More than 5,000 US Navy personnel from the USS Abraham Lincoln have begun making their way into Pattaya, where they are expected to pour about 100 million baht into the local economy during five days of long-overdue shore leave.
Groups of sailors arrived at the Hard Rock Hotel Pattaya aboard buses and vans at around 2pm on Wednesday after disembarking earlier in morning at private piers in Laem Chabang and Sri Racha ports in Chon Buri province.
The hotel has been designated as the main transport and coordination centre for the visiting personnel.
The sailors, dressed casually, arrived with luggage for overnight stays in Pattaya and nearby areas. Several greeted members of the media with waves, while some offered a friendly ‘Sawasdee’ upon arrival. (Story continues below)
Pattaya Mayor Poramet Ngampichet, police chief Pol Col Anek Sathongyu, Bang Lamung district officials and business representatives welcomed the sailors with flower garlands, traditional Thai textiles and souvenirs.
Capt Dan Keeler, commanding officer of the USS Abraham Lincoln, thanked the city for its warm welcome, saying the crew were delighted and looking forward to relaxing.
Capt Keeler also presented Mr Poramet with a wooden plaque featuring a model of the Lincoln as a souvenir.
‘The relationship between Pattaya and the US Navy has existed for many years, with sailors regularly choosing the city as a recreation destination,’ Mr Poramet said.
‘This visit is particularly significant because the crew has spent a prolonged period at sea during operational deployments.’
Record-setting deployment
The Lincoln departed San Diego on Nov 21, 2025 for an expected six-month deployment to the Middle East but has remained deployed for more than nine months, with its only previous port call in Guam in mid-December. After leaving Pattaya they will sail back to San Diego.
The number of days at sea was believed to be a record, and there were numerous reports in the US about deteriorating conditions taking a heavy toll on the crew.
Mr Poramet said the sailors’ spending on accommodation, tourism, massage and spa services and other activities would benefit Pattaya’s economy.
He estimated that each sailor would spend at least $100 to $150 a day during the visit, generating at least 100 million baht in revenue.
The city was well prepared in terms of security measures, he said, while authorities were also monitoring businesses to prevent price-gouging. (Story continues below)
The mayor said Pattaya was now in the spotlight, with local and international media coverage an opportunity to showcase the city’s development, including improvements in cleanliness, pavements and signage reflecting an increasingly modern appearance.
Discussing restrictions on the sailors, Mr Poramet clarified that most of the conditions had been imposed by the US Navy for safety and security reasons, and not by the city.
For example, personnel are prohibited from taking part in water activities such as jet skiing. Cannabis shops are off-limits, as are pharmacies, because some medicines available in Thailand are not approved in the US and thus cannot be brought home.
The Navy also told personnel to stay away from Soi 6 and Soi 7, known mainly for large numbers of beer bars, though defenders say the area has a lot more to offer visitors.
The history of Soi 6 is closely linked with that of the American military in Asia, dating back to the Vietnam war era of the 1960s and 1970s. It was where the reputation of Pattaya, for better or worse, was created.
Most other areas of Pattaya, including the raucous late-night Walking Street, remain accessible to them, said the mayor.
Pol Col Anek said police would assist in ensuring the safety of sailors throughout Pattaya but would not focus on any particular area.
‘We want people to understand that these personnel are here to enjoy a vacation in Thailand,’ he said. ‘There is no reason for concern that they have come to cause problems or vent stress from their deployment.’