PATTAYA, Thailand – Motorists in Pattaya faced severe congestion on Monday as traffic volumes surged during the final day of the extended Visakha Bucha holiday weekend. Traffic along Sukhumvit Road slowed to a crawl, with long queues forming at major intersections across the city. Drivers reported delays stretching well beyond normal travel times as thousands of visitors continued arriving in and moving around Pattaya following the three-day holiday and month-end payday period. Local residents and commuters described conditions as near standstill in some areas, with vehicles backed up through multiple traffic lights and congestion spreading onto connecting roads. The combination of holidaymakers, beachgoers, and returning travelers created heavy pressure on the city’s road network throughout the day.
Many motorists took to social media to advise others to avoid unnecessary travel and seek alternative routes where possible. Some even joked that walking would be faster than driving along certain sections of Sukhumvit Road. Despite efforts by traffic police to manage key junctions, the sheer volume of vehicles left major routes struggling to cope. With the holiday period drawing to a close, authorities expect traffic to remain heavy through the evening as visitors begin their journeys home.
