for | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Songthaew | Shared trucks on the main ring road; rare in Choeng Mon itself | About ฿50-150 per ride elsewhere on the island |
| Taxi | Door to door, arranged through your hotel or villa; agree the fare first | Roughly ฿200-300 for a short trip |
| Grab | Upfront fare in the app; available around Choeng Mon and nearby tourist areas | Fare shown in the app before you book |
| Scooter or car rental | Confident riders wanting flexibility to explore | About ฿200-300 per day for a scooter |
Eating around Choeng Mon
After the beach or a morning at the temples, Khun Yak is a Thai restaurant on Hat Choeng Mon Road, open every day from 11:00 to 22:00 for dine-in and takeaway. You can also order online if you'd rather have food delivered to where you're staying or ready to collect.
If you're working out a rough budget for the trip, our guide to food prices on Koh Samui covers what meals tend to cost around the island, and our food delivery guide explains how ordering to a villa or hotel works. For directions and opening hours, see how to find Khun Yak.