When you drive along the main ring road through Mae Nam you would never know that just a few hundred metres away sits one of the island's best beaches, a long (5km) tranquil stretch of palm-fringed paradise with stunning views over to Koh Phangan, Samui’s sister island. The area behind the beach is quite developed and home to many of the island's long-term foreign residents. A row of shops and commercial suppliers lines the main road, while Mae Nam village itself sits right at the centre of the beach and remains a sleepy fisherman's enclave with a few low-key restaurants and shops. Some of Samui's larger resorts are also located in this area, so the choices for fine dining are quite extensive, but Chaweng (8km) is still the preferred choice for shopping and nightlife.