Pattaya News
Pattaya news, politics, business, tourism, and nightlife—stay updated with breaking stories, events, and expat updates from Thailand’s coastal entertainment hub. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted Pattaya news source.
-
Sponsored Do foreigners get free healthcare in Thailand?
Thailand’s healthcare system is well-regarded across Southeast Asia, with options ranging from public hospitals to world-class private facilities. But when it comes to foreign residents or tourists, healthcare access isn’t as straightforward. So, do foreigners get free healthcare in Thailand?...
-
Thailand aims for 3.4 trillion baht tourism revenue by 2025
Thailand is setting its sights on a tourism boom with a newly launched strategy aimed at bolstering both international and domestic travel. With the tourism sector generating a substantial 1.892 trillion baht (US$56 billion) in 2023, the government is now targeting an impressive 3.4 trillion baht (US$100 billion) in revenues by 2025, aspiring to welcome over 40 million international visitors.…
-
Finnish man falls to death from 11th floor in Pattaya
A tragic incident unfolded at a condominium in Pattaya, when a 52 year old Finnish national fell from the 11th floor, dying from the impact. The shocking incident, known and insensitively named throughout Thailand as The Pattaya Flying Club, occurred shortly after midnight today, December 10, leaving witnesses and responders stunned. Police Lieutenant Manasak Polyeam of Pattaya City Police Station…
-
Driver hospitalised after pickup hits power pole in Bang Lamung
A driver found himself in hospital care after his pickup truck collided with a power pole in Bang Lamung. The incident occurred at 4.30pm, yesterday, December 9, in Soi Takean Tia, drawing emergency responders to the scene promptly. Upon arrival, they discovered a heavily damaged pickup truck entangled with a power pole, which had also suffered significant damage. The area…
-
Elderly Thai man walks 14 days to find missing son
An elderly Thai man, partially blind and determined to find his long-lost son, embarked on a remarkable 14-day journey on foot from Nakhon Ratchasima to Chon Buri. This poignant tale of parental love and perseverance unfolds as 85 year old Lung Lek Wongjaiya made the arduous trek with a cane, driven by the hope of reuniting with his eldest son,…
-
Man in Pattaya poses as cop, holds girlfriend hostage
A tense confrontation unfolded yesterday in Pattaya as a man impersonating a police officer took his girlfriend hostage with a fake gun after she attempted to end their relationship. The incident involved an intense standoff with real police officers and concluded without serious injuries. Police officers, led by Thananon Athiphansri, Chainanrong Jitsunthorn, and Apinan Boonyarat, responded to the scene with…
-
Naked Russian man rescued by speedboat hero near Pattaya
A naked and exhausted Russian man was dramatically rescued by a heroic speedboat driver headed to Koh Lan off the coast of Pattaya. The incident, which unfolded about six kilometres from Pattaya, grabbed headlines due to the man’s dire predicament. Pracharat Satsuk, a 34 year old speedboat operator, revealed how he stumbled upon the struggling swimmer during his regular route,…
-
Drunk Thai officer’s gunfire terrorises Pattaya, subdued in standoff
A troubling incident unfolded in Pattaya when a police officer, under the influence of alcohol, fired gunshots into the air, causing alarm among locals and necessitating a large police response. Around 2.36pm yesterday, Banglamung police were alerted to gunfire in Soi Wat Boon Samphan, commonly known as Soi Khao Noi. The officer involved was identified as Police Sergeant Sunthorn Hemphan…
-
Pattaya nightclub raid: 54 arrested for drug use
A significant drug bust at a Pattaya nightclub led to the arrest of 54 patrons who tested positive for illegal substances. Early this morning, at precisely 4.06am, Chon Buri’s governor initiated a comprehensive raid on Eleven Pub Pattaya, situated on South Pattaya Road. More than 100 officers, including provincial and district administrative officials as well as local police, participated in…
-
Russian tourist drowns at Pattaya Beach, CPR efforts fail
A tragic incident unfolded early today, December 8, as police in Pattaya City responded to reports of a drowning at Pattaya Beach, close to Soi Beach Road 3. At 1am, a 54 year old Russian tourist was discovered face down in the water. Despite swift efforts by bystanders and police to administer CPR, the woman, who had been submerged for…
-
Pattaya’s ongoing struggle of managing railway road traffic
