Pattaya News
Welcome to The Thaiger’s Pattaya news page, your one-stop destination for the latest happenings in Thailand’s coastal town, AKA Sin City of the East! Our dedicated team delivers up-to-the-minute news, in-depth analysis, and exclusive stories from Pattaya, covering everything from local politics and business to entertainment and lifestyle. Stay informed about the city’s thriving tourism industry, expat community, and vibrant nightlife, as well as updates on events, attractions, and transportation.
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Sponsored Promoting sustainable tourism at Blue Tree Phuket: Initiatives and impact
Blue Tree Phuket has been offering experiences that are both fun and environmentally conscious for many years. The comprehensive entertainment hub and waterpark has implemented numerous programs to enhance the sustainability of its practices, with its most recent endeavour being...
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Ride-sharing driver arrested for firing gun at Jomtien Beach
Pattaya police apprehended a ride-sharing driver in the early hours of yesterday, following an incident of the driver discharging a firearm into the sea, which provoked fear among tourists near Jomtien Beach. The incident took a turn at around 2.36am, near Soi 16, where the sounds of gunshots rippled through the calm sea air. At that moment, Bang Lamung District…
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Cambodian arrested in Pathum Thani amphetamine bust
Thai police and various authorities arrested a Cambodian woman at a home in Nong Suea, Pathum Thani who is believed to be involved in the notorious drug ring known as First Klong Luang. Officers found more than they expected, not one, but 2.8 million amphetamine pills. The woman in question was identified as Saraitus On, a 30 year old Cambodian…
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Thai narcotics control destroys 22 tonnes of illicit substances
A significant operation to destroy illicit substances and illegal narcotics was carried out by Police Lieutenant General Panurat Lakboon, the Secretary-General of the Office of the Thai Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) on Wednesday. The substances reportedly weighed a staggering 22 tonnes. These substances were collected from 68 individual cases. The substances consisted of 17,806.87 kilogrammes of amphetamine, 2,871.77 kilogrammes of…
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Toyota’s electric pickup fleet revs up Thai beaches
Toyota’s groundbreaking project in Pattaya showcases nine fully electric Hilux Revo pickup trucks revamped for public transport, marking a pivotal moment in Thailand’s automotive landscape. Reflecting Japan’s determination to reclaim the electric vehicle (EV) market throne from Chinese rivals, this initiative aims to redefine urban transit in the Land of Smiles. Surapoom Udomwong, Executive Vice President of Toyota Motor Thailand…
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Hand grenade found in Thai suburb leaves locals shaken
On the peaceful streets of Wat Boon Samphan, Bang Lamung, Chon Buri, a sinister surprise lurked beneath the serenity as a fully operational type M26 hand grenade on Monday. The discovery, made by 73 year old security guard Pratum Chomsuwat, unfolded as he meticulously cleared the area with a grass trimmer, stumbling upon the lethal device near a modest cement…
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Heroic off-duty Pattaya worker douses cable flames
The bustling streets of Pattaya bore witness to a heroic act on Monday when a vigilant city worker prevented a potential catastrophe. The worker, holding a part-time job as a motorcycle taxi driver, sprang into action when he saw flames engulfing overhead cables in Central Pattaya’s Soi 16. The hero of the hour, Chalatorn Moryathai, was alerted to the danger…
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Pattaya police raid reveals 21 Burmese living illegally
In Pattaya, a police raid led by Police Lieutenant Colonel Weerachai Thinkhamut, Superintendent of the Immigration Police for Chon Buri province, resulted in the arrest of 21 Burmese nationals living illegally in rented properties on Soi Kho Phai. The operation, which took place around midday yesterday, April 24, was instigated following complaints from locals about the disruptive behaviour of the…
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Huay Yai locals stop cable thieves funding birthday bash and drugs
In an unexpected turn of events in Huay Yai, Chon Buri, two thieves were apprehended in the act of stealing power cables by vigilant locals. One of the culprits confessed that the motive behind this crime was to fund his birthday celebration and substance abuse habits. The incident occurred in the early hours of yesterday, near Soi Khao Makok 10,…
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Bangkok taxi driver hits pedestrian at Asiatique
A pedestrian crossing a road at a legal crosswalk in front of Asiatique The Riverfront in Bang Kho Laem, Bangkok was struck by a taxi yesterday, as seen in a video posted by Thai social media users. The video quickly went viral, sparking outrage and prompting the Wat Phraya Krai police officers to publicise the details of the incident. The…
