The History and Nature of Pattaya and its Suburbs

Historical Perspective

Pattaya owes its historical origins to Phraya Tak (later King Taksin) who stopped with his army en route from Ayutthaya to Chanthaburi just after the mid 18th century, where he encountered the army of a local warlord, Nai Klom. Although no actual battle took place, the site of the confrontation was subsequently dubbed Thap Phraya, or the Army of the Phraya. This appellation was later altered to Phatthaya, the name of a southwest -northeast wind which blows at the start of the rainy season. At some later date, the name of what subsequently became a fishing village was once again changed to Pattaya.

Little of consequence happened to disturb its tropical tranquility until a number of Bangkok citizens, venturing further up the coast from Baan Saen, discovered the attraction of its pristine shoreline and pellucid waters about 1960 and returned most weekends, thus starting Pattaya's history as a seaside venue. Slightly later, on April 26, 1961, a group of about 100 US servicemen down from Korat who were fighting in the Vietnam War arrived in Pattaya for rest and relaxation, having learnt of the attractions of the area from certain officers based at U-Tapao airbase, the largest airfield in Southeast Asia,who, in turn, had learnt about it from a number of military advisers, effectively the first foreign discovers of Pattaya. The officers were to make the Bang Saray Club their seaside watering hole, whereas the enlisted men began to frequent the small number of bars which had established themselves, perhaps first to service local fishermen, as they still do further up the coast, and latterly the US servicemen. Thus Pattaya carved out a niche for itself as an entertainment venue par excellence.

Now, Pattaya is Thailand's leading seaside resort, recently named the "Asian Riviera" by virtue of its international acclaim. Gradually becoming known the world over, it attracts a multitude of tourists from over 20 countries, annually, including an increasing number of domestic Thais. Although the majority of these tourists were only short-term holidaymakers and returned to their countries of origin, a significant number took up either permanent or temporary residence. A large number of these were foreign retirees, attracted by its very pleasant tropical climate, relatively inexpensive lifestyle, and excellent housing and amenities, second only to Bangkok, not the mention the ready availability of largely female Thai carers and prospective partners, as well as the medical facilities, consisting of clinics and first class hospitals, including Bangkok-Pattaya, Pattaya International, Pattaya Memorial and Banglamung Hospitals. These expatriate retired residents were augmented by 2nd and holiday home owners, and holidaymakers who fell in love with Thailand and its people and decided to relocate and set up commercial enterprises or bars and other entertainment venues to cater to the locals, as well as a substantial expatriate community, both Western and Oriental, working in the neighbouring industrial estates of the Eastern Seaboard and those on the outskirts of Bangkok, making Pattaya proportionately the most cosmopolitan city in Thailand, as well as the commercial and entertainment hub of the Eastern Seaboard.

The  rapid growth of the national infrastructure, particularly the road network, significantly the Sukhumvit Road, the Bangkok-Chonburi motorway, the new motorway spur as far as Mabprachan, the Bangkok-Rayong road and the Chonburi bypass, as well as the opening of Suvarnabhumi International Airport and the extension of Pattaya /U-Tapao Airport and the growth of Laem Chabang port have all contributed to the phenomenal growth of the city-resort and even made it feasible for residents in Pattaya and its environs to commute to Bangkok.

Initially, foreign residents tended to congregate in specific parts of the city. For example, Germans used to largely live in Naklua, the British in Khao Pratumnak and latterly, the Russians in Wong Amat, but this concentration of nationalities is no longer the norm and they have spread out all over the city and its environs, including Jomtien, Ban Amphur, Bang Saray and Mabprachan.