Pattaya's name originated from the march of Phraya Tak (later King Taksin) and his followers from Ayutthaya to Chanthaburi just before the fall of the former capital to Burmese invaders in 1767.

When Phraya Tak's army arrived at the vicinity of what it today's Pattaya, he encountered the troops of Nai Klom who tried to intercept him. But when the two leaders met face to face, Nai Klom was awed by Phraya Tak's dignified manner and his army's strict discipline. He surrounded without fight.

The place, two armies confronted each other, was later called "Thap Phraya", which means "Army of Phraya". This was changed to "Phatthaya", which happens to mean the wind blowing from Southwest to Northeast, in the beginnings of rainy seasons. Today, spelling is simplified.

For the past centuries, Pattaya was small fishing village, almost cut off from the outside world. After, its beauty was discovered by the first group of American servicemen from Nakhon Ratchasima, in 1961; sleepy Pattaya became Thailand's premier and most successful beach resort.

Pattaya is the place for all, fishermen, sun-lovers, water-sports fun, shoppers, gourmets, night owls...

Attractions:
- Cabarets
- Phra Tamnak Hill
- Three Coral Island
- Ko Phai, Ko Rin...
- The Million Years Stone Park & Pattaya Crocodile Farm
- Ripley's Believe It or Not!
- Sriracha Tiger Zoo
- Wat Yannasangwararam
- Bang Saen; Golf Courses; Khao Khiao; Open Zoo; Rayong Province; ChanthaburiProvince; Trat
- Jomiten Beach, the former paddy fields, thriving beach, 3 km down Pattaya