Pattaya developed into a tourist destination following its use as a rest and recreation centre for American soldiers from Vietnam. Today, many of those veterans still return to the city to reminisce about their times there. Whilst purporting to be a family resort, Pattaya relies heavily on its party reputation.
Walk at night through the streets behind the beach and you’ll see just how people like to party. During the day you can idle away the hours on the attractive but busy beach or enjoy a round at one of the 21 golf courses within an hour of the centre.
Pattaya Mini Guide
Thailand is one of the world's most popular holiday destinations because once you are there it is affordable, the people are friendly and there is nowhere else comparable in terms of amazing landscapes and cultural activities.
Hiring a car in Pattaya is a great way to see this city in Thailand which is located on the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand. With a rental vehicle you can drive to and from Bangkok in an hour and a half.
Pattaya is the center of the Pattaya-Chonburi Metropolitan Area so it is quite busy but is well worth taking some time to see the region. Pattaya has grown over the years from a small fishing village into a very popular tourist resort and this is why many hotels and shopping malls have been built to cater to the influx of visitors.
But in the past Pattaya has not always been so peaceful and wars have taken place there in the 18th century when the Burmese tried to invade, and in the 1960s during the Vietnam War.
Today more than 100,000 people live in Pattaya and the number swells further when you consider the larger Metropolis around it. There are also many expats living there who have been drawn to the tropical climates and the low cost of living.
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