Today  Pattaya  is  Thailand's  premier  beach  resort and attracts annually more  than  a  million  tourists  from  all  over  the  world.    Pattaya  provides  high standard  hotels,  restaurants, sports, entertainment and shopping facilities. The resort  is  Thailand's  most  important  diving  center and the east coast is also a paradise for golfers.
In  fact  only  40  years  ago  Pattaya  as  we  know  it  today,  didn't  even  exist.   On  the stretch of coast between Sriracha and Sattahip,  there  were  only  a small number of fishing villages and in Pattaya bay itself, there were just a few fishing families who had settled  here  because  of  the  calm waters and the safety of the bay, protected headlands to the North and South and by mountains behind.  

The pace of life was slow and it seemed as  if  Pattaya  would  remain  an out-of-the-way  place  forever.   Even up  to  30  years ago  there were  only  a few  buses serving the  100  or   more  families  who  lived  here and visitors from elsewhere were few and far between. But things were destined to change and as usual, it was a war (the Vietnam War) which changed them. The U.S.A. sent soldiers to build the air base at U Tapao and many of these took to spending their leisure time and money in Pattaya.  Later  the  US  Military  based  in  Thailand  begun  to  use Pattaya for rest and recreation (R&R) and bigger hotels and entertainment places (including the oldest profession of them all) were built to cater for them. Thus the' 60s  and'  70s  saw  the  most  rapid  change and development. In 1964 in view of its new importance, Pattata was raised  to  the  status  of  a  village  and in 1979, elevated to that of a Teasban Nakhon (Municipality), responsible now for its own administration.

Geography

Pattaya  resort  is  located  on  the  eastern  coastline  of   Thailand's exotic  Gulf  of  Siam and is approximately 140 km southeast of the capital city  of  Bangkok  and  about  160  Km  from Bangkok International Airport. Which   four   parts:  Central  Pattaya,  North  Pattaya,  South  Pattaya  and Jomtien Beach.

Central Pattaya
     Pataya  Klang,  or  Central  Pattaya,  is  a  little  funkier than the Northern district.  The  hotels  are  not  so  grand,  the restaurants smaller, and here you will find the beginning of Pattaya's bar-beers, or open-air bars. There are  plenty  of  tailor  shops, and some go-go bars. Pattaya police station, and the Immigration Office are here. Two main shopping malls, the Royal Garden  Plaza  and  Mike's  Place, are both in Central Pattaya. In addition to  the  action  along  Beach  Road,  many  of  the  sois are very lively: Soi Post   Office,  and  Soi  Pattayaland  1,  2  and  3  in  particular.  There  is  a Tourist   Police   office   on   Beach   Road   near   the   junction  with  South Pattaya's  Walking  Street.  The  sois  will  all  take you through to Second Road,  where  there  are more bars and restaurants, and a couple of dive shops.   There  are  many  small  hotels  and  guesthouses  here,  offering good value accommodation and no-frills Western and Thai dining.

North Pattaya / Naklua
     Naklua   means   "salt fields",   after  the  main  occupation  of  the  area before  the  rise  of  tourism  and industry. There is still the air of an ancient village  to  Naklua  today,  for  here  you  will see old wooden houses and narrow  streets,  traditional  noodle  shops and working fishing boats. The old   houses   over   the   creek  are  especially  picturesque,  and  a  walk through  the streets will reveal plenty of little shops selling handicrafts and domestic  goods.  The  Dolphin Roundabout and the beginning of Beach Road  mark  the junction with North Pattaya, and the surroundings change dramatically.  This is the classy end of the resort, with upmarket hotel and restaurants   facing   out   over   the   beach.   Here   too  you  can  begin  a pleasant  walk  along the bayfront, for a recently built promenade will take you  along  the  shore  under the palm trees right up to through to the back part  of  Pattaya,  known  as  Second  Road. There are more major hotels here, along with shopping areas, bars, clubs, and a Tourist Police office.

South Pattaya
     South  Pattaya  Road  curves  sharply  off from Beach Road, taking the traffic  away  from  this busy district which is now known as Walking Street. A  relatively  recent  development, this pedestrians only zone is welcome relief,   allowing   visitors   to   browse   amongst   the  endless  little  shops offering fast tailoring services, sports goods, jewelry and souvenirs. Here too  the  bars  are  almost  endless,  as  are  the  big  seafood restaurants, several    of    them    built   out   over   the   ocean   and   offering   pleasant surroundings to enjoy you meal. South Pattaya tends to be older, brasher and  busier  than  the  remainder of the city. You can walk uninterrupted all the  way  through  to  the  Siam  Bayshore  Hotel  and  Arthachinda  Road, which  effectively  marks  the  boundary of South Pattaya. Take any of the sois,  no  matter  how  tiny  they  may  seem,  to  make  you way through to Pratamnak  Road,  the  back  part  of  Pattaya  which links up with Second Road.

Around Jomtien Beach
     As   is  so  often  the  case  in  Thailand,  you  will  see  several  different spellings  of "Jomtien". This district, with its 6km beach, is divided off form the  rest  of  Pattaya  by  the  hill  which  rises to the back of South Pattaya. Drive  over  the  hill,  past  the  big  Buddha  and  the Royal Cliff Hotel, and down   into   the   relatively   quiet   Jomtien.   The   beach   is  popular  with windsurfs  and water sports enthusiasts, largely because the area enjoys brisk   and   fresh   breezes   sweeping   inland   from   the   Thai  Gulf,  and because  the  seas  are  less  congested  with  boats than in Pattaya Bay. This  is also the place to relax for a suntan, of go for long early morning or sunset  walks  along  the  oceanfront. There is little in the way of shopping or  beer - bars  at  Jomtien,  which  is  essentially  a  residential  area   with beachside hotels, bungalow complexes, condominiums and restaurants. Jomtien has its own very distinctive gay beach, accessed by turning right at the bottom of the hill; for all other attractions, turn left.