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.

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  • South Korean drug smuggler arrested in Pattaya condo raid

    South Korean drug smuggler arrested in Pattaya condo raid

    The arrest of 51 year old Lee Chun Sam, a South Korean national, was announced by Pattaya Police Major General Chairit Anurit yesterday, February 12, at 6pm. He was wanted under an Interpol red notice for involvement in transnational drug smuggling. His arrest occurred at a luxury condominium on the eighth floor of Soi Thepprasit 9 in Jomtien. The Chon…

  • Get ready to go ‘Joe Cool’ as Snoopy soars over Pattaya’s kite fest 2025

    Get ready to go ‘Joe Cool’ as Snoopy soars over Pattaya’s kite fest 2025

    Get ready for a sky full of wonder as the Pattaya International Kite on the Beach 2025 prepares to dazzle tourists and residents alike with a Snoopy theme. The kite extravaganza, proudly brought to you by Central Pattaya in partnership with the City of Pattaya, the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Pattaya Office, the Pattaya Business & Tourism Association, the Marine…

  • Thai woman fatally struck crossing dim road in Pattaya

    Thai woman fatally struck crossing dim road in Pattaya

    A local Thai woman lost her life after being struck by a car on a perilously dim road beneath a darkened overpass in Bang Lamung. At 10.06pm, Tuesday, February 11, the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Rescue Centre received a chilling report of a fatal collision on the notorious stretch of Highway 331, heading towards Sattahip, in Chon Buri province’s Bang Lamung…

  • Russian tourist dies after Pattaya boat slide incident

    Russian tourist dies after Pattaya boat slide incident

    A 33 year old Russian tourist died following a medical emergency after using a tour boat slide near Koh Sak in Pattaya Bay on February 11 at 5pm. The Pattaya Marine Rescue Division publicly identified the tourist. The Marine Disaster Division of Pattaya City and the Sawang Boriboon Foundation Rescue Unit dispatched a speedboat to retrieve Andrew Anganov, who had…

  • Pattaya tourists fuming as Makha Bucha shuts down nightlife

    Pattaya tourists fuming as Makha Bucha shuts down nightlife

    Pattaya’s famous nightlife is set to go silent as officials enforce a strict alcohol ban in observance of Makha Bucha Day, leaving frustrated tourists scrambling for alternative plans. From 12.01am to 11.59pm tomorrow, February 12, all businesses—including shops, pubs, and bars—are strictly prohibited from selling alcohol. The Pattaya Police Department issued a stern warning, urging establishments to comply or risk…

  • Firefighters contain forest fire threat near Pattaya homes

    Firefighters contain forest fire threat near Pattaya homes

    A forest fire near Pattaya was successfully contained by firefighters after it posed a threat to nearby homes. At 3.06pm on Sunday, February 9, the Nong Prue Municipality’s Disaster Prevention and Mitigation team, in conjunction with the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Rescue Centre, was alerted to a forest fire at Soi Boon Samphan 14, near Pattaya. Emergency services responded promptly to…

  • Construction barrier collision in Pattaya leaves motorcyclist dead

    Construction barrier collision in Pattaya leaves motorcyclist dead

    A 29 year old Thai man tragically lost his life after his motorcycle collided with a construction barrier in Pattaya. The Sawang Boriboon Rescue Centre was alerted to the accident on Pattaya Third Road at 1.36am on Sunday, February 9. Upon receiving the report, they coordinated with Pattaya police and dispatched rescue volunteers. Reporters from The Pattaya News also arrived…

  • Sleeping Indian tourists in viral Pattaya video were migrants

    Sleeping Indian tourists in viral Pattaya video were migrants

    A viral video that took social media by storm last week, allegedly showing Indian tourists snoozing on Pattaya Beach, has been debunked. The supposed tourists were, in fact, migrants. The controversial video, widely shared online, drew heavy criticism after it appeared to capture over 100 Indian tourists taking over a tract of Pattaya Beach. They were filmed setting up impromptu…

  • Monk’s stroll with women on Jomtien Beach raises concerns

    Monk’s stroll with women on Jomtien Beach raises concerns

    A monk was photographed walking with a woman on Jomtien Beach, sparking debate over the appropriateness of the situation. The photos, taken by a local yesterday, February 9, show the pair enjoying the sunset, raising questions about the monk’s authenticity. The monk, estimated to be between 35 and 45 years old, was accompanied by three women 35 to 60 years…

  • Pattaya’s paradise stinks as tourists take toilet troubles seaside

    Pattaya’s paradise stinks as tourists take toilet troubles seaside

    Pattaya’s picturesque seaside spot, typically teeming with tourists seeking seaside breezes and a tipple, now smells more like a toilet after tourists resorted to pooping and peeing in public. Reports have surfaced of visitors, both Thai and foreign, resorting to relieving themselves, quite literally, in places more suited to parking than plumbing. Pattaya News reported today, February 10, on an…

