People got about on dirt roads and tracks by foot, bullock carts, and bicycles. The only paved road was the nearby Sukhumvit Highway that connected Bangkok to Sattahip.

The village grew as more fishermen based their boats here, drawn here by the sheltered bay and its proximity to the main highway. At first, it was called Tupphraya, a name that dated back to the time when Pharaya Taksin (Duke Taksin) camped near here with the followers he had gathered to help free Thailand from the Burmese (Tupphraya - the Pharaya's army).

This upturn in popularity prompted the people to officially rename the village Pattaya, the name for the strong winds which came from the southwest during the rainy season.

Local entrepreneurs quickly spotted the business opportunities and established bars, restaurants, and guesthouses. The fishermen got a boost to their incomes as well, with a home market for their catches and chartering their boats for fishing trips to Koh Larn. Word spread about this serene, seaside resort only a few hours from Bangkok and Bangkokians began to visit the resort on weekends in ever increasing numbers.

In 1964 Pattaya’s status was officially raised to a village, and in 1979, elevated to that of a city responsible for its civic administration. From then until now, the city’s administrators have met with the challenges of managing a newborn city and today, Pattaya is one of Thailand's premier beach resort and attracts more than a million tourists each year from all over the world.

Pattaya provides high standard hotels, restaurants, sports, entertainment and shopping facilities. The resort is noted as a SCUBA diving centre, and is world famous as Asia’s windsurfing capital. There are over fourteen beautifully landscaped golf courses nearby, making Pattaya a paradise for golfers.