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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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?...
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Thai monks implicated in illicit wildlife sanctuary encroachment
Phu Khiao Wildlife Sanctuary officers yesterday unveiled a case of alleged illicit encroachment involving monks from a highly revered temple in Chaiyaphum. The monks and their accomplices are suspected of violating the sanctity of the wildlife sanctuary’s protected grounds. The Suomi NPP satellite pinpointed 14 hotspots in a forest located in Nong Bua Daeng, Chaiyaphum on Tuesday. Responding swiftly, the…
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Thailand revealed as best country to visit
Thailand has taken the top spot in the World’s Best Countries to Visit in Your Lifetime in 2024 list, as announced by the CEOWORLD Magazine yesterday. This noteworthy rank came to light following a comprehensive survey conducted by the magazine, which engaged the opinions of 295,000 users, marking it as the most participated survey on their website. The appeal of…
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Thai-American teen becomes latest addition to ‘Pattaya Flying Club’
A Thai-American teen joined the insensitively named ‘Pattaya Flying Club’ yesterday by leaping from the eighth floor of a condominium complex in Pattaya. The incident occurred early yesterday morning at around 3.36am. The initial report was received by Police Lieutenant Natthathan Chantawong, the Deputy Inspector of Investigation at the Bang Lamung Police Station. The report mentioned a person, later identified…
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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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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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Thailand sees surge in foreign investment in Q1
Thailand has seen a recent surge in foreign investment, according to recent statistics from the Thai Ministry of Commerce. Government spokesperson Chai Watcharong yesterday, April 25, unveiled these numbers, highlighting a significant upsurge in foreign investment within the first quarter of 2024. A staggering total of more than 35 billion baht has been funnelled into the Thai economy by foreign investors,…
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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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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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Wan Lai festival tarnished by rampant thefts in Pattaya
The Wan Lai festival in Pattaya on April 19 was marred by a series of thefts that left attendees, including a 22 year old woman, distraught and bereft of their belongings. A recently surfaced video clip posted by the Facebook page Kratoey Review on April 23, shows the woman, Sujira, in tears after losing her brand new iPhone 14 to…
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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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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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Pattaya taxi rider arrested for stealing from Chinese woman (video)
Police arrested a motorcycle taxi rider at his rental house in Pattaya yesterday after he stole belongings worth more than 67,000 baht from a Chinese woman on April 18. A Chinese woman, accompanied by two friends, filed a complaint at Mueang Pattaya Police Station on April 18, stating that a Thai taxi rider stole her shoulder bag when she and…
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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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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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Thai tourist struck on the head at Sattahip temple
A Thai tourist hailing from Chiang Mai was assaulted at the Nong Chap Tao Temple in Sattahip, Chon Buri. The incident, which occurred on Thursday night, saw the man being struck on the head with the handle of a pistol. The victim, identified as Nakorn, was rushed to Wat Yan Hospital following the incident on April 18. He was reported…
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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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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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Shaping traditions: Sand sculptors carve out cultural magic in Pattaya
In celebration of Thai cultural heritage, Wat Prachum Khongkha in Bang Lamung District held a sand sculpture competition, showcasing creativity and craftsmanship. Organised into two categories, beauty and creativity, the grand sand pagoda construction competition aimed to honour the time-honoured tradition synonymous with the festive spirit of the Songkran Festival. Under the Beauty Category, participants showcased their prowess in sand…
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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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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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Vendors’ dispute escalates to violence at Pattaya’s Bali Hai Pier
A violent altercation erupted among vendors at the Bali Hai Pier in Pattaya yesterday morning, leaving four people wounded, one in grave condition. The dispute, which escalated to include the use of a knife, took place in the parking area of the pier in South Pattaya around 9.30am, yesterday, April 17. Rescue personnel were swiftly on the scene following reports…
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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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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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