Pattaya was a simple fishing village overlooking the Gulf of Thailand until it was discovered by some American soldiers during the Vietnam War. Word soon spread amongst servicemen that it was a great place to spend their R&R (rest and recuperation) time which led to the establishment of the first go-go bars along Walking Street. It wasn’t until the 1980s that the resort achieved international acclaim centred largely on its nightlife which made it one of the world’s best-known destinations for sex tourism. More recently the tourism authorities have made a concerted effort to rid Pattaya of its seedy reputation as they try to promote the resort to a much wider audience.

The Chao Phraya River flows through Bangkok into the Gulf of Thailand which begins just 30km south of the Thai capital. Heading along the coast to the east leads to the world-famous holiday resort of Pattaya which is notorious for its nightlife. Continuing south-east leads to the popular island getaway of Ko Samet and further still to the Mu Ko Chang National Park which is an archipelago of more than 50 islands off the coast of Trat near the Cambodian border.