Traffic congestion along railway roads has become a persistent headache for Pattaya’s commuters, with years of attempted solutions failing to provide meaningful relief. The city’s struggle to manage vehicular flow has highlighted significant infrastructure challenges. Seeking to address the issue, Pattaya City administration took an innovative approach by leasing a 19-kilometre stretch of the road from the State Railway of…
-
Chinese man blamed for fatal crash in Pattaya glued to phone
Police revealed the Chinese man at the centre of a tragic collision that killed one and injured several others was not under the influence of alcohol. Investigation officers, however, believe he was playing with his mobile phone prior to the horror smash. The accused, 39 year old Zhang Yigong, was at the wheel of a luxurious Toyota Alphard van when…
-
Cop with a cause: Chon Buri officer’s goodwill patrol warms hearts
For the past eight years, a Chon Buri police officer has been a silent hero, making waves with his goodwill philanthropic gestures across the Klong Phlu subdistrict. Leading the Nong Yai police patrol, Wallop Tasanathanapong has been spending his own hard-earned cash to bring relief to bedridden patients and struggling families who need a helping hand. Month after month, as…
-
Paws for alarm: Koh Muk walk turns into stray dog attack (video)
A tropical stroll turned into a nightmare for a Thai tourist and her Russian husband on the picturesque shores of Koh Muk as a marauding pack of stray dogs set upon them with terrifying aggression. Angkana and her husband’s idyllic walk turned into a fight for survival when faced with an onslaught from five to six stray hounds. In a valiant…
-
Reckless Chinese man hits the brakes on safety in Pattaya
Carnage unfolded on Thepprasit Road as a reckless Chinese man unleashed mayhem in a high-speed horror crash, leaving several injured and claiming at least one life. The catastrophe struck at 9.06pm, yesterday, December 5, prompting a swift response from authorities led by Police Lieutenant Sanan Kotanon and emergency crews from Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Pattaya City. On arrival, officers were greeted…
-
Paradise to Pattaya peril: Canadian’s vacation takes deadly dive
A Canadian tourist’s dream getaway to a plush resort near Jomtien Beach in Pattaya turned into a nightmare after a fatal fall. The Canadian, Gilbert Giroud, met his tragic end when he slipped and suffered fatal injuries, leaving holiday heaven in heartbreak. In a regular afternoon turning to chaos, patrolling police got the alarming call at 3.34pm, yesterday, December 5.…
-
Australian man arrested after chaotic naked rampage in Pattaya
In a striking incident near Pattaya, an Australian man caused chaos in a luxury village by running unclothed, setting his residence ablaze, and damaging vehicles. The event unfolded yesterday, December 4, at 8.30am when Deputy Superintendent of Investigation, Nattakon Chanlod, received a report concerning a foreign individual behaving erratically in Nongprue. The man, identified as 38 year old Andrew, was…
-
Foreign man safely rescued after suicide attempt in Pattaya condo
Mueang Pattaya Police Station successfully rescued a foreign man from joining the Pattaya Flying Club after a suicide attempt at a beachfront condominium on Thappaya Road in Pattaya today, December 4. Police rushed to the 22-storey condominium following reports of a suicide attempt. The man, estimated to be between 70 and 75 years old, was spotted on the 21st floor,…
-
Tragic Pattaya incident: Daughter finds mother drowned in basin
A tragic incident unfolded yesterday when an 18 year old girl returned home from work to find her mother dead, face down in a washing basin. Despite immediate efforts to save her, the mother could not be revived, leaving the family heartbroken. The distressing event occurred late at night when the Sawang Boriboon Rescue Radio Centre in Pattaya was informed…
-
Homeless Pattaya woman’s rings locked on swollen fingers
A homeless woman in Thailand found herself in excruciating pain after rings became locked on her swollen fingers, leading to infected wounds. The ordeal, which had rendered her unable to communicate effectively, unfolded in Pattaya on Sunday, December 1. The woman, identified only as 45 year old A, showed up at the Pattaya Police Station desperately seeking assistance. Officers quickly…
-
Daring theft: Italian tourist nabs cash from Pattaya hotel desk
A brazen early-morning theft has left a Pattaya hotel owner furious after an Italian guest was caught on CCTV swiping 4,000 baht from the front desk before making a hasty exit. The suspect, identified as Andrea (surname withheld), checked into the small hotel on Soi Bua Khao on Friday, November 29 and checked out under suspicious circumstances early on Sunday…
-
Pattaya horror: Young Thai woman killed in early morning crash
