Chanthaburi

The province borders Rayong to the west, Trat to the east, Cambodia to the north-east, and the Gulf of Thailand to the south. Together with Trat, Chanthaburi has historically been Thailand's primary source of rubies and sapphires; after Burma nationalised its deposits in 1963, the Chanthaburi–Trat gem belt became one of the world's main suppliers of coloured gemstones, and the city still hosts a famous weekend gem market. Chanthaburi province accounts for roughly half of Thailand's annual durian output — approximately a quarter of world production — and hosts the annual World Durian Festival each May. The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, formally inaugurated in 1909 in French Gothic style, is the largest Catholic church in Thailand and a landmark of the French colonial presence in the region. Namtok Phlio National Park, with its forested waterfall pools and royal memorial, is the province's most visited natural attraction.