Pattaya, Thailand: The Beginnings

See the history of the storied world-famous Thai resort of Pattaya with original, rare photo and film, and how U.S., Brit, and Australian servicemen came to Pattaya for Rest and Relaxation (R&R) during the Vietnam War, propelling it to a world-class destination. There are several myths on the origins of Pattaya as an R&R center, which this video seeks to correct.
‪@CarterOnConflict‬

[@RJ-6615]

Thank you for sharing. Im looking forward to more videos like this!

[@CarterOnConflict]

Thank you much for watching, I appreciate your comment

[@LesMartin-ee5sn]

I was stationed at Samae San with the 162nd Medical Detachment from 1969 until early 1970. Larry Cogburn was part of the 162nd if my memory is correct. Have been living in Chiang Mai for the past 23 years.

[@CarterOnConflict]

Les, I’m writing you from Chiang Mai as we speak, I moved here three years ago from Bkk. It is very nice to meet you. Please email me if you are interested in talking, perhaps we can have a coffee sometime. I would enjoy meeting you. I appreciate you watching and commenting, please check out my other videos, most deal with the time you served here.

[@falcon5215]

Another entertaing as well as informative video. Thank you...Andrew McMahon

[@CarterOnConflict]

Thank you Andrew - I appreciate you watching and commenting. Here is a short 15 minute one, similar topic: War Hotel kzbin.info/www/bejne/gqjak5-Ap9aYirM. Thank you again.

[@IntheBlood67]

Ringin my chimes! Thanks!

[@MogShade]

Thank you for making this video. 6:47 is great. Funny how the name "go go" is still in use today in Thailand, but I don't believe anywhere else. A 60's relic...

[@CarterOnConflict]

Ha, well thank you for watching and commenting. You are probably correct on the name go go, and I always wondered where it originated from. Thailand makes the most sense. Yes…still in use today. Ageless. Timeless :-)

[@MogShade]

@@CarterOnConflict Fun Fact: According to wikipedia, "a go go" originated in a French Bar in France in the early 60's.

[@CarterOnConflict]

@@MogShade well I’ll be! Thanks for sharing, I learn something new all the time. Good for the viewers to know too, I appreciate you looking up and posting.

[@The_Conspiracy_Analyst]

It's also used in the Philippines. The name is from "you GO to the bar, then GO out (as in, leave the bar) with a girl"

[@CarterOnConflict]

@@The_Conspiracy_Analyst that makes total sense - thank you for sharing that!!!!

[@stephaneghesquiere9526]

Top vidéo history pattaya

[@CarterOnConflict]

Stephen, thank you - I appreciate you watching and commenting. Please share with others, glad you enjoyed.

[@argon5806]

excellent video

[@CarterOnConflict]

Thank you sir!!!! Your passing it along to others will be greatly appreciated. Thank you for watching and commenting.

[@amoore2539]

I was at Utapao in 1970. Pattaya seemed to be just getting going. I bought a hand made suit and pair of 'dingo' boots. As for the suit, I lost 20 pounds there and gained it back upon return to the States. I do recall that Newland was 'action' place.

[@CarterOnConflict]

Ha, I love to hear from folks who were there. Thank you for watching and sharing. Do you still have the boots?

[@amoore2539]

@@CarterOnConflict No but they lasted for years. Another thing that amazed me about Pattaya was the open front gold shops. Trays of gold of all kinds and options. No one with guns guarding.

[@CarterOnConflict]

@@amoore2539 oh my. There are still Gold shops here in Thailand, but they are guarded :-) I would have liked to have seen that.

[@jimheston9127]

Nice video. I was looking for pictures of the JUSMAG BUNGALOWS in particular. Our family stayed there in 71. You did include the shot of the entrance, which later became PK Villa and now Is Royal Garden Mall/Avani hotel. One thing about the US Military, it sure knows how to pic prime real estate. Also remember the dispensary that you do have a shot of and remember all the jars with creatures in alcohol that could really inflict some pain and were indigenous to the surrounding gardens and the sea. Good stuff. Thanks for this.

[@CarterOnConflict]

Wow, thanks for watching and posting. It is shears nice to hear from someone who was there during that era. Viewers will enjoy your feedback, and extra detail, thank you again.

[@benign5011]

Outstanding, as always from Dr Carter. Having gone to Bangkok in 1972 for my R&R from Vietnam, I don't recall Pattaya as being an option. From this video I believe Pattaya was R&R for Thailand GI's primarily. Iron Mike

[@CarterOnConflict]

Sir, thank you so much for watching and your comment Iron Mike. Always appreciative.

[@terrymedlicott3580]

There are many vids of US army RR in Pattaya. Bangkok was another location soi 20 sukhumvit Windsor Hotel. South of Pattaya was Utapao another popular spot as it had a runway and nearby naval dock.

[@laoadvtours3479]

Great look back in time...😀

[@CarterOnConflict]

Thank you sir 🙂

[@Smokey4462]

When I served in Thailand in 1970 as an auditor (E-5) under the Comptroller, U.S. Army Support Thailand at Korat, I was sent to the R&R center in Pattaya to audit their operations. At that time it served as a joint forces R&R center and was under the direction of a U.S. Navy Commander. It was an interesting time and even then I thought it looked like an undeveloped Miami Beach.

[@CarterOnConflict]

Smokey, thanks for sharing that personal experience, someone who was there on the ground. We appreciate it. I hope you enjoy other of my videos.