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Motorbike and minivan collision injures three in Pattaya
A collision between a motorbike and a minivan in Pattaya led to injuries for three people, including two young women and a blind individual. The incident occurred in the early hours of yesterday, April 22, at 2.36am, near Pattaya School 7 on the inbound lane heading towards Sattahip. The motorbike, a Honda Scoopy I model, was ridden by 18 year…
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Pattaya panic: Grenade scare rattles resident
Panic spread through the Pattaya community yesterday following the discovery of an M26 grenade and live ammunition concealed in a residential area. Local authorities, including the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team, were quickly alerted and dispatched to secure the area and defuse the potential threat. The grenade, a lethal M26 fragmentation hand grenade, was found in pristine condition, tucked under…
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Swiss expat critically injured in Pattaya scooter accident
An unfortunate accident in Pattaya left a Swiss expat critically injured after a car collided with his three-wheeled electric scooter. The incident occurred as the 73 year old man was en route to buy some medicine. It also sparked a call for justice from his wife, who alleges that the driver of the other vehicle has refused to accept responsibility. The…
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Thai transwoman fined for assaulting foreigner in Pattaya (video)
Police fined a Thai transwoman for physically assaulting a foreign man at a bar in Pattaya over a service fee dispute. A 33 year old Thai woman, Chomphu, who works in a Soi Bua Khao bar in Pattaya, filed a complaint against the transwoman at Mueang Pattaya Police Station. Chomphu reported that the Thai transwoman, later identified as 26 year…
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Pattaya’s post-Songkran clean-up disposes 20 tonnes of trash
Pattaya witnessed a massive clean-up operation after the Wan Lai Day festivities, a grand culmination of the Songkran celebrations, left behind a staggering 20 tonnes of garbage. Pattaya Deputy Mayor Manoch Nongyai took to the city’s streets on the morning of April 20 to personally inspect the aftermath and to extend support to the Pattaya City Environment Office workers tasked…
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Motorbike taxi driver splash spat with tourist sparks row
A splash spat between a Thai Win motorbike taxi driver and an Indian tourist during Pattaya’s Songkran festivity ignited when the foreigner got drenched. The kerfuffle arose when the Win driver’s playful seven year old son soaked the tourist, triggering a heated altercation. The entire event took place on Pattaya Second Road towards Khao Phra Tamnak around 7pm on April…
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Dip in Pattaya hotel occupancy despite Songkran festivities
Pattaya’s hotels and those in neighbouring provinces have seen a dip in occupancy rates during the Wan Lai Songkran festival. This downturn has prompted hoteliers to critique the promotional strategy for the extended 21-day Songkran celebration. Morrakot Kuldilok, head of the eastern chapter of the Thai Hotels Association (THA), projected that the occupancy rate in Pattaya would touch 70% over…
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Vietnamese tourist reunited with lost iPhone in Pattaya
A Vietnamese tourist was recently reunited with her misplaced iPhone, thanks to the concerted efforts of local police officers and a kind-hearted local. The tourist was about to return to Bangkok when she discovered her iPhone missing. Without losing any time, she promptly took the matter to Pattaya police. The officers embarked on a thorough search of the vehicle that…
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Songkran: Lost young girl reunited with family
A four year old girl found herself lost amidst the lively Songkran celebrations in Na Kluea on Thursday. Thanks to the swift and compassionate action of Pattaya police and local volunteers, she was safely reunited with her family. The bustling festivities around the Pattaya-Na Kluea Road proved to be too much for the young girl, who lost sight of her…
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Thai woman arrested for pickpocketing on Pattaya Walking Street
Pattaya Tourist Police arrested a pickpocket suspect on Pattaya’s Walking Street yesterday. The suspect, Sumalee Kima-rae, a 59 year old woman hailing from Phetchaboon province, was apprehended following the identification by a Chinese tourist couple. The suspect was caught for pickpocketing from the tourists who were engrossed in the festivities. Pattaya Tourist Police Inspector, Police Lieutenant Colonel Piyapong Ensan, detailed…
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Teen’s airsoft gun rampage sparks chaos at Songkran in Pattaya
