Pattaya, Thailand

Situated on the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand, Pattaya is a favored tourist destination globally. The name Pattaya originated from the Thai phrase Thap Phraya (Army of Phraya). The fishing village of Pattaya remained an obscure place until the escalation of the Vietnam War. American military personnel began to visit Pattaya for rest and recreation, and it soon became a destination [Page 941]for Americans stationed at air bases around Thailand as well as other military bases in Southeast Asia. Pattaya gradually became known as a city of sun, sand, and sex. Entrepreneurs seized the opportunity. There was phenomenal economic growth after hotels and bars opened. The numbers of tourists swelled, attracted by lovely beaches and bays and by a thriving sex industry.

After the ...