People, Education & Language

Phetchaburi’s total population in 1998 was 456,527 with a density of just 73 persons / sq km. Most of the people are concentrated in Muang, Tha Yang and Cha-am districts.

The people of Phetchaburi have preserved much of their unique cultural heritage and traditions. At Ban Nong Ya Plong, a village in Khao Yoi district, a local community of ‘Thai Dam’ or ‘Lao Song’ still wears traditional costume, performs original customs and a traditional dance called ‘ram kan’ (dancing to a reed instrument). During the Songkran festival (the Thai new year), Lao Song from all over the country gather together at Phetchaburi.

In the past, Phetchaburi was notorious for its godfathers and gunmen. Parallels are often drawn between the mafia of the province and ‘wua larn’, a local folk play involving racing of oxen.

Because most of the people of Phetchaburi are ethnic Thais, the only language used is a local dialect of Thai, with minority groups from the border areas and immigrants speaking Burmese.

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