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.

The Thaiger is your essential guide to navigating Pattaya’s dynamic landscape. To stay connected with the most trusted news source in town, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media.

  • Sponsored

    How to choose the perfect family-friendly property in Phuket

    Phuket has long attracted visitors from around the globe with its golden beach and lush green hills. Many come for a holiday and leave captivated, often deciding they want a piece of the island for themselves. That’s why, despite fluctuations...

  • Pattaya sees big tourism growth, but mostly domestic

    Pattaya sees big tourism growth, but mostly domestic

    Pattaya has been frustrated for being passed over for an exemption from the national alcohol ban that other tourist areas like Phuket have received as a tourism “Blue Zone”, but nevertheless, one of Thailand’s most popular resort cities is seeing tourism slowly emerge from its Covid-19 pandemic induced slumber. With a menu of events through the end of the year,…

  • Pattaya restaurant busted serving alcohol for the fourth time

    Pattaya restaurant busted serving alcohol for the fourth time

    Fourth time’s the charm? After 3 previous raids with apparently little effect, the Pattaya Police have once again raided a restaurant near Bali Hai for breaking Covid-19 restrictions, selling alcohol and shisha. The raid took place last night and police found about 100 people at the restaurant that were not wearing masks, socially distancing, or taking any Covid-19 safety precautions.…

  • Chon Buri father arrested for drugging and assaulting his daughter

    Chon Buri father arrested for drugging and assaulting his daughter

    After a 10-day manhunt, police have arrested a Chon Buri father accused of drugging and then sexually assaulting his 16 year old daughter. Police released details of the incident yesterday after chasing the man down in Minburi, Bangkok and taking him into custody. A woman went with her 16 year old daughter to the Ko Chan Police Station with the…

  • Woman’s climb to friend’s apartment ends in third floor fall

    Woman’s climb to friend’s apartment ends in third floor fall

    A Laotian woman in Chon Buri was hospitalised with 2 broken arms after attempting to climb across a balcony from her third-story apartment to her friend’s room next door and falling. The 43 year old woman plummeted from the third story, but her fall was broken by an awning on the first floor. The incident took place in an apartment…

  • Flooding in Chon Buri from rising sea level

    Flooding in Chon Buri from rising sea level

    Many roads in Chon Buri have flooded this week because of the rising sea levels. On Monday, water from the ocean poured onto beach roads in the Bang Plasoi sub-district, flooding them with seawater as much as 30 centimetres deep. The flooding on the road caused significant traffic delays, and even caused some smaller vehicles to get stuck. Duangduan Pantumaopas,…

  • Pattaya Loy Krathong festival is a go, despite cancellation rumours

    Pattaya Loy Krathong festival is a go, despite cancellation rumours

    Contrary to rumours of cancellation, Pattaya Public Relations officials have confirmed again that the city will hold a Loy Krathong festival on November 19. Rumours have been seen spreading on social media and even some Thai language news outlets ran stories earlier this week suggesting the event would not take place. But Pattaya PR firmly denied the rumours and say…

  • Pattaya Beach fight over an affair on TikTok results in 5 arrests

    Pattaya Beach fight over an affair on TikTok results in 5 arrests

    A fistfight that broke out and gathered a crowd on Central Pattaya Beach near the mall resulted in 5 people being arrested. Pattaya City Police were alerted of a fight at around 10:30 in the evening on Monday night and went to the scene to investigate. In the patrol unit arrived, they found a few fights on and around the…

  • Body of dead man found in Chon Buri lagoon by shell collector

    Body of dead man found in Chon Buri lagoon by shell collector

    A woman in Chon Buri was shocked when she went out searching for shells in a lagoon and instead stumbled upon a dead body. The incident took place in Bor Thong district of Chon Buri on Thursday afternoon, as the woman visited the lagoon to find and collect shells. The lagoon is in the Tat Thong sub-district and Bor Thong…

  • Thai woman found dead in bathroom of Koh Larn resort

    Thai woman found dead in bathroom of Koh Larn resort

    A Thai woman on holiday on the resort island of Koh Larn near Pattaya was found dead in her bathroom, according to the Pattaya Police. The 26 year old woman was staying at a resort, the name of which has not been released pending further investigation, near Sangwan Beach on the tropical island. The woman was staying with 2 friends…

  • Pattaya Music Festival begins tonight under Covid-19 safety measures

    Pattaya Music Festival begins tonight under Covid-19 safety measures

    The Pattaya Music Festival is set to begin tonight… but don’t expect packed crowds and beer. Rather than the audiences squeezing tight  to get close to the stage, last year, attendees sat in chairs with each seat placed a certain distance apart to prevent the spread of Covid-19. With Thailand still experiencing a wave of the coronavirus, the festival needed…