[@andersfant4997]

The BBC production Whickers World visited Pattaya in 1984 on a QE2 cruise, its on KZbin. Quite raw footage. I stand by my judgement that the City will change immenseley in the future, more mainstream and upmarket -and progress is a good thing. Look at whats happening in Bangkok.. Cheers.

[@CarterOnConflict]

Anders, thanks for letting us know about this production - I’ll check it out!!! Both Pattaya and Phuket are undergoing immense change - condo construction cannot keep up with the foreign purchase market according to what I read in the Bkk Post.

[@andersfant4997]

@@CarterOnConflict The long video EP 3, Port Morseby to Pattaya (53 min) has more footage and also show what the typical tourist experienced, as a contrast. But the crew on QE2 did the complete Pattaya experience, from Bars to Muay Thai and ending up in Hospitals. Cheers.

[@CarterOnConflict]

@@andersfant4997 I just had no idea Anders so this is very helpful!!! Thank you.

[@connexmarket7687]

Hi. Do you have any aerial photos of Pattaya in the 50’s and 60’s ?

[@CarterOnConflict]

I don’t, but I haven’t searched for any either. With your question, I bet some exist. If I come across any, I will remember your post. I will let you know…I am curious myself. Thank you for watching and commenting.

[@MrEye4get]

I saw this while visiting Pattaya this week! How weird is that?

[@CarterOnConflict]

Ha, yes, what a coincidence!!! Well, thank you for watching and posting.

[@xmfhx6929]

When did sex tourism start? The first go go bars and happy ending massage parlours, etc? Did that start with the coming of the R&R or the USA military men just dated the local girls and didn’t pay for the sex? And the sex tourism is a later development ?

[@CarterOnConflict]

@@xmfhx6929 great question. The happy ending massage parlors were a staple of Thailand long before the Vietnam war. Today, local Thai men make up the largest percentage of patronage at these, they are located away from the tourist areas. But the sex tourism started with the Vietnam war. Women (and men) in this part of the world have always treated their bodies as a commodity. It is not “sinful” as it is in the west. Please see my video dating and marriage in Southeast Asia. Dating and Marriage in Southeast Asia kzbin.info/www/bejne/oKivh4mFmK6nrM0. So to answer your question, American military men were the first customers of this new sex tourism industry. If this didn’t answer the question - or you have more - please reply.

[@xmfhx6929]

@@CarterOnConflict Thanks a lot. So massage parlours and go go bars were already present in Pattaya early 1960s? When I watch old videos it seems to be less in your face as it is now. More discreet. Also the girls appear to wear just normal clothing. Now the escort ladies are easily recognizable. But maybe I am mistaken. I think the gay sex tourism is more an 1980s development or you could already find Thai guys in the 1960s in Pattaya selling their bodies in more or less hidden gay bars? Wish i could have been there in that time when it all started. My first trip was 2014

[@CarterOnConflict]

@@xmfhx6929 the go go bars were a sex tourism development, while the massage parlors catering to Thai men have been around for who knows how long. I don’t know about Pattaya, it was a small place so any would have been very discreet in conservative Thailand. I’m talking Bangkok but in every large city. For time immemorial, In bkk there are massage parlors the size of huge hotels for Thai men. I don’t know much about the gay scene or when it started, but Thailand and Cambodia and the Philippines have it all.

[@argon5806]

My father went to the Vietnam war and told me about this place when I was a teenager. I now have a vacation condo there ready for me to retire. Not a family place but a place for men a mans city of enjoyment as intended from the start when the troops went. Not for the family the fun places are places to take your new found date not the wife and kids. The ones that do stumble into Pattaya You should see western women's faces melt when they see all the Thai Women hanging all over their men. It's Classic.

[@CarterOnConflict]

Good for you that you have a vacation place for retirement there! Glad your dad was able to pass this jewel of a location to his son, it truly is a memorable place (for half of us, as you aptly point out).

[@fineartist7710]

I found Pattaya by chance after divorcing 20 years ago. I have been there a few times since, leaving in April for a month between Bangkok and Pattaya. You're lucky to have had a father who told you about Pattaya as a teenager. And exactly as you stated, " Not a family place but a place for men, a man's city of enjoyment as intended from the start when the troops went." And hopefully, it will stay this way, as a precious paradise for MEN!!!!

[@andersfant4997]

Some claim that it was "The German invation" in 70th that opened the gates to masstourism in Pattaya. The city can expext to change dramaticly the next 10 years. High end developments and better infrastructure. Progress is a good thing, its inevitable. Even more affluent Thai visitors and people from the Middle East, Asia and India. Cheers.

[@CarterOnConflict]

Thank you for your comment and watching. Very informative.

[@The_Conspiracy_Analyst]

Hehe yeah that's something that's always "right around the corner", right up there with quantum computers and fusion reactors. Don't hold your breath!

[@andersfant4997]

@@The_Conspiracy_Analyst Look at Bangkok🙂. Cheers.

[@RobertSantos-rw8dy]

Korat... the whale... air force

[@CarterOnConflict]

nice....... :-)

[@HaYaTo_LogresJPRPG]

1970!!!!! I'm not born yet.🤣😂 Thank you very much for the United States of America to build Pattaya and U-Ta Pao Rayong Pattaya international Airport.🙏🙏🙏🙏❤️🇺🇸🇻🇮🇹🇭👍✌️🍻🍻🍻🍻

[@CarterOnConflict]

Well thank you for watching the video and commenting!