Chaos erupted during the Songkran festivities as a teenager brandishing airsoft guns incited fear and panic in Soi 7, Central Pattaya, sending shockwaves through the crowd of over a thousand tourists on April 15. Pattaya police swiftly apprehended the 17 year old juvenile responsible for the terrorizing act, taking him to the police station for questioning. Police Lieutenant Colonel Thananon…
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Jomtien Beach’s Songkran splash sees a dip in tourists
Jomtien Beach in Chon Buri experienced a noticeable dip in the usual influx of visitors during the recent Songkran celebration. The local businesses situated in the area attribute this decline to the newly introduced one-way traffic system, which they believe has puzzled and deterred potential tourists. Poolsawat Singhsawasdi, a vendor operating on the beachfront, expressed her concerns to the local…
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Pattaya sees record tourist surge during Songkran
As the extended Songkran holiday wrapped up on Tuesday, tourists bid farewell to the sun-kissed islands surrounding Pattaya, turning the Bali Hai Pier area into a buzzing hub of activity. Local authorities ramped up services to cater to the influx, ensuring convenience for visitors throughout the holiday period. Officers stationed at the pier witnessed a remarkable influx of tourists from…
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Songkran festivities turn tragic with fatal shooting in Sattahip
A joyous Songkran celebration took a tragic turn in Sattahip, Chon Buri when four young individuals were caught in a hail of gunfire on April 16. The incident has left one person dead and has the police on a manhunt for the suspected gunman. The alarming event unfolded at 6pm during the Songkran festivities taking place on Soi Bon Kai…
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Thai man found dead in Sattahip residence, heatstroke suspected
A tragic event unfolded in the Sattahip district of Chon Buri when a 52 year old man was found lifeless in a village residence on Tuesday, April 16. The local authorities have proposed the possibility of a heatstroke being the cause of the man’s untimely demise. The scene of the incident was Eua Athon Village, located in the Na Jomtien…
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Chemical explosion at Banglamung ice factory affects over 60
A chemical explosion disrupted the peaceful night in Nongprue, near Pattaya, at the Banglamung Ice Factory last night, April 17. The explosion, taking place around 11.36pm, unleashed a cloud of chemicals into the sky, prompting swift action from local authorities. By 4am today, the situation was under control, with no deaths or severe injuries reported. The District Chief of Bang…
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Nearly 100k return to Bangkok post-Songkran via public transport
The acting director and president of Transport Company Ltd made a public announcement yesterday, disclosing the substantial numbers of citizens returning to Bangkok after the Songkran festival. Between April 15 and 17, passenger logs recorded more than 99,995 individuals making their round trips using public buses and vans. The total number of trips during this period exceeded 6,689. Atthawit Rakchamroon…
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Water gun incident sparks foreign tourist dispute at Songkran event
The lively Thaweewong Road, on Patong Beach in Phuket, bore witness to a heated dispute between two foreign visitors at a Songkran event. This incident, occurring around 4.20pm on April 13, was sparked by a minor altercation involving a water gun. The Songkran event is renowned for its playful water fights, which are enjoyed by locals and tourists alike. Despite…
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Police checkpoint blitz targets helmetless riders in Pattaya
To curb the mayhem on Thailand’s roads during the Songkran Festival, Bang Lamung police have unleashed a blitz on helmetless riders. Setting up shop along Sukhumvit Road in Nong Prue Subdistrict on Thursday, officers aimed to tackle the notorious issue of motorcyclists without helmets, a leading cause of accidents, especially during festive times. Police Lieutenant Colonel Jakrit Chantakham, Traffic Inspector…
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Pattaya commercial building fire leaves two injured
A commercial building in Pattaya was engulfed in flames on Thursday night, resulting in two individuals injured. The fire broke out at 7.06pm at a structure within the Ta Kian Tia sub-district of the Bang Lamung District in Chon Buri Province. The building was known to accommodate a shop selling kratom juice. Upon receiving the distress call, teams from the…
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Bangkok’s Maha Songkran World Water Festival 2024 kicks off
Bangkok witnessed the grand opening of the Maha Songkran World Water Festival 2024 on Thursday. The event, which is a highlight of Thai cultural celebrations, was inaugurated by the Minister of Tourism and Sports, Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol, alongside other notable agencies. The festival, lasting until Monday, April 15, showcased 20 vibrant parades that marched through Ratchadamnoen Klang Road and Sanam Luang,…
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