SAMUI ISLAND Ko Samui island of Surat Thani Province (or Koh Samui, Thai: เกาะสมุย) is an island off the east coast of the Kra Isthmus in Thailand, close to the mainland Surat Thani town. It is Thailand's third largest island, with an area of 228.7 km² and a population of 47,874 (2006). It is rich with natural resources, white sandy beaches, coral reefs and coconut trees. Slogan Based upon the Surat Thani province, Ko Samui holds the same slogan as the province, i.e. Hundreds of islands, tasty rambutan, huge oyster, fermented eggs and Dharma land History The island was probably first inhabited about 15 centuries ago, settled by fishermen from the Malay Peninsula and Southern China. It appears on Chinese maps dating back to 1687, under the name Pulo Cornam. The name Samui is mysterious in itself. Perhaps it is an extension of the name of one of the native trees, mui, or it is a corruption of the Chinese word Saboey, meaning "safe haven". Until the late 20th century, Samui ...