Thailand's "Eastern Seaboard" actually faces mostly south and west. The "eastern" part comes from the fact that it's east of Bangkok, which like most seats of government, considers itself the center of the universe. Perhaps no region of Thailand has undergone more development than the coastline between Bangkok and the Cambodian border. A small fishing village between Sri Ratcha and Pattaya in Chonburi province has been turned into Thailand's largest deep sea port, with a huge industrial park adjacent.
On down the coast, the old Vietnam-era "R & R" stop of Pattaya has grown into an international beach resort. Further along in Rayong is yet another petrochemical-centered industrial park, as well as the tiny resort island of Samet, while far to the east is the "new Phuket" Koh Chang.