Pattaya, a name that sounds familiar to many, even more so since the eponymous film featuring the famous seaside city. Pattaya certainly has as many people who will love it as others who will hate it. This is an article that I hesitated to publish, because some defenders of the city could see it as yet another "attack". However, I wanted to do it, because it is a destination that is often included in the itinerary packages of travel agencies, concerning a first "classic" visit to Thailand and I therefore wanted to give my point of view on this city whose reputation remains sulphurous.
Pattaya, a city with a sulphurous reputation
Obviously, the goal here is not just to "bash" the city but to argue that I do not particularly recommend this destination in my itineraries , or failing that, to warn people so they know what to expect.
Many of you who have heard of Pattaya will likely associate the city with its infamous Walking Street and, more generally, with an abundance of prostitution. Some will react with disgust at the thought of the pot-bellied old man and his "little" Thai woman on his arm.
I am the first to say that this would be reductive. The history of the city and its development is certainly linked, among other things, to a history of "buttocks", because Pattaya was a rear base for the relaxation of American soldiers during the Vietnam War, when the city did not exist since it was formerly a simple fishing village.
Taking advantage of the opportunity with the arrival of a new potential source of income, tourism, Pattaya has been able, over time, to attract more and more people. The Americans were the first to willingly want to come back to spend some quality time on this quiet beach that had left them with so many memories. The city grew, again and again, then the municipality wanted to move away from this image of a city focused on prostitution and expand its clientele to tourists not necessarily interested in the thing, also becoming a destination for families, especially Thais. This is why today we find many parks and attractions made for families, such as Ripley's Believe It or Not! or Art In Paradise Pattaya to name just these two.
And that's all for the best, you might say. I would also add that the phenomenon of prostitution isn't unique to Pattaya . Patong in Phuket is another example, and even Bangkok, with no fewer than three red-light districts (Nana, Soi Cowboy, and Patpong), is no exception. Moreover, prostitution, as in every country in the world, isn't a Western "invention" but existed long before. Worse still, it was actually legal in Thailand until that pivotal event in Pattaya, which made it officially illegal, in the eyes of the law, even though in practice it was widely "tolerated."
Therefore, this is not a valid argument for rejecting the city. However, another problem, still related to this notion of a seedy city: Pattaya is generally considered more dangerous in terms of crime than the capital, Bangkok.
Not to mention a higher suicide rate than elsewhere (Ah… Romantic disappointments)…
If we take all of this at once, many will dismiss or downplay these facts, saying that it's common in other large cities, that it's marginal, etc. And I wouldn't disagree with them; some people have lived there for years without any problems. But there's bound to be some truth to this reputation; we do hear about it regularly in the news, and not always in a positive light. Pattaya is also known for its infamous jet ski scam , where you end up with scratches that are usually already present on the jet ski because you weren't careful (take photos while walking around it beforehand to avoid this), and then they extort an exorbitant sum to compensate for your supposed mistake (this scam also exists with scooter rentals).
Pattaya attracts a lot of people, including bad people... It is said that there are quite a few criminals wanted in their home countries who come here to take it easy and start a new life by investing in real estate or other things. Pattaya has a lot of mafias.
Despite all this, it is not the primary reason for my rejection of this city.
So, what do we come to do and see in Pattaya?
I won't hide the fact that I went there myself, of course, otherwise I wouldn't talk about something I don't know. The first time was out of simple curiosity, with my future wife. The other times, for work. And for this first time, well, I went there without any preconceptions, and if this first time was brief, I wasn't captivated by its beaches, which are often one of the arguments for those who appreciate Pattaya.
Many will mention Jomtiem, considered quieter, as a beach of choice in Pattaya. Which is true, less brothel, umbrellas, jet skis. More tranquility but it remains a rather blah sand, a background too "polluted" by the buildings that complete the picture and a setting much less idyllic than other beach destinations in Thailand.
The beaches will surely please those who like to move since you will have jet skis for rent, parasailing (which I tested, anyway, at 500 baht per flight) and if you don't like lying on the sand, a host of deckchairs will be at your disposal.
Of course, there are options with more nature in the area such as the small island of Ko Larn , but it is often crowded, or, as a bonus, Ko Phai , further west, but the latter can only be visited for the day, it is not possible to sleep there.
And still on the subject of beaches, closer to Bangkok there's the seaside town of Chonburi, or the large beach of Bang Saen , popular with Thai families who like to go there for a weekend. I know that Chonburi tends to be considered too "boring" compared to Pattaya, because Pattaya is known for its wide selection of restaurants, bars, nightlife, and its vibrant atmosphere.
Among other attractions, there's the famous " Sanctuary of Truth ," a wooden structure in perpetual progress (its official completion date is around 2050…), with an entrance fee of 500 baht. It's one of the most interesting sites because it's truly unique and almost worth a visit to Pattaya just for that (I'll admit, I've never been, but the photos are really tempting!).
