Ao Nang is a central point of the coastal province of Krabi, Thailand.[1] The town consists chiefly of a main street, which is dominated by restaurants, pubs, shops and other commerce aimed at tourists. The main beach is used by sunbathers to a certain extent, but there are a large number of longtail boats which offer access to other beaches on the mainland and on nearby islands.
On 26 December 2004 Ao Nang was hit by the tsunami and suffered serious damage to most coastal areas. With help from the local and international communities most of the damage was cleared up fairly quickly, and today the only remnant of the tsunami is the Tsunami Memorial dedicated to the thousands of locals and foreigners who lost their lives. The monument is at Noppharat Thara, close to the national park offices.