PATTAYA, Thailand – For many visitors, Songkran in Pattaya remains one of the biggest and most exciting events of the year. But for a growing number of long-term residents and regular visitors, the city’s extended water festival is becoming harder to enjoy.
Comments from readers on Pattaya Mail’s online forums reveal a mix of frustration, nostalgia, fear, and concern over how Pattaya’s Songkran celebrations have changed over the years.
Many say the traditional spirit of Songkran — gently pouring water, paying respect to elders, and wishing people well — has been replaced by a week-long water battle that often feels more chaotic than festive.
Some readers described being sprayed directly in the face unexpectedly, hit by high-pressure water guns, or soaked while simply trying to shop, commute, or enjoy a quiet drink. Others complained about water tankers using jet hoses, bars starting celebrations early, and vendors openly selling powerful water guns with little apparent enforcement.
Many also raised concerns about drunk driving, reckless behavior, road closures, loud music late into the night, and what they described as increasingly aggressive conduct from both tourists and locals. Several long-term residents said they had witnessed fights, pickpocketing, dangerous driving, and other problems over the years. Some complained that common sense and courtesy seem to disappear during Pattaya’s Songkran celebrations.
Some readers said they feel foreigners are targeted more often for fines and enforcement, while others argued that foreigners themselves are partly responsible for changing Songkran from a polite cultural event into what they see as a drunken free-for-all.
Several long-term residents said they now avoid Pattaya completely during the peak days, especially April 19, when Wan Lai Pattaya reaches its climax. Some prefer quieter celebrations in Naklua on April 18 or 20, while others stay home, order food deliveries, or leave town entirely until the crowds disappear.
A common theme among readers was that one to three days of celebration would be enough. Many said the festival has stretched too long, losing some of its cultural meaning and becoming more about nonstop water fights, drinking, and disorder. Others said Songkran used to end around sunset, allowing people to clean up and enjoy the evening normally, unlike today when water throwing can continue well into the night.
Still, not everyone agrees. Some readers defended the event, saying Songkran is part of Thai culture and people who do not enjoy it should simply stay home and let others have fun.
But even many supporters admitted that the atmosphere today is very different from the more respectful and shorter celebrations of the past.
For Pattaya, the debate continues every year. Is Songkran still a beloved tradition, or has it become too long, too aggressive, and too exhausting for the people who actually live in the city?
