The irresistable allure of this eastern province, bordering Cambodia and situated some kilometres from bangkok, has a lot to do with its archipelago of 52 mostly uninhabited islands in the Mu Ko Chang national park. The quiet provincial capital of Trat, on the other hand, is well known for its gem markets,both in and near the town, as well as boasting several off-the beaten-path beach resorts nearby.
In the early part of the 20th century, when the illustrious King Rama V was busy modernising the country and outlawing slavery, the Siamese government signed a treaty with France, ceding Trat province to the colonial power, so they would stop occupying the nearby province of Chanthaburi. In order to get the province back, the king gave away areas under Siamese control, like Siem Reap now a part of Cambodia.
This treaty was signed on 23 March, , so locals have to come to think of 23 March as their "Independence day". Most travellers will use Trat as an access point to Ko Chang island, though many will find its quiet and unassuming colonial charm alluring enough to keep them at least overnight. From Ekkamai buses run frequently throughout the day with the evening bus schedule less frequent at , and then an overnight bus at If attempting to go to the border with Cambodia and continue onward to Phnom Penh via one of the regular Cambodian bus services the same day, it is advisable to take one of the overnight buses from Bangkok to Trat.
The overnight buses will arrive at the Trat bus depot very early in the morning and you can then catch the first morning mini-bus from the Trat bus depot to the border post itself. The regular Cambodian buses that leave Koh Kong for Phnom Penh depart Koh Kong around , so in order to catch the bus you do need to be across the border when it first opens in the morning or shortly thereafter.
Taking a mid-day bus from Bangkok does ultimately put you into Koh Kong either too late to cross the border border is not a hour operation the same day or too late to catch the bus onward to Phnom Penh. In these cases you will have to spend the night in a hotel on the Thai or Cambodian side before moving onward.