  • Pattaya police see no proof of alcohol in restaurant, but customers fled

    Pattaya police see no proof of alcohol in restaurant, but customers fled

    Like teenagers at a house party, customers ran from a restaurant near Bali Hai as Pattaya City Police raided the business looking for illegal alcohol service. The raid happened at 9 pm last night as police made the rounds, inspecting businesses and making sure restaurants were obeying the continued ban on alcohol sales and consumption now that it has been…

  • Police raid Pattaya beach bar and arrest 30 customers

    Police raid Pattaya beach bar and arrest 30 customers

    Police raided a beach bar in Pattaya at around 10pm last night and arrested 30 people for gathering and drinking alcohol, violating Chon Buri disease control measures which orders bars to remain closed and bans alcohol at restaurants. Officers on patrol last night heard loud music coming from Lisa on the Beach and found customers inside dancing and drinking alcohol…

  • New road and construction planned to improve U-Tapao Airport

    New road and construction planned to improve U-Tapao Airport

    Plans are underway to ease traffic to U-Tapao Airport in Rayong, the primary airport to Pattaya, by linking it to a nearby street by constructing a 2-kilometre road. The Department of Highways announced the plan yesterday, saying the project will cost 4.5 billion baht and will break ground next year with a completion date set for 3 years from now.…

  • New Covid-19 easings for Chon Buri, alcohol still not allowed

    New Covid-19 easings for Chon Buri, alcohol still not allowed

    Earlier today the Governor of Chon Buri released the latest updates on Covid-19 restrictions and what’s allowed for the province, with no good news about alcohol and nightlife. Pattaya recently complained that while other tourist hotspots that attracted many tourists with their nightlife were permitted to start selling alcohol, at least in restaurants, Pattaya was left off the list. The…

  • Pattaya frustrated by exclusion from alcohol ban lift in restaurants

    Pattaya frustrated by exclusion from alcohol ban lift in restaurants

    While a great many people are thrilled with the plans to allow alcohol to be sold in the key tourism blue zones of Bangkok, Phuket, Krabi, and Phang Nga, there are some who are very angry about it: Pattaya business owners. Local tourism operators a not too pleased that Pattaya and its world-famous wild nightlife that draws millions of visitors…

  • November 1 re-opening of Thailand – The Fine Print

    November 1 re-opening of Thailand – The Fine Print

    And now for some of the fine print, answering questions you may have had about re-entry to Thailand from next Monday, November 1. Who can travel to Thailand? Travellers will be categorised into 3 groups… • The first are fully vaccinated visitors from 46 countries (www.thaiembassy.com).  They must stay one night in either a SHA+ certified hotel or an ASQ…

  • “Free parking” signs placed at Pattaya pier after complaints of scammers

    “Free parking” signs placed at Pattaya pier after complaints of scammers

    After numerous complaints that people were soliciting money for parking spaces at Pattaya’s Bali Hai Pier, some reportedly asking for up to 500 baht, city officials have installed signs announcing that parking is free and to report if they are being charged for a space. The Pattaya News has reported that the free spaces are located at the blue field…

  • Bangkok Hospital Pattaya giving expats free Pfizer vaccines

    Bangkok Hospital Pattaya giving expats free Pfizer vaccines

    A new opportunity has been announced for expats in Pattaya who have yet to be vaccinated to get a free Pfizer vaccine. Bangkok Hospital Pattaya, who earlier this month offered free AstraZeneca vaccines to the expat and local foreigner community, has opened registration today for foreigners to get inoculated with the Pfizer vaccine. The vaccination programme is open to any…

  • Man found dead, tangled in cables in Bang Lamung

    Man found dead, tangled in cables in Bang Lamung

    An internet repairman in Bang Lamung had a morbid surprise when he was repairing internet cables in the evening and spotted a man standing by a tree. He called out to him in the dark, but the man did not reply. When he approached the still man, he discovered to his horror that the figure he saw was that of…

  • Chon Buri Police arrest 30 people in luxury resort gambling raid

    Chon Buri Police arrest 30 people in luxury resort gambling raid

    A luxury resort hosting an alleged gambling den was raided by Chon Buri police with 30 suspected gamblers taken into custody. Chon Buri police raided the resort in Takean Tia sub-district of Bang Lamung yesterday afternoon. Police reported confiscating various gambling paraphernalia and cash in the raid. The raid stretched for over 5 hours with the police arriving around 3…

