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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  • Chinese man joins ‘Pattaya Flying Club’ in latest tragic fall

    Chinese man joins ‘Pattaya Flying Club’ in latest tragic fall

    A young Chinese man fell from a six-storey building in Pattaya, resulting in his death. The incident occurred at a hotel on Soi Paniadchang, North Pattaya, and raised suspicions of its use as a call centre operation base. Police Lieutenant Anirut Jehrao of Pattaya Police Station received the report yesterday, July 4, and coordinated with Police Colonel Ekkachai Sratongyu and…

  • Bryde’s whales delight tourists at Bang saen Beach, Chon Buri

    Bryde’s whales delight tourists at Bang saen Beach, Chon Buri

    The tranquil shores of Bang Saen Beach in Chon Buri’s Saensuk district experienced a buzz of excitement yesterday when three Bryde’s whales, including a mother and her two calves, were spotted near Wonnapha Beach. Captured on a mobile phone by local fishermen, the video showed the whales playfully pursuing small fish, with seagulls diving for escaping prey adding to the…

  • Foreign worker crackdown: 17 nabbed in Chon Buri street job sting

    Foreign worker crackdown: 17 nabbed in Chon Buri street job sting

    It was a morning of raids, arrests and shocked shopfronts as Thai police swooped in on street vendors and salons suspected of illegally employing foreign workers. The Chon Buri Employment Office, led by Phuwakorn Toshingkhon, teamed up with the Provincial Labour Office under Chalermphon Niamsakul and the Internal Security Operations Command yesterday, July 4, to launch a sweeping inspection operation…

  • Tomorrowland hits Thailand: Chon Buri to host mega festival

    Tomorrowland hits Thailand: Chon Buri to host mega festival

    Thailand is about to crank up the volume. The world’s most famous electronic dance festival, Tomorrowland, is finally coming to Asia — and Chon Buri is set to become the epicentre of a billion-baht party. Thapanee Kiatphaibool, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), confirmed the blockbuster news this week. “Tomorrowland has decided to choose Chonburi Province, Thailand, for…

  • Bar from grace: British man gets 21 years for human trafficking

    Bar from grace: British man gets 21 years for human trafficking

    A British man has been reportedly sentenced to 21 years in prison after being found guilty of human trafficking at a notorious Pattaya bar, Bangkok Criminal Court heard. William Bilton originally from Barrow-in-Furness, was the manager of Flirt bar, a venue in Soi 6 of the seaside resort of Pattaya, when police raided it two years ago and hauled off dozens…

  • Foreign tourists slammed for urinating on Pattaya Beach

    Foreign tourists slammed for urinating on Pattaya Beach

    A Thai man publicly exposed foreign tourists, believed to be Indian nationals, by sharing a video on social media of them urinating on Pattaya Beach in the early hours of yesterday, July 3. The man posted the video to his Facebook account, แอ้นท์ สุรีศรี เรืองสุขสุด, with the caption, “For those who always spoil foreigners. See it for yourself. Free visa!”…

  • Pattaya bar workers fed as tourist drought bites hard

    Pattaya bar workers fed as tourist drought bites hard

    Struggling bar workers in Pattaya were served a dose of comfort this week, in the form of steaming noodles and basic supplies, as tourism dries up and bar owners face mounting bills. Lisa Hamilton, President of the Pattaya Nightlife Business Association, yesterday, July 3, led a charitable drive on Walking Street, handing out dry food, eggs, instant noodles, and over…

  • Masked burglar robs gran as family dog wags tail at thief in Pattaya

    Masked burglar robs gran as family dog wags tail at thief in Pattaya

    A bold daytime robbery has rocked a quiet Thai village, with a knife-wielding masked burglar stealing gold and jewels worth over 130,000 baht while the victim’s pet dog wagged its tail at him. The shocking heist happened between 10am and 11am on July 3 in Huay Yai, Chon Buri, when 67 year old Siriporn Kerdkum popped out for groceries, only…

  • Sinkhole shocker: Road caves in on Jomtien road

    Sinkhole shocker: Road caves in on Jomtien road

    A gaping hole on Phra Tamnak Road near Soi 5 in Pattaya has left locals stunned and worried after a section of road suddenly caved in, creating a dangerous hazard for drivers, pedestrians, and motorcyclists. When the Jomtien municipal enforcement team was alerted to the sinkhole, they sprang into action, promptly inspecting the scene and coordinating with other city departments…

  • Pattaya locals capture man pretending to be drunk after theft

    Pattaya locals capture man pretending to be drunk after theft

    A man suspected of motorcycle theft was apprehended by locals in an alleyway after unsuccessfully attempting to evade capture by pretending to be intoxicated in Pattaya. The incident took place at 7.30am today, July 3, at the intersection of Soi Bongkot and Soi Arunothai. The Pattaya City Police Station was alerted following this event. Police Colonel Anek Srathongyoo, Superintendent of Pattaya…