In the early hours of this morning, a devastating collision in Pattaya claimed the life of a young Thai woman, leaving the community reeling in shock. At precisely 3.20am, today, December 12, Bang Lamung police received a distress call alerting them to a catastrophic crash on the railway road within Soi Nongprue. Responding with urgency, the police, along with the…
-
Thai truck driver walks away unscathed from Sukumvit smash
A Thai truck driver miraculously emerged unscathed from a jaw-dropping accident on Sukhumvit Road in Sattahip, in a scene straight out of a disaster film. The jaw-dropping incident occurred yesterday, December 1, at the stroke of 10.25am, prompting a swift response from the intrepid team at the Sawang Rojonthammasathit Foundation. Chaos descended as rescue squads raced to the scene, discovering…
-
Bamboo Luxury Villas: Transforming Pattaya’s real estate with visionary design
Pattaya’s property market is set for a major shake-up with the development of Bamboo Luxury Villas, a standout project masterminded by renowned architect Mario Kleff. The exclusive enclave will feature 10 two-storey villas, spread across nearly five rai of land, blending sustainable architecture with a distinct Japanese-inspired aesthetic. Each villa offers an expansive 400 square metres of living space, meticulously…
-
Pattaya paid sexual encounter turns to knife attack
A tense altercation in Pattaya led to a violent encounter yesterday, November 30, when a dispute over time management in a paid sexual encounter resulted in an attempted knife attack. The victim, 36 year old Sarinya sustained minor injuries after a knife was used against her neck. The incident occurred at an unnamed apartment complex in Jomtien, Nong Prue, Bang Lamung,…
-
Belgian motorcyclist dies in Pattaya crash near village gate
A Belgian national tragically died following a motorcycle collision in Pattaya. Nong Prue police were alerted to an accident involving a motorcycle at the entrance gate of a village on Khao Talo Road yesterday, November 29 at approximately 5.36am. Police, along with rescue personnel and local reporters, promptly arrived at the scene. Upon arrival, a yellow-black Yamaha Aerox motorcycle was…
-
‘Wife for hire’: Inside Thailand’s shocking rental marriage trend
Thailand’s notorious “rental wife” trend is turning heads and sparking heated debates. Dubbed the “black pearl” phenomenon, this controversial practice is thriving in Pattaya’s red-light districts, offering foreign tourists a temporary taste of companionship for a fee. The practice, often called “temporary marriage,” sees women from impoverished rural areas become companions to tourists, offering services ranging from casual companionship to…
-
Pattaya police smash cross-border Chinese loan shark syndicate
In a dramatic crackdown, Pattaya police arrested 17 Chinese nationals accused of running a massive cross-border loan shark operation from luxury villas in South Pattaya’s Pratumnak Hill area. The raid, executed on Wednesday, November 27, uncovered a sophisticated illegal network allegedly serving thousands of clients in China. Acting on a warrant issued by the Pattaya Provincial Court, officers stormed two…
-
Illegal labour scandal: Over 50 foreign workers nabbed in Pattaya
Pattaya’s bustling markets and entertainment zones were rocked by a dramatic crackdown on illegal foreign workers as Chon Buri provincial police launched a large-scale operation yesterday, November 28. The raid, involving over 100 officers, targeted individuals working unlawfully in jobs reserved for Thai nationals. The sweep uncovered a significant number of violations at the Rattanakorn Thepprasit Market. Many foreign workers…
-
Thai mother ignores after new husband sexually assaults daughter
A Thai father is taking legal action against his ex-wife’s new husband after the man sexually assaulted his 16 year old daughter while the mother allegedly turned a blind eye for financial reasons. The 16 year old girl from Pattaya turned to Channel 7 after her biological mother refused to help and did not believe her account of the sexual assault…
-
Pattaya City plans intersection expansion to ease traffic congestion
Pattaya City is taking action to alleviate traffic congestion at the Sawang Fah–Naklua intersection. City Council President Banlue Kulawanit, accompanied by council members and officials, recently inspected the site following numerous complaints from locals. These complaints highlighted the difficulties large buses face when navigating the narrow corners, causing significant traffic jams during peak hours. Residents have been vocal about the…
Don't forget to check out some other things to do in Thailand - get help starting a business or finding a job in Thailand, buy Thailand property, rent a yacht or book a medical procedure worldwide.