USS Abraham Lincoln: US sailors arrive in Thailand’s Pattaya after record 250 days at sea

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.

With additional reporting from Nongnapat Patcham.