In 1957, a representative of the International Youth Hostels Federation called upon Lady Dusdi Malakul, the President of the Thai Women's Volunteer Association, and asked her to start a youth hostel project in Thailand.
The association reported the matter to the Ministry of Education and had their approval to start a youth hostel project under the auspices of the Women Volunteers Association. Under this project, two youth hostels were opened on January 2, 1960; one at Cholburi and another at Nakorn Nayok. In July of 1960, the Department of Highways allowed the youth hostel project to use two buildings on a hill near the Phra Buddha-Chaya Temple at Saraburi as the 3rd youth hostel in Thailand.On June the 7th, 1961, the Youth Hostels Association of Thailand was registered as an independent body and the Ministry of Education agreed that the Children's Sala in Sanam Suapa be used as its headquarters. The name of the association is now the "Thai Youth Hostels Association".