From turning Kachong Hills into a destination for travellers to bringing Trang’s coffee heritage back into the spotlight, Jirawat “Mick” Viraponsawan intends to create more opportunities for his hometown and its people.

Who would have thought a family cycling trip would lead to something like this? Nine years ago, Jirawat “Mick” Viraponsawan’s family discovered a beautiful property in the Khao Chong hills. They bought the land, initially planning a holiday home for their father’s retirement.

As they learnt more about the site, they uncovered its connection to Phraya Ratsadanupradit, Trang’s governor during the reign of King Rama V, who had experimented with coffee cultivation in the area. That history inspired the family to develop the property into a restaurant and hotel, with wider ambitions to revive the legacy of Khao Chong coffee.

“Maybe because I’m a Trang native, I’m part of a younger generation that wants to see our hometown do better. It feels like we’ve been moving backwards. Now we want to build an ecosystem that encourages people to return and help develop the local economy.”

His work now spans hospitality, coffee and local food, all connected by a belief that Trang’s existing resources can help define its future. We travel with Mick to explore how one person’s passion can contribute to wider change.

A Place with a Story

With a background in architecture, Mick joined his family in developing Kachong Hills. The family’s original plan evolved into a restaurant and, eventually, Kachong Hills Tented Resort Trang, welcoming visitors to experience the property and the surrounding forest.

Courtesy of Kachong Hills Tented Resort Trang

Looklom, the café and bistro at Kachong Hills, draws on Trang’s food culture and local ingredients, from community-grown rice to produce from small-scale fisheries. For Mick, it is a way to share the stories behind the province’s culinary identity.

“Many may have heard the saying that Trang eats nine meals a day. Our food culture reflects the mix of influences that shaped the city, particularly its Chinese heritage and the lives of traders, rubber plantation owners and farmers. I wanted Looklom to become a platform where visitors could experience the value behind Trang’s dining culture, rather than simply come here to eat.”

Mick’s architectural background led him to research the site’s history, uncovering its past as a scouting camp during the reign of King Rama VI. This inspired Kachong Hills’ tent-like glamping design, created to bring guests closer to the forest while keeping the structures light and unobtrusive.

“I want people to experience the forest without disturbing it. The structures should blend into the landscape and be removable rather than permanent, allowing nature to remain the focus.”

A Local Coffee Revival

Coffee is another part of the experience Mick is building at Kachong Hills. He is working to revive Trang’s southern Robusta coffee heritage, introduced to the region more than a century ago by Phraya Ratsadanupradit. Together with local communities and researchers, he is studying the region’s coffee varieties, with plans for a coffee event in December. 

Through the project, he hopes to bring greater attention to Trang’s coffee heritage and create new opportunities for local farmers.

“We want coffee to be part of the experience we offer, helping visitors understand Trang’s roots and giving local people a reason to take pride in their heritage. By bringing the story of southern Robusta back to life, we hope to create new opportunities for farmers, too.”

Trang’s Untapped Potential

Apart from hospitality, Mick believes Trang has much more to offer. With the Trang Health Assembly, he supports efforts to promote local rice varieties, including those known for their lower sugar content and longer-lasting fullness. With a designer’s eye, he has reimagined traditional rice as bread, pasta and even locally brewed beer, with new possibilities for Trang’s local resources. 

“I want people to see value in their hometowns. Sometimes, all it takes is a change in perspective to turn local heritage into something meaningful. We can take our local stories to an international audience while creating new value for the community.”

As President of the Young Entrepreneurs Chamber of Commerce Trang for 2026–2028, Mick also works with young business owners to strengthen local connections and support the province’s economic development.

Creating Change at Home

“As we move into business, we bring together everything that has shaped us. I want to get involved with communities and learn how we can support them through conservation and local development. It’s not just about preserving what we have; the city needs to grow in a way that creates a sustainable future.”

That vision extends beyond Kachong Hills. By working with farmers, food producers and community businesses, Mick wants tourism to create more opportunities across Trang.

Through his roles with the Young Entrepreneurs Chamber of Commerce Trang and Trang Health Assembly, his work strengthens local connections and encourages more young people to take part in shaping the province’s future.

“I see myself as one small part of Trang. I hope what we are doing can inspire others to look at their hometown differently, recognise the value of what they already have and use creativity to create change. If our businesses grow alongside the communities around us, then we can build something that benefits everyone.”