History of Koh Samui
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 was an isolated self-sufficient community, having little connection with the mainland of Thailand. The island was even without roads until the early 1970s, and the 15km journey from one side of the island to the other involved a whole-day trek through the mountainous jungles.
Today, Samui has a population of about fifty-five thousand, and thrives on a successful tourist industry. It even has its own international airport, with daily flights to Bangkok and other major airports in Southeast Asia.
While the island presents an unspoiled image to the public perception, economic growth has brought not only prosperity and changes to the island's environment and culture, but is also a source of conflict between local residents and migrants from other parts of Thailand and other countries.