After record 286 days at sea, 5,000 US sailors unwind at infamous Thai party resort

ITV News Reporter Will Tullis asks business owners in Pattaya as thousands of US Navy sailors blow off steam in the infamous Thai party town

After a record 286 days at sea, fighting America’s war against Iran, 5,000 US Navy sailors finally set foot on solid ground this week for some rest and relaxation.

Crew members of the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier streamed into the beach city of Pattaya, which was once known as Thailand’s ‘Sin City.'

Originally a small fishing village it was transformed by US troops coming here for rest and relaxation during the Vietnam War.

Some fear the deployment of US sailors could spark tension in the city, which lies just south of Bangkok, with sailors under strict instructions while they drink and party: No smoking cannabis and no jet skiing or other water sports.

Pattaya City's Mayor Poramet Ngampichet gifts souvenirs to American service members as they arrived on Wednesday. Credit: AP

Personnel have also been reminded that sex work is technically illegal in Thailand, although there are thousands of sex workers in the city.

Police units patrolled the area, as visitors revelled in nightlife activities.

Two sailors were reportedly sent back to the ship by their superiors after getting into a fight outside a bar in the early hours of Friday morning.

However, a Pattaya police spokesperson said the two sailors were not charged and that they "did not violate any Thai law".

A street vendor shows off some wristbands to two US service members. Credit: AP

Despite the concerns, many in Pattaya have welcomed a much needed economic boost, with South East Asia hit hard by rising fuel costs, travel disruption and higher air fares driven by turmoil in the Middle East.

“Business has been way down this year since the Iran War," one business owner told ITV News. “We used to have a lot of tourists from Iran actually, but they obviously haven’t been coming lately.

“I’m not worried about the troops misbehaving as whenever they are here they abide by very strict rules and are usually very respectful.”

Crew members are in town until Sunday before, finally, setting sail back to the US after close to a year at sea.

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