  • Pattaya Waterfront Condo building requests to resume construction

    Pattaya Waterfront Condo building requests to resume construction

    An infamous Pattaya eyesore has been scheduled for demolition, but the owners submitted a surprise request to resume construction on the Waterfront Condo building on Bali Hai Pier. The 53-story condominium at the entrance to the Bali Hai Pier has been abandoned for years since 2014 and last September authorities served a legal demolition order against the owners of the…

  • Arrested Chon Buri man claims to be close friend of PM Prayut

    Arrested Chon Buri man claims to be close friend of PM Prayut

    When Chon Buri police attempted to take a belligerent man into custody, the man gave a unique excuse of why he should be let go: he is a “close personal friend” of PM Prayut Chan-o-cha. The 54 year old man was reported to be running along the road, shouting and threatening people walking on the street and attacking cars randomly.…

  • Bangkok Hospital Pattaya offers free AstraZeneca for expats

    Bangkok Hospital Pattaya offers free AstraZeneca for expats

    Bangkok Hospital Pattaya has announced pre-registration is open for free vaccines for foreigners and expats with injections beginning October 15. The hospital will give 2 doses of AstraZeneca to qualifying applicants at no charge. Registration is open until all slots are filled and can be done online at the following link: https://bit.ly/3a6sLpf The vaccination is offered with no charge or…

  • Booster vaccine recipients yesterday included Pattaya Mayor

    Booster vaccine recipients yesterday included Pattaya Mayor

    At a vaccination campaign in Pattaya yesterday, Pattaya City Mayor Sonthaya Khunploem was spotted receiving his third vaccine booster shot and encouraging others to do so. The event took place at Pattaya City 2 school and health officials administered AstraZeneca booster shots for those who had 2 injections of Sinovac previously. The event also provided second doses of the Sinopharm…

  • Vaccination drive accelerated in Pattaya to prepare for November reopening

    Vaccination drive accelerated in Pattaya to prepare for November reopening

    The rollout of Covid-19 vaccinations is being accelerated in Pattaya to prepare for reopening in November. The city’s mayor Sonthaya Kunplome says he expects more than 80% of the population in Pattaya to be fully vaccinated by October 15. Pattaya City Hospital is being used as the main vaccination centre with up to 2,600 doses of AstraZeneca and Sinopharm being…

  • Mario Kleff sets a new standard for construction sites in Pattaya

    Mario Kleff sets a new standard for construction sites in Pattaya

    Majestic Residence on Phra Tamnak Hill in Pattaya hit the headlines over the summer of 2021 when architect Mario Kleff demolished two villas and started building a new one, utilising the finest in German engineering. The construction company Wandeegroup Asia, under the direction of CEO Mario Kleff, began work in June of this year. The Substructure work, consisting of 100+…

  • Thai woman rescued from near-drowning on Pattaya Beach

    Thai woman rescued from near-drowning on Pattaya Beach

    A 22-year old Thai woman was rescued by lifeguards yesterday early evening after nearly drowning in the waters of Pattaya Beach. The incident took place just before 5 pm yesterday with emergency responders receiving word of the near-drowning at 5 pm. The young woman said that she had been travelling alone and had gone to the beach. She waded into…

  • Pattaya beach vendors see domestic tourist business increasing

    Pattaya beach vendors see domestic tourist business increasing

    Beach vendors along Pattaya beaches say that they are starting to see earnings increase due to domestic travellers in recent weeks. Their revenue is still far below the levels they were before Covid-19, but they are seeing an uptick of weekend and holiday travellers. Vendors selling food, massage, beach umbrellas and more are slowly seeing improvement, with each weekend seeming…

  • Alleged drug dealer busted in Chon Buri, police seize drugs and gun

    Alleged drug dealer busted in Chon Buri, police seize drugs and gun

    An alleged drug dealer has been arrested in Chon Buri, a province to the south of Bangkok, with 780,000 methamphetamine pills, a kilogram of crystal methamphetamine, 6 kilograms of ecstasy, and a gun, yesterday. The police did not release the name of the alleged drug dealer as they say they don’t want to compromise their investigation into the suspect’s contacts.…

  • Pattaya mayor confirms Pattaya reopening postponed to November

    Pattaya mayor confirms Pattaya reopening postponed to November

    The Mayor of Pattaya City has officially confirmed the city’s reopening to vaccinated foreign tourists has been delayed to November. The announcement follows a similar one made by the centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, yesterday. The Pattaya City Mayor Sontaya Khunplomek says many provinces have delayed their reopening from October to November, including Chon Buri, the province Pattaya is situated…