  • Shafted again! Pattaya elevator traps Burmese man

    Shafted again! Pattaya elevator traps Burmese man

    Another late-night lift drama reignited fears over building safety in Thailand’s seaside city of Pattaya, after a Burmese man was rescued from a stalled elevator during a blackout. Shortly after midnight yesterday, July 2, 19 year old Burmese national Gopal Dhal became trapped inside a lift on the fourth floor of a condominium in Pattaya. A sudden power outage plunged…

  • Man in Sattahip detained after cannabis-induced hallucinations

    Man in Sattahip detained after cannabis-induced hallucinations

    A 36 year old man was apprehended by police in Sattahip district, Chon Buri province, after causing a commotion while experiencing hallucinations from cannabis use. The incident occurred yesterday, July 2 when the man was found climbing over a house fence in Mueang Sattahip subdistrict, appearing intoxicated, dancing, smiling, and speaking to himself around the neighbourhood. Concerned residents alerted the…

  • Drunken Cambodian fisherman drowns after stumble off Thai jetty

    Drunken Cambodian fisherman drowns after stumble off Thai jetty

    A drunken Cambodian fisherman drowned after plunging into the sea from a pier in Thailand while staggering back to his boat after a heavy night on the sauce. The body of 33 year old Rikian was found floating near the end of Jarinth Pier in Sriracha around 10pm on July 1, after he reportedly lost his footing and tumbled into…

  • Dozy driver flips car in late-night pile-up in Pattaya

    Dozy driver flips car in late-night pile-up in Pattaya

    A dozy driver had a rude awakening in Pattaya when he nodded off at the wheel and flipped his car in a three-vehicle smash, miraculously escaping without a scratch. The dramatic late-night crash happened around 11.30pm on July 2 along South Pattaya Road near Moo 10. Police arrived to find a white Toyota Yaris on its roof, blocking traffic and…

  • Pattaya’s tourist shift: Indian influx sparks debate on future

    Pattaya’s tourist shift: Indian influx sparks debate on future

    As July rolls in, Pattaya’s tourism officials are pinning their hopes on the co-payment programme, also known as the Half-Half travel scheme, focusing on the domestic market as international travel slows during the low season. With fewer long-haul visitors expected, Thai families on school break, along with an increasing influx of regional travellers, particularly from the Indian subcontinent, are being…

  • Elderly motorcycle taxi driver attacked in Chon Buri dispute

    Elderly motorcycle taxi driver attacked in Chon Buri dispute

    A 69 year old motorcycle taxi driver was assaulted by a colleague from the same service after being accused of stealing customers. The incident, captured on CCTV, occurred yesterday, July 1, at the Chan Chao motorcycle stand on Bang Saen Beach Road, Saen Suk, Mueang district, Chon Buri province. The footage shows the elderly woman being slapped and kicked to…

  • Splash ‘n’ grab: Floods wreak havoc as Pattaya bikes washed away

    Splash ‘n’ grab: Floods wreak havoc as Pattaya bikes washed away

    Tourists and locals in Pattaya were left soaked and stranded yesterday as a torrential downpour turned Thailand’s Sin City into a sodden swamp, with over 20 bikes washed away in raging floodwaters. The heavens opened for more than two hours last night, July 1, swamping Bang Lamung district and bringing traffic to a watery standstill. Water levels surged to between…

  • Pattaya ready for tourist boom as ‘Half-Half’ travel freebies launch

    Pattaya ready for tourist boom as ‘Half-Half’ travel freebies launch

    Pattaya’s tourism industry is bracing for a vibrant mid-year comeback, thanks to the government’s latest initiative designed to boost domestic travel and spending. The Thai Half-Half Travel programme officially opens for bookings today, July 1, with travel taking off on July 4. Under the scheme, holidaymakers can bag up to 3,000 baht per night in government subsidies to make stays…

  • Welshman fights to come home after brutal attack in Thailand

    Welshman fights to come home after brutal attack in Thailand

    A Welshman left clinging to life after a brutal attack in Thailand has woken from a coma and, in heartbreaking words, told his family: “I just want to go home.” Ashton Jones was viciously assaulted by unknown assailants while out partying in Bangkok. The father of two was found hours later, unconscious and connected to life-support machines, 55 miles from…

  • Motorcyclist dies after crash on Pattaya-Bangkok motorway

    Motorcyclist dies after crash on Pattaya-Bangkok motorway

    A tragic incident occurred when a motorcyclist veered off the road, crashing into a Pattaya-Bangkok motorway bridge railing, resulting in the rider’s fatal fall from a height of 5 metres. Rescue efforts were in vain as the injuries proved too severe. At 3.06am today, July 1, the Sawan Boriboon Pattaya Rescue Centre received reports of a motorcycle accident on the motorway…

