Lifestyle

Ban Laem is a small coastal community located in Tha Sala Subdistrict, Tha Sala District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province. More than 90 percent of the community members are Muslim, and the primary occupation is small-scale fishing, which can be seen through the many small fishing boats moored along the shoreline throughout the village. In addition, some residents engage in local trade and general labor. What makes Ban Laem distinctive is its way of life, which is closely connected to everyday occupations and has evolved into a form of community-based tourism managed by local residents. This approach has created supplementary income and contributed to an improved quality of life within the community.

The community?s way of life is reflected in a range of local occupations and activities, such as the production of traditional curry paste by the Ban Laem curry paste group and the weaving of products made from recycled fishing nets by the Ban Bang Tong net-weaving group. This craft is rare and Ban Laem is considered one of the leading communities in Thailand in terms of production. Visitors can also purchase fresh seafood directly from local vendors and experience small-scale fishing activities up close, including crab and fish netting, through services provided by Ban Laem Homestay.

The lifestyle of the Ban Laem community represents a simple, friendly, and self-sufficient way of living that has been passed down from generation to generation and is increasingly rare in contemporary society. In addition, Ban Laem serves as a learning base for the Kon Huang Thale (Sea Guardians) which is designed around the coastal way of life and marine resources of the community. The curriculum aims to foster environmental awareness, responsible use of marine resources, and a balanced relationship between people and nature through experiential learning. Learners engage in real-life activities such as traditional fishing practices, local product processing, and community-based tourism, learning directly from community members who act as local educators. This process supports intergenerational knowledge transfer and nurtures a sense of stewardship for the sea as the foundation of livelihoods, cultural identity, and sustainable community development.