US Sailors Arrive in Thailand's Pattaya after record 250 days at Sea
After a record 250 days at sea without a port stop, the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln has docked in Thailand, giving its nearly 5,000 crew members a much-needed break.
The ship is docking close to the beach resort of Pattaya, known for its raucous nightlife and for sex tourism. For the US it also carries strong historical echoes.When the weary sailors walk into the city's bars and restaurants, they will be treading in the footsteps of the hundreds of thousands of US troops who came here for R&R – rest and relaxation - during the Vietnam War.
They transformed it from a sleepy fishing village to one of the world's most famous and frenetic party towns.Today the neon-lit alleys running down to the beach are much quieter than usual. The bars in the city's famous Walking Street still screen videos on their walls of pole-dan
cing women, trying to lure customers inside.
But there are not many of those customers, and most seem to be family groups from the Middle East more interested in the Turkish ice-cream vendor than the go-go bars.The Iran War, which has affected tourism and consumer spending, has hit businesses hard here. The prospect of thousands of American sailors, with nine months of salary unspent while at sea, offers a rare opportunity to local businesses.The US carrier left San Diego last November on what was supposed to be a six-month assignment in the Pacific and South China Sea.
However, the ship was diverted to the Gulf after the US and Israel began military operations against Iran in late February.
Recently some members of Congress raised concern about reports of food shortages, broken toilets and mental stress among the crew. The US Navy acknowledged that working conditions have been tough, but said the crew were sufficiently well-supported. It would not, however, comment to the BBC on the carrier docking at Pattaya, citing operational security.
Despite its close relationship with China, Thailand is a treaty ally of the US, and port visits by US Navy ships are a familiar occurrence.
But this is probably the largest number of US military personnel coming straight from a war zone to Pattaya since the fall of Saigon in 1975.
"This visit could be our best hope," said Anon Saiteer, who sells gems in a shop near Walking Street, which has put up a large sign welcoming the US sailors and marines and offering them a special discount. "We have nothing to lose – we just hope they will spend some money here."
But US and Thai officials are trying to ensure this happens without any of the salacious headlines for which Pattaya has become known.
The Thai authorities have said there are a few places where the US servicemen and women will not be allowed to go. One of them is Soi 6, which runs down to the main beach, and is known for its concentration of racy go-go bars.
While the Thai police have reminded their US visitors that prostitution is technically illegal in Thailand, there are actually thought to be 25,000 to 50,000 sex workers in the city. Many of them work in Soi 6, where they stand outside the bars imploring men to come inside.
The many cannabis shops in Pattaya are also off-limits to US crew members, along with sea-sports like paragliding and jet-skis.
"It is their decision," Mayor Poramase Ngampiches told the BBC. "The US military have done their homework."
US Naval Attache Kristopher Robinson rebuffed questions from the BBC about activities that soldiers were banned from doing.
Instead, he said the US troops would "conduct themselves in accordance with US law, US naval regulations, and the laws of Thailand".
"We're trying to give the sailors as much opportunity for rest as they can," he said.
The US Navy has organised shuttle buses from the port into Pattaya running from 5am to 2am every day the carrier is here in Thailand. Two hotels have been designated suitable for those US crew members who want to splash out on a night onshore.The Thai authorities have deployed hundreds of police officers to keep an eye on the city's entertainment zones, and warned local businesses not to overcharge their American guests.
"The visits of US military men 50-60 years ago introduced Pattaya to the world and turned it into a tourist attraction," says Mayor Poramase."We have to be frank, the city has a reputation for bar girls. We understand the stereotypes. We can't stop that."What we can do is to show that Pattaya has changed, that 
we now have other things, such as sports, seminars, wellness and family-friendly activities. It's a mixture of everything."Both countries hope that by the time the USS Abraham Lincoln begins the long journey home across the Pacific on 6 September, it will be with a refreshed and rested crew.
BANGKOK, Aug 31 (Reuters) - After a long deployment in the Middle East, a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier will dock in Thailand's resort city of Pattaya this week, raising hopes of an economic boost, even as local authorities cracked down on parts of the sex tourism destination.
The Abraham Lincoln is due to dock on Wednesday at nearby Laem Chabang, with two accompanying Navy vessels, to allow nearly 5,000 sailors and Marines aboard to rest and recuperate after over 200 days at sea, according to Thai officials.
Ahead of its arrival, police are preparing additional patrols around Pattaya's main beachfront and nightlife district besides raids over the weekend that led to 40 to 50 people in detention for suspected prostitution, officials said.
"We are doing our best, but it is difficult," Pattaya police chief Anek Srathongyoo said on Monday, explaining that sex workers could potentially solicit in public areas without the knowledge of the authorities.
Prostitution is illegal in Thailand and, despite occasional crackdowns, the sex industry is openly visible in major tourism hubs, including parts of Bangkok and Pattaya.
The Lincoln left its home port of San Diego in November and was later redirected to the Middle East to support military operations in the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran — setting a modern-day record for consecutive days at sea, according to Democratic lawmakers.
But the prolonged deployment has also brought with it reports of mental health concerns and deteriorating conditions aboard, with two military-focused outlets this month describing suicide attempts and declining morale on the ship.
In Pattaya, a fishing village partly transformed into a tourism centre on the back of U.S. servicemen seeking succour during the Vietnam War, some are hoping for a financial boost.
Each U.S. military personnel could spend 1,000 to 3,000 baht per day ($30 to $91), depending on how long they stayed ashore and whether they stayed overnight, said Pattaya Mayor Poramase Ngampiches.
The overall commercial impact on Pattaya, which has over 300,000 rooms, would depend partly on where personnel chose to spend their time, as some could travel to the capital Bangkok, said Thanet Supornsahasrungsi, president of the Association of Chonburi Tourism Federation.
"When we heard the news that a U.S. Navy warship would be docking in Pattaya, it became a source of hope for us," said Lisa Hamilton, president of the Pattaya Nightlife Business Association.
PATTAYA: Around 5,000 US sailors and Marines arrived in Thailand on Wednesday (Sep 2) for their first port call in nine months, after concerns over conditions on board sparked debate back home over President Donald Trump's war with Iran.
The arrival of the USS Abraham Lincoln has made businesses in nearby Pattaya hopeful of a major windfall, but has also drawn renewed scrutiny of the resort town's reputation as a hub for sex tourism.
The aircraft carrier docked in the port of Laem Chabang, south of Bangkok and a half-hour drive from Pattaya, for five days of rest and recreation after 286 days at sea, most recently in the Middle East.
"We're all very excited, it should get quite lively," said Anthony "AJ" Jones, a 60-year-old musician from New Zealand who performs every night at M's Mojito beach bar in Pattaya.
A banner outside the bar reads: "Welcome all US military personnel. Thank you for your service."
"It's been the talk of the town for the past few days ... it will be a boon for businesses," Jones told AFP, saying he was planning to perform some American classics to entertain the sailors.
With the world watching and an eye on the potential for trouble, Pattaya authorities have reportedly barred the sailors from the most notorious of the city's streets, which are filled with hostess bars and semi-naked women.
The visitors will also be unable to engage in water sports, such as jet-skiing, and to take advantage of Thailand's lax cannabis laws, according to Pattaya's mayor, Poramase Ngampiches.
Authorities recently cracked down on sex workers in the city, Poramase told AFP, but insisted this was routine, denying it was linked to the Americans.
"REST AND RECHARGE"
"Our arrival in Laem Chabang provides a well-deserved opportunity for our sailors and Marines to rest and recharge," Rear Admiral Robert Loughran, commander of the US Carrier Strike Group 3, said in a statement.
The Lincoln's commanding officer, Captain Dan Keeler, added that its first port visit of the "historic deployment" would allow "our crew to enjoy this beautiful and historic country".
The huge nuclear-powered carrier arrived early on Wednesday morning at Laem Chabang, with dozens of warplanes lined up on its flight deck, AFP reporters saw.
It was the first dry-land call since leaving California in November for duty in the South China Sea. The carrier was rerouted to the Middle East before US-Israeli attacks on Iran began in February.
Reports of deteriorating living conditions and poor mental health on board - including attempted suicides - made headlines in the United States and provoked criticism of the ongoing conflict.
Democratic lawmakers have called for an investigation into conditions on board following reports of food shortages, broken plumbing and mental health crises.But Trump has dismissed the concerns."A small number of mental health cases were treated with no loss of life," acting Navy Secre
tary Hung Cao said in mid-August, blaming the media for "trying to paint our warriors as victims".The carrier was replaced in the Middle East by the USS George Washington, which had been in Japan.
That ship in turn will be relieved by the USS Theodore Roosevelt, which will sail from San Diego in the coming weeks, according to private military association the US Naval Institute.
Pattaya comes to life at night and, in the hours before the US sailors arrived, the city appeared largely peaceful, with masseuses sitting idly outside their shops waiting for customers, and a few foreign tourists sunbathing on the beach.
One tailor shop posted a sign in its window offering clothes "Specially for US Navy - Ready in 24 hours".
"We'll give them a special offer, good quality and a quick service - 24 hours or even 12 hours," said the owner, Islam.
"All of Pattaya is excited."
The mayor said buses have been laid on to transport the sailors from the ship to Pattaya and back until the carrier departs on Sunday.
"Our preparations will focus on safety and ensuring fair pricing, so we don't take advantage of them," Poramase said in a video posted on Facebook.
Posted on 2026/09/03 08:52 AM