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.

The historic town of Hua Hin is the capital of the Hua Hin District which overlooks the Gulf of Thailand on the north-east coast of the Malay Peninsula. The town first appeared on the tourist map in the 1920s when members of the Thai Royal Family arrived here by train from Bangkok to spend their summers at the Klai Kang Won and Maruekhathaiyawan Royal Palaces. The town soon become a popular resort for wealthy Europeans living in South-East Asia.

Thailand alone has a population of almost 70 million. It has a dynamic economy which is a member of the 650 million strong ASEAN trading block which offers many exciting business opportunities in the region. Whilst the country is known as the ‘land of smiles’ visiting executives shouldn’t be lulled into a false sense of security when hoping to close deals in this part of the world. Thai business people are experienced and astute operators who will take their time in building relationships with foreigners before deciding whether to sign on the dotted line. In order to maximise their chances of success, Western business people visiting Bangkok should do a little research into the city and how business is conducted in Thailand.