It was an ordinary day, when on June 29, 1959 four US-army trucks with a few dozen soldiers on board rolled through the sleepy fishing village called Pattaya and stopped near the beach. The frolicking GIs, who had rented a few bamboo huts at the southern end of the four kilometer long bay, were a novelty for the locals, who watched these guys with great curiosity.
That visit foreshadowed Pattaya being named the Rest & Recreation Centre for the American military at the height of the Viet Nam War. Military tourism got into full swing which initiated Pattaya’s tourism boom and changed life in Pattaya forever.
The fishermen of those days are no longer in Pattaya, and bamboo houses on stilts don’t exist anymore. But when the Yanks moved out at the end of the war, other tourists came from all parts of the world and Pattaya’s surging growth really began.
Pattaya, which means “south west wind” was literally overrun by visitors in the mid-1980s, and soon the town became the biggest and best known seaside resort in South East Asia. Hotels, apartment blocks, restaurants and places of entertainment virtually sprang up out of the sand without any control.
For a period of time, an uncontrolled sex industry stained the town‘s image and Pattaya soon became known as “Sin City”
In a partnership between the Thai Government and the private sector, several billion baht was invested to upgrade the town‘s infrastructure and to add many more new family friendly attractions. A huge wastewater treatment plant has brought about cleaner sea water, and many newly built streets have improved the traffic situation.
Pattaya is now an attractive family holiday destination. More and more British, Scandinavian, German and Russian visitors (including married couples) come every year during the European winter to this seaside resort. Pre-covid, the resort was also popular with the Chinese and Indian’s.
Pattaya definitely offers an abundance of shopping venues. In this regard the resort is second only to Bangkok and can certainly compete with other major cities in Asia.
One of BKK’s favorite’s, Terminal 21, landed in Pattaya a few years ago. The modern multi-story shopping mall is located on a large plaza and themed after airports and international flights. The airport theme starts in the plaza itself where there is a replica of a full size airplane taking off. The theme continues with the entrances which are termed as gates and inside where there are replica luggage trolleys.
Each floor is themed after a particular city and each escalator is like an international flight where you depart from one city and arrive at another. Apart from the decor, you also have replicas of prominent tourist attractions in the city or the country for example, an Eiffel Tower in Paris and the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy.
And coming back to the main purpose of the building – it is a shopping mall. So there are many stores selling luxury goods, a supermarket, food court and a cinema. So you can travel around the world, watch movies, do your shopping and have your dinner in the same day without leaving the air-conditioned luxury of the mall.
To complement the modern shopping and entertainment venues, the city has renovated its beach promenade with colourful paving stones, beautiful stone benches, gleaming chrome railings, as well as with many trees and flower beds. This almost Riviera-like walkway is meant to support Pattaya’s ambitions to become the shopping capital, as well as the exhibition and conference centre of the fast growing Eastern Seaboard. Once again life in Pattaya has become attractive and full of new choices.
At the southern end of town a winding road leads to the top of a hill, Khao Phra Tamnak, where several small roads have been built to make the hill more accessible. On the western flank of this hill there is the popular Rama IX Memorial Park, which is frequented by joggers and other sports minded people. From a temple on the summit one can enjoy a beautiful panoramic view over what was once the quiet fishing village of Pattaya. From Wat Phra Yai, a temple on another hill nearby, a large Buddha in the sitting position looks down on the hustle and bustle of the town. On the way there one passes a garden setting full of sculptures, where Kuan Yin, the Goddess of mercy, and the philosopher Lao-tse can be seen.
A few of the most popular attractions worth visiting while in Pattaya include the Sanctuary of Truth, which is the largest wooden castle in the world. This great architecture was born from the dreams and intentions of a Thai gentleman, Khun Lek, who wanted his artwork to be a cultural heritage for Thailand and the world by conveying the philosophy and truth of life through wood carving.
Built in 1981, it sits on an area of 80 rai, and is surrounded by a seaside city wall. The structure is all hardwood, including red wood, Teng wood, golden teak, Takhian wood and ethnic trees. No metal nails were used in the construction.
Another popular attraction is the Ramayana Water Park, which bills itself as the biggest and best waterpark in all of Thailand. The water rides, some totally unique, vary from screams to gentle swings, 2 dedicated kids zones, a record big double wave pool, and an amazing ride in the lazy river with mystical caves, geysers and bubbles.
Art in paradise is the first 3D art museum in Thailand with locations in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Pattaya. If you love posting selfies and pictures to social media, you’ll love this place. They have their own Art in Paradise AR Application. Simply point your device at the paintings in Art in Paradise and the application will automatically add AR effects to your photos and videos.
About 3 km’s south of Pattaya you’ll find the beach town of Jomtien with its 6 km straight stretch of sand. Jomtien is much quieter compared to its rowdy neighbour to the north. One of its biggest attractions is the pleasure of a leisurely day on the sandy shore, splashing in the clean and uncluttered sea and enjoying the cheap seafood snacks available from wandering vendors. Jomtien is also home to Ocean Marina, one of just a few world class marina’s in Thailand.
Easily accessible by hiring a boat or taking the ferry from Pattaya Bay, is the island of Koh Larn. Sometimes called Coral Island or Koh Lan, the island is located about 7km off the coast of Pattaya Beach and is about 4km long and 2km wide. There are six main beaches and a few smaller beaches to enjoy. All the beaches are white sand with clear azure waters and all have full facilities such as bathrooms and showers. You’ll also find that most beaches have restaurants that serve up delicious fresh catch of the day seafood or just about any other dish you may desire.
There are plenty of places to stay overnight, ranging from budget rooms to luxury accommodations. While room rates are a little higher on the island than in Pattaya or Jomtien, it is well worth the experience of spending at least one night on the island. Some people end up liking Koh Larn so much they decide to stay for extended periods, like months. If you are planning a stay, calling ahead for reservations, especially during peak season, holidays and weekends is recommended.
Other island’s you might want to visit include Koh Pai, Koh Huchang, Koh Manwichai or Koh Klungbadan. Even more beautiful beaches can be found along the coastline in Baan Ampur, Bangsarae or Baan Chang.
Pattaya has something for everybody, and judging by the development going on, once we move past Covid, this “fishing village” is definitely looking forward to a continued golden future.