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Motorcycle Taxi Drivers Assault Tourists on Soi 6 in Pattaya

A group of motorcycle taxi drivers in Pattaya were filmed assaulting foreign tourists during Songkran