  • Russian tourist vows Pattaya return after cops catch thief

    Russian tourist vows Pattaya return after cops catch thief

    Na Jomtien officers have taken a bow after collaring a 40 year old Thai man accused of swiping a Russian tourist‘s valuables right from under his nose. The brazen beachside bandit targeted 45 year old Mr A, a Russian visitor enjoying a refreshing dip near a resort in the sunny enclave of Na Jomtien, Sattahip, Chon Buri. Mr A had…

  • Lion’s night roars in Chon Buri spark panic and police response

    Lion’s night roars in Chon Buri spark panic and police response

    Residents and tourists in Chon Buri’s Phra Tamnak Soi were left anxious after a two year old male lion roared throughout the night, causing widespread concern. The noise prompted locals to contact the Pattaya City Police Station following disturbances reported by those living in Mueang Pattaya district’s Nong Prue subdistrict, particularly between Sois 5 and 6, Phra Tamnak, across from…

  • Russian beauty queen faces grim future in notorious Thai prison

    Russian beauty queen faces grim future in notorious Thai prison

    A former child beauty queen faces being locked up in a squalid Thai detention centre after allegedly overstaying her visa by just 10 days. Alexandra Tikhomirova, crowned Little Miss Russia in 2013, is currently behind bars in Pattaya, a popular tourist hotspot, where she is reportedly held in dire conditions. According to Russian media, the 23 year old is imprisoned…

  • Irishman arrested for cannabis shop break-in in Pattaya

    Irishman arrested for cannabis shop break-in in Pattaya

    Tourist Police and Pattaya Police have apprehended an Irishman following a break-in at a cannabis shop in Pattaya. The 23 year old man allegedly broke a window to access marijuana products, which he consumed until he passed out. The incident, which took place on February 2, was captured on CCTV. Following a complaint lodged at Pattaya City Police Station, an…

  • High-speed horror: American killed in fiery Pattaya crash

    High-speed horror: American killed in fiery Pattaya crash

    A late-night joyride ended in tragedy when an American motorcyclist lost control and crashed into trees on Thappraya Road, Pattaya, dying instantly. The Sawang Boriboon Rescue Centre received reports yesterday, February 6, at 4.36am of a fatal motorcycle accident near Soi Thappraya 9. Emergency responders arrived to find 53 year old Leo Williams, an American national, lying lifeless in a…

  • Icelandic man gets his face busted after falling into Pattaya drain

    Icelandic man gets his face busted after falling into Pattaya drain

    An Icelandic tourist suffered painful facial injuries after tumbling into an uncovered drainage hole on a hazardous Pattaya footpath—yet another grim reminder of the city’s crumbling infrastructure. The accident occurred around 1am yesterday, February 6 along Pattaya Second Road. The tourist, left bleeding from facial wounds, was treated at the scene by Sawang Boriboon Rescue Foundation before being rushed to…

  • Sin city: Brit beaten by furious Thai bar girls over unpaid bill (video)

    Sin city: Brit beaten by furious Thai bar girls over unpaid bill (video)

    A British tourist was beaten with high heels and thrown out of a Thai bar by furious female workers after refusing to settle his tab. The middle-aged holidaymaker and his friend were treating a group of young women to drinks at a bar in Pattaya, Thailand’s infamous nightlife hub, when the night took a violent turn. The man allegedly refused…

  • Shore thing: Viral video shows Indian tourists sleeping on Pattaya Beach

    Shore thing: Viral video shows Indian tourists sleeping on Pattaya Beach

    A video circulating on Instagram showing what appears to be a mass takeover of Pattaya Beach by Indian tourists has set social media on fire. Shared with the not-so-subtle caption “Indian Tourists in Pattaya,” the clip reveals around 100 holidaymakers lounging on mats. Some are seen knocking back beers while surrounded by unsightly piles of litter. The footage has ignited…

  • South Korean arrested for illegal tour guide work in Chon Buri

    South Korean arrested for illegal tour guide work in Chon Buri

    A South Korean man’s dream job in Thailand turned into a nightmare when he was arrested in Chon Buri for allegedly working illegally as a tour guide while leading a group of tourists on a luxury boat tour. Tourist Police swooped yesterday, February 5, catching the man in the act as he escorted a group of South Korean tourists aboard…

  • Fare fight: Bang Lamung bikers protest against ride-hailing rivals

    Fare fight: Bang Lamung bikers protest against ride-hailing rivals

    Bang Lamung’s motorcycle taxi drivers are revving up their engines in protest, calling on government departments to clamp down on ride-hailing services they say are taking the wind out of their financial sails. On Tuesday, February 4, representatives from the Public Motorcycle Taxi Association for Tourism met with district chief Patcharapatch Sritanyanont, demanding swift action to curb these so-called interlopers.…

