PATTAYA, Thailand – When news broke that Pattaya was ranked among the safest cities in ASEAN, many long-term visitors, expats, and tourists were left scratching their heads — or laughing out loud.
“Must be joking!!” wrote one frequent traveler. “Daily fights in the evenings at the bars etc., plus crazies running amok in town…”
The announcement, which placed Pattaya high on a safety index often based on crime statistics, policing efficiency, and general public security, sparked a flurry of online debate. For every person defending the city, another questioned the credibility of the ranking.
“Pattaya officials must’ve paid to get on that list,” one commenter claimed. “It’s the homicide capital of Thailand and only getting worse.”
Others echoed similar sentiments, questioning how a city known for its nightlife chaos, road accidents, and occasional violent incidents could earn such recognition. “Pollution, road carnage & aggressive… not the healthiest city!” one critic wrote bluntly.
Yet for all the skepticism, many seasoned visitors and residents offered a contrasting view, highlighting how Pattaya can feel very secure if you avoid trouble. “Been going to Thailand and Pattaya since 2017 — never seen any trouble as a single man. Very safe on my own compared to the UK. Now stay in a village which is even safer,” one British expat commented.
Another chimed in, “As long as you’re not staying in a condo above the second floor…” — a nod to the frequent headlines about tragic balcony accidents.
Some took a more nuanced approach. “Although daily crime makes the news every day, the per capita crime rate is probably pretty low. That rate accounts for the large population in Pattaya.” In other words, while incidents may be frequent in number, the statistical risk to any one person may still be relatively low.
And then there was a jab at how these rankings are decided in the first place: “A lot of envelopes changed hands!” followed by, “Who did they have to pay off to get them vote?!”
“Erroneous!” exclaimed another, while someone simply remarked, “Impossible.”
One final comment seemed to sum it all up with a hint of humor: “It’s fine if you just stay in and don’t go anywhere.”
In the end, the debate shows the paradox of Pattaya: a city of contradictions — wild yet welcoming, chaotic yet oddly secure, loved and loathed in equal measure. Whether it’s truly among ASEAN’s safest cities may be up for debate, but one thing’s certain — it’s never boring.
