History

   In  fact  only  40  years  ago  Pattaya  as  we  know  it  today,  didn't  even  exist.   On  the stretch of coast between Sriracha and Sattahip,  there  were  only  a small number of fishing villages and in Pattaya bay itself, there were just a few fishing families who had settled  here  because  of  the  calm waters and the safety of the bay, protected headlands to the North and South and by mountains behind.  Their  nearest  neighbors lived just around the headland to the north, where, in the old days salt used to be produced (Naa-Klua = salt fields)  but  where  there  were  now  mainly  fishing  families.  People  traveled  about by foot or by bullock carts because, except of the main road from Bangkok to Sattahip, only a few dirt roads and tracks existed.

  Location

  Nevertheless, the bay and nearby islands provided good, safe fishing and more and more families came here to settle down, Gradually a village developed. At first was know as Tupphraya the general name for the area which dated back to the time when Pharaya Taksin (Duke Taksin) camped near here with the followers he had gathered to help free Thailand from the Burmese (Tupphraya - the Pharaya' - army)

   The pace of life was slow and it seemed as  if  Pattaya  would  remain  an out-of-the-way  place  forever.   Even up  to  30  years ago  there were  only  a few  buses serving the  100  or   more  families  who  lived  here and visitors from elsewhere were few and far between. But things were destined to change and as usual, it was a war (the Vietnam War) which changed them. The U.S.A. sent soldiers to build the air base at U Tapao and many of these took to spending their leisure time and money in Pattaya.

   The  beaches  were  clean  in  those  days  and  the  sea  breezes  made it pleasant and cool. People in the surrounding  areas were quick to spot the business opportunities and bars guesthouses begun to spring up. The fisher - folk  probably resented this intrusion, but it provided a good market for their catches and they soon got on the  bandwagon  by offering fishing trips to Koh Larn for about 50 Baht per head. Gradually, visitors from Bangkok also begun to use the resort at weekends, although the trip was a tiring 3 to 4 hours on the two-lane road.
           Later  the  US  Military  based  in  Thailand  begun  to  use Pattaya for rest and recreation (R&R) and bigger hotels and entertainment places (including the oldest profession of them all) were built to cater for them. Thus the' 60s  and'  70s  saw  the  most  rapid  change and development. In 1964 in view of its new importance, Pattata was raised  to  the  status  of  a  village  and in 1979, elevated to that of a Teasban Nakhon (Municipality), responsible now for its own administration.

     Today  Pattaya  is  Thailand's  premier  beach  resort and attracts annually more  than  a  million  tourists  from  all  over  the  world.    Pattaya  provides  high standard  hotels,  restaurants, sports, entertainment and shopping facilities. The resort  is  Thailand's  most  important  diving  center and the east coast is also a paradise for golfers.

   Pattaya..... once called Asia's Queen of Resorts, is still holding its own as a paradise for sun, sea and sand lovers and is often referred to as the Thai Riviera.

   Located ....just 147 kilometres southeast of Bangkok, the resort has become a very popular get-away for locals and overseas visitors alike. A lot has since been done to upgrade the city, which now provides up-to-date amenities, shopping facilities and entertainment activities to keep the fun going all-day and all-night long. There is just about everything available to keep you fully occupied. It is also a popular venue for international seminars, conventions and trade shows.

Central Pattaya
    Pataya Klang, or Central Pattaya, is a little funkier than the Northern district.  The hotels are not so grand, the restaurants smaller, and here you will find the beginning of Pattaya's bar-beers, or open-air bars. There are plenty of tailor shops, and some go-go bars. Pattaya police station, and the Immigration Office are here. Two main shopping malls, the Royal Garden Plaza and Mike's Place, are both in Central Pattaya. In addition to the action along Beach Road, many of the sois are very lively: Soi Post   Office, and Soi Pattayaland 1, 2 and 3 in particular.  There is a Tourist   Police   office   on Beach   Road   near   the   junction with South Pattaya's Walking Street.  The sois will all take you through to Second Road, where there are more bars and restaurants, and a couple of dive shops.  There are many small hotels and guesthouses here, offering good value accommodation and no-frills Western and Thai dining.

North Pattaya
    Naklua   means   "salt fields",   after the main occupation of the area before the rise of tourism and industry. There is still the air of an ancient village to Naklua today, for here you will see old wooden houses and narrow streets, traditional noodle shops and working fishing boats. The old   houses   over   the   creek are especially picturesque, and a walk through the streets will reveal plenty of little shops selling handicrafts and domestic goods.  The Dolphin Roundabout and the beginning of Beach Road mark the junction with North Pattaya, and the surroundings change dramatically.  This is the classy end of the resort, with upmarket hotel and restaurants   facing   out over   the   beach.  Here   too you can begin a pleasant walk along the bayfront, for a recently built promenade will take you along the shore under the palm trees right up to through to the back part of Pattaya, known as Second Road. There are more major hotels here, along with shopping areas, bars, clubs, and a Tourist Police office.

 South Pattaya
     South  Pattaya  Road  curves  sharply  off from Beach Road, taking the traffic  away  from  this busy district which is now known as Walking Street. A  relatively  recent  development, this pedestrians only zone is welcome relief,   allowing   visitors   to   browse   amongst   the  endless  little  shops offering fast tailoring services, sports goods, jewelry and souvenirs. Here too  the  bars  are  almost  endless,  as  are  the  big  seafood restaurants, several    of    them    built   out   over   the   ocean   and   offering   pleasant surroundings to enjoy you meal. South Pattaya tends to be older, brasher and  busier  than  the  remainder of the city. You can walk uninterrupted all the  way  through  to  the  Siam  Bayshore  Hotel  and  Arthachinda  Road, which  effectively  marks  the  boundary of South Pattaya. Take any of the sois,  no  matter  how  tiny  they  may  seem,  to  make  you way through to Pratamnak  Road,  the  back  part  of  Pattaya  which links up with Second Road.