  • Pattaya shooting leads to surrender of two suspects

    Pattaya shooting leads to surrender of two suspects

    A violent incident in Pattaya involving a shooting has led to the surrender of two people, including the father of a 14 year old girl involved in a dispute with another teenager. The shooting resulted in injuries to three people. Two men, 36 year old Kittisak and 30 year old Ekachai, turned themselves in to the Pattaya police on Tuesday,…

  • Escaped Thai inmate from Nonthaburi caught on Chon Buri beach

    Escaped Thai inmate from Nonthaburi caught on Chon Buri beach

    Police arrested an inmate who had escaped from Nonthaburi Provincial Prison on February 2 while enjoying the beach in Chon Buri. The 32 year old prisoner, Wasan Obnual, seized an opportunity while working for the Department of Corrections at the Corrections Museum in Nonthaburi to escape. He immediately took a taxi back home, which was close to both the museum…

  • Jealous Thai man smashes ex-wife’s car, writes vulgarities on it

    Jealous Thai man smashes ex-wife’s car, writes vulgarities on it

    A Thai man in Pattaya apologised to his ex-wife after smashing her car and writing vulgar words on the vehicle yesterday, February 4. The 24 year old Thai woman, Thananya Khunwiset, filed a complaint against her ex-husband, 26 year old Thanadon, for causing damage to her car, a dark blue Honda Brio with the registration plate ขน 1747 Chon Buri.…

  • Police raid Pattaya nightclubs in surprise crackdown

    Police raid Pattaya nightclubs in surprise crackdown

    Pattaya’s nightlife came under the spotlight as Tourist Police and Chon Buri Immigration officers launched surprise raids on entertainment venues on February 3. The operation, conducted under the 5 Safe policy, aimed to crack down on drugs, weapons, human trafficking, and illegal foreign workers while ensuring overall safety. Police targeted popular nightlife hotspots along Pattaya Third Road, where foreign tourists…

  • Parking puzzle: Pattaya evens out the odds to curb traffic congestion

    Parking puzzle: Pattaya evens out the odds to curb traffic congestion

    In a bid to tackle the notorious traffic congestion in South Pattaya, city officials have rolled out a strict enforcement of odd-even parking rules on the bustling South Pattaya Road. Starting Monday, February 3, the initiative aims to streamline traffic flow and bring order to the chaotic streets. On the first day of enforcement, Pattaya Mayor Poramase Ngampichet took to…

  • Israeli fugitive wanted for stabbing caught hiding in Pattaya

    Israeli fugitive wanted for stabbing caught hiding in Pattaya

    A 27 year old Israeli fugitive was arrested in Pattaya after Thai immigration police discovered he was wanted for a violent assault in Tel Aviv and had overstayed his visa. The suspect, identified only as T, was apprehended yesterday, February 3 after police found he was listed on an Interpol Red Notice for a gruesome attack in Israel. Officers arrested…

  • British tourist’s bribery tale jailed as ‘untrue’ by Pattaya police chief

    British tourist’s bribery tale jailed as ‘untrue’ by Pattaya police chief

    A British tourist’s claims of bribing his way out of a Pattaya jail have been denounced as “largely untrue” by a Pattaya police chief. However, in a bid for transparency, the Pattaya police chief promises a thorough review of the evidence. Police Colonel Nawin Theerawit, head of the Pattaya Police Station in Chon Buri province, issued a strong denial yesterday,…

  • Drunken tourist passes out in front of Pattaya Police Station

    Drunken tourist passes out in front of Pattaya Police Station

    A heavily intoxicated foreign man sparked alarm after collapsing unconscious outside Pattaya Police Station, leaving bystanders and officers scrambling to assist. The unnamed tourist was found lying in the parking area on Sunday night, February 2, blocking visitors from retrieving their vehicles. Police and rescue workers examined him and found no signs of assault, determining that his extreme alcohol consumption…

  • Family arrested after illegal land occupation in Sattahip

    Family arrested after illegal land occupation in Sattahip

    Royal Thai Police (RTP) and naval forces in Sattahip apprehended a family for defying a court order by illegally occupying private land. The family resisted arrest, with one member attempting to flee on horseback, but eventually surrendered after negotiations yesterday, February 3 at 2.10pm. Police Colonel Thanaphon Klinkesaorn, along with Deputy Police Colonel Suwichak Ruennuamdee and an investigative team, arrived…

  • Pattaya Mayor rushes to aid injured tourist after road crash

    Pattaya Mayor rushes to aid injured tourist after road crash

    Pattaya Mayor Poramet Ngampichet turned into a first responder after a tourist was injured in a motorcycle accident on South Pattaya Road yesterday, February 3. The dramatic moment unfolded as the mayor and local council members were conducting a field visit to oversee new parking regulations. Their routine inspection quickly turned into an emergency response when they came across the…