Tha Mai district
# Tha Mai district

Tha Mai (Thai: ท่าใหม่, pronounced) is a district (amphoe) of Chanthaburi province, eastern Thailand.

## History

The district was created in 1900, then named Khamong (โขมง). Four years later the district office was moved to the area of Wat Khao Phloi Waen, and the district name was changed accordingly to Phloi Waen (พลอยแหวน). When in 1917 the office was moved to Tambon Tha Mai, the district name was changed to be same as the central tambon.

## Geography

Neighboring districts are (from the west clockwise) Na Yai Am, Kaeng Hang Maeo, Khao Khitchakut, Mueang Chanthaburi and Laem Sing of Chanthaburi Province. To the southwest is the Gulf of Thailand.

## Administration

The district is divided into 14 sub-districts (tambons), which are further subdivided into 124 villages (mubans). There are three sub-district municipalities (thesaban tambons): Tha Mai covers tambons Tha Mai and Yai Ra, Noen Sung covers parts of tambon Khao Wua and Khao Baisi, and Nong Khla covers parts of Thung Bencha. There are a further 12 tambon administrative organizations (TAO).

| No. | Name | Thai | Villages | Pop. |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 01. | Tha Mai | ท่าใหม่ | - | 07,581 |
| 02. | Yai Ra | ยายร้า | - | 01,616 |
| 03. | Si Phaya | สีพยา | 11 | 01,613 |
| 04. | Bo Phu | บ่อพุ | 08 | 01,322 |
| 05. | Phloi Waen | พลอยแหวน | 07 | 01,640 |
| 06. | Khao Wua | เขาวัว | 09 | 03,576 |
| 07. | Khao Baisi | เขาบายศรี | 12 | 07,642 |
| 08. | Song Phi Nong | สองพี่น้อง | 17 | 07,400 |
| 09. | Thung Bencha | ทุ่งเบญจา | 14 | 11,669 |
| 11. | Ramphan | รำพัน | 10 | 03,446 |
| 12. | Khamong | โขมง | 06 | 03,168 |
| 13. | Takat Ngao | ตะกาดเง้า | 10 | 07,566 |
| 14. | Khlong Khut | คลองขุด | 10 | 04,750 |
| 24. | Khao Kaeo | เขาแก้ว | 10 | 06,414 |

Missing numbers belong to tambons which now form districts Kaeng Hang Maeo and Na Yai Am.

## In media

Tha Mai is regarded as a small district that is quiet and people have a traditional way of life. It is therefore used as a filming location and as the backdrop for Where We Belong, a drama film of popular girlgroup teen idol BNK48. The film released in mid-2019 directed and screenplay by Kongdej Jaturanrasamee.

