Pattaya, Thailand – Sailors and Marines from the USS Abraham Lincoln are making a planned stop in Pattaya, a Thai seaside resort city, for rest and recuperation. The crew of approximately 5,000 personnel are expected to visit the city, located about 60 miles southeast of Bangkok, following a protracted tour of duty in the Middle East.
This visit follows a pattern of U.S. military personnel participating in exercises with their Thai counterparts in the region, a practice that has occurred for years. While social media has seen some lighthearted remarks about sailors visiting Pattaya, recent accounts suggest the city has developed more family-friendly attractions that complement its more established reputation.
The USS Abraham Lincoln and its strike group will likely dock at nearby deep-water facilities such as Laem Chabang Port or the Sattahip Royal Thai Navy Base, both within an hour's drive of Pattaya. Shore leave spending is a significant contributor to the local economy.
Community outreach activities are also often part of mission duties, including providing specialized medical care or volunteer work at local orphanages. To manage liberty ashore, the Navy deploys its own Shore Patrol to work in conjunction with Thai police, aiming to prevent incidents.
Sailors are also reminded of Thai laws, including the technical ban on prostitution, and the U.S. Uniform Code of Military Justice, which makes paying for sex a punishable offense. Historically, the military presence in Thailand dates back to the Vietnam War era, when a significant number of U.S. service members were stationed in the country. Pattaya was a popular destination for personnel due to its proximity to naval and air bases.
Over the decades, Pattaya transitioned from a quiet fishing village to a resort town. The development of its entertainment venues, coupled with increased accessibility through cheaper air travel and package tours, solidified its image as a destination for sex tourism. This economic activity also drew many from Thailand's northeastern Isan region seeking employment in the nightlife sector.
In the 1990s, Pattaya saw a new wave of tourism following the collapse of communism in the Soviet Union, with direct charter flights bringing visitors from Russia and other former Soviet bloc countries. The city also became a haven for international fugitives and criminals.
More recently, Pattaya has made efforts to rebrand itself as a family-friendly destination, introducing attractions such as water parks, botanical gardens, and theme museums. Alongside these developments, traditional entertainment venues and nightlife districts still cater to visitors seeking that experience.