  • Man detained in Pattaya for attempted gold shop robbery

    Man detained in Pattaya for attempted gold shop robbery

    A man was arrested in Pattaya after he allegedly planned a gold shop robbery to cover debts from stock trading losses, but he hesitated to act upon his plans, which led to his arrest. Police detained the suspect, identified as 31 year old Phermphol, at 6.36pm yesterday, June 29, at a department store in North Pattaya, Nong Prue, Bang Lamung…

  • Brawl erupts between Swedish national and Thai men in Pattaya

    Brawl erupts between Swedish national and Thai men in Pattaya

    A Swedish man took legal action against a group of Thai men following a gang assault in Soi Bua Khao, Pattaya, yesterday, June 29. One of the Thai men involved defended the group’s actions, claiming the foreigner acted violently. A video of the incident circulated on Thai social media, showing a foreign man pushing a Thai woman to the ground…

  • Australian man smashes window and hurls objects from Pattaya hotel

    Australian man smashes window and hurls objects from Pattaya hotel

    An Australian man caused a scene yesterday, June 29, after he smashed a hotel window on Pattaya Sai Song Road and hurled random objects from the 12th floor onto the street below. Passersby scrambled to avoid falling debris as shards of broken glass, a chair, a sofa, a speaker, and bedding items rained down onto the road, prompting repeated screams…

  • Shower-time heist: Indian man loses 20,000 baht in cash to Pattaya sex worker

    Shower-time heist: Indian man loses 20,000 baht in cash to Pattaya sex worker

    An Indian man sought assistance from Pattaya police officers after a Thai sex worker shattered his expectations and disappeared with 20,000 baht in cash. The 45 year old Indian national, Sudip, filed a complaint at Mueang Pattaya Police Station yesterday, June 29, after his night was ruined by a Thai sex worker. He reported losing a total of 20,000 baht,…

  • Homeless woman accused of theft in Pattaya, arrested with children

    Homeless woman accused of theft in Pattaya, arrested with children

    On June 28 at 10.36pm, 27 year old Khanistha alerted Pattaya City Police about a female suspect accused of stealing valuable items from a condominium located in Soi Chaiyaphruek. The suspect, who appears to be between 40 and 45 years old and homeless, was found outside a convenience store in Soi Khao Phratamnak 5. The events began on the evening…

  • Man caught stealing shrine donations avoids charges with community service

    Man caught stealing shrine donations avoids charges with community service

    In Sri Racha District’s Bo Win subdistrict, a man was apprehended on June 29 at 5pm for stealing donation money from a shrine dedicated to Luang Pho Thongdam, the former abbot of Huai Prab Temple. The incident was reported by Phra Kru Palad Thanakorn Thammapalo, the current abbot, who sought assistance from local police. Kampanath Saentho, acting village headman of…

  • Russian journalist robbed, escapes hotel in Pattaya with 2 million baht loss

    Russian journalist robbed, escapes hotel in Pattaya with 2 million baht loss

    On June 26, 26 year old Russian journalist David allegedly escaped from a hotel on Jomtien Soi 14 while handcuffed. He reported being attacked by fellow Russians who covered his head with a black bag, assaulted him, and sent a threatening video to his girlfriend. They forced him to transfer Bitcoin and stole a luxury watch worth over 2 million…

  • Pattaya man’s motorcycle stolen by coworker, suspected sold for drugs

    Pattaya man’s motorcycle stolen by coworker, suspected sold for drugs

    In Pattaya, Thailand, a 25 year old man named Sarawut Phuthotham has called for assistance in retrieving his stolen motorcycle, which vanished after being borrowed by a former coworker. Sarawut believes the motorcycle may have been sold to finance drug purchases. The incident took place on June 24 when Sarawut’s former coworker, identified as Beer, requested to borrow his red…

  • Vape bust shock: Pattaya police nab man with 40 illegal e-cigs

    Vape bust shock: Pattaya police nab man with 40 illegal e-cigs

    A Pattaya man’s side hustle went up in smoke after police swooped in and seized a stash of illegal vapes in a sting that sent a clear warning to would-be e-cigarette dealers. Pattaya City Police, led by Police Colonel Anek Sarathongyoo, Superintendent of Pattaya City Police Station, launched a targeted crackdown aimed at shutting down the black market sale of…

  • Drug den blitz: Bang Lamung cops bust bamboo hideout

    Drug den blitz: Bang Lamung cops bust bamboo hideout

    Bang Lamung officials stormed a notorious bamboo hideout, rounding up suspected drug users in a sweeping crackdown. Yesterday, June 27 at 5pm, Bang Lamung District Chief Patcharapat Sritanyanon led a coordinated operation targeting a known drug hotspot in Village 1, Khao Mai Kaew subdistrict. The mission, aimed at choking off local drug networks, was carried out under the supervision of…