As I mentioned above, there are quite a few options if you are with children, in addition to those already mentioned, you can tour the country in miniature at Mini Siam, cuddle at the Teddy Bear Museum or have fun at the Cartoon Network water parks Amazone Waterpark or Ramayana Water Park to name just a few places.
For all audiences, you will find the Nong Nooch tropical botanical garden to relax and see lots of flowers, hit the ball on golf courses, have good hospitals available (you never know) and a quality of life specific to Thailand which continues to attract people.
As a local attraction, I personally tested the view and the zipline descent from the Pattaya Park Tower , located in Jomtien (I often spent more time there than in Pattaya itself).
So, what do you dislike about Pattaya?
Yes, I'm coming from there. Well, that's its St. Tropez side . Now, this might make some people bristle, but personally, I struggle with this seaside town aspect, a bit overrated, where everything is done to please tourists/expats. What's wrong with that, you might say? You could think, "Great, a town that emphasizes the well-being of its residents," and in a way, you're right.
But this sometimes excessive attendance of certain nationalities (admittedly, there is turnover and it is not necessarily always the same), leads to things as aberrant for me as seeing signs, restaurants, store fronts, with translations only in the language in question (I am obviously thinking of Russian, perhaps Chinese is now supplanting it...) to the point of ignoring other nationalities including locals.
So, yes, the fact of meeting a lot of tourists/expats is a fault that is not inherent to Pattaya alone. Following my logic, and it is indeed the case, a part of me does not like Chiang Mai either, which certainly has a setting and a cultural richness that speaks to me more, but remains effectively always very full a good part of the year, of tourists wandering the streets of the old central square, especially in recent years with the many Chinese tourists.
The same goes for some parts of Bangkok, but only some parts (one could mention around Khao San and Sukhumvit). Bangkok is spread out enough that you don't have to come across a foreigner every 5 minutes.
I could, of course, mention Hua Hin, and again Patong in Phuket, both very touristy and with that "standardized for tourists/expats" feel that I don't particularly appreciate. But in one case, it's a city I consider more human-sized (even if Bangkok isn't really, I like to contradict myself!). Overall, Hua Hin has a cooler vibe in my eyes (admittedly, it's relative), more laid-back. As for Phuket, it's not just Patong; the island is 60 km long, so it's big enough to find quieter spots (starting with Phuket Old Town, which remains relatively undiscovered; see my article on Phuket Town ).
This is where the comparison is more difficult concerning Phuket, because it is an island and not a city (apart from Phuket Town therefore). It is therefore not the same thing in terms of scale even if Patong is clearly a kind of Pattaya bis, and that the concentration of French in this area, does not help my judgment at all.
It's not easy to describe my feelings with words, basically it's not a question of "it's not/no longer authentic" because there are too many people etc, because this word, as I've already said, doesn't really make sense to describe a place and Pattaya somewhere, has never been "authentic". Maybe that's also what bothers me. It doesn't really have an interesting history, no architecture that stands out.
What I can also target is that there is when there is a notion of not really feeling in Thailand in Pattaya, because the excessive standardization towards its visitors does not help in any way my way of seeing the city as an "ordinary" Thai city, where one can see a more traditional form of local life, but rather provokes a form of "rejection".
To understand my reasoning a little, you have to see the big difference in atmosphere between cities that are quite similar since they are close and on the same coast, Pattaya vs Chonburi. The latter being more in a mentality that suits me, because without being a fan of it either, its atmosphere remains incomparable to that of Pattaya.
Too quiet for some? Not enough to do? Maybe, but you won't make me believe that apart from the beach and the shops, which are found in these 2 cities, you really vary the activities to the point of justifying the preference for Pattaya... which, in any case, remains easily accessible from Chonburi given its proximity.
Still along the same coast, we could mention towns like Chanthaburi or Trat. Why don't they attract anyone, while Chanthaburi, for example, is full of charm? Granted, they aren't directly on the beach, but the region is coastal, with plenty of beaches just a few kilometers away. So what does Pattaya really have that's better? That's a genuine question. Aside from the more "modern" infrastructure, geared towards tourism? Is it a city that lives life at breakneck speed that attracts you? A city where riding a scooter without a helmet is the height of cool? (even though it's illegal, whether you like it or not)
So Pattaya, to be avoided?
My conclusion will surprise you, because not really in fact. As I said, the primary goal here is to present MY point of view, not to tell you, don't go there! That's not the goal of my remarks either. On the contrary! Go ahead, make up your own mind, maybe its atmosphere will suit you, or maybe you'll understand my point of view better and agree with my vision of things.
In any case, your feedback, feelings or even opinions on the city whether you like it or not, interest me!
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