Week-long Songkran Festival in Pattaya – A celebration like no other in Thailand

The Songkran festival in the Pattaya and Jomtien areas started earlier than expected, surprising many tourists who were not informed about the water-throwing festivities. From the 11th to the 19th of April, bargirls and foreign tourists enthusiastically engaged in throwing water at vehicles and people along the beach road. The festival culminated on April 19th, known as “Pattaya Wan Lai Day.” The week-long celebration provided a refreshing respite from the hot weather and marked the end of a three-year wait for the festival.

Pattaya beach resort, apartment, and guesthouse occupancy rates reached their peak during this period, and hotels like Avani Pattaya Resort saw many foreign tourist check-ins. Alcohol sales also spiked, with bars and pubs attracting a large number of foreign tourists and locals. Thousands of people gathered on the beach road, armed with water guns and buckets of powder. The event featured parades and road closures, adding to the festive atmosphere. The water war officially ended at midnight on Wan Lai Day, and things returned to normal afterwards.