Pattaya: The Jewel of the East Coast

 Lying southeast of Bangkok, Pattaya dubbed the `Jewel of the East Coast’ by its many admirers,  is the Asian Riviera of South East Asia. Pattaya is much more than a beach resort- it’s a vibrant, pulsating city, known for its beauty, its colourful nightlife, and its attractiveness as a tourist destination. Pattaya, like many of Thailand’s other resorts, had humble beginnings. It started as a tiny fishing village, and came into prominence only in the latter half of the twentieth century, when tourists looking for new destinations stumbled onto the fact that Pattaya was, in fact, the ideal resort. Within the past three decades or so, thanks to the support of the Thai government, private enterprises have helped make Pattaya one of the most popular and well-known tourist destinations of South East Asia. Pattaya is unbeatable if you’re looking for the sun-sea-and-sand combination, and the fact that it’s just about two hours’ drive from Bangkok, makes it a must-see on most itineraries

Facing a wide bay across a majestic sweep of beach, Pattaya was once upon a time a little fishing village the American GI’s posted in Vietnam and Korea used for R & R. The quaint fishing village has grown into an international playground with its acres and acres of golden beaches, innumerable offshore islands, promontories jutting into the sea and cliff ringed bays and coves. The region is rich in natural resources, including rubber and coconut plantations, arable land and virgin forestland. All year round, the sun shines down on Pattaya making for ideal holiday weather. With the exception of the rainy season when rainstorms and overcast skies add humidity to the muggy weather conditions, Pattaya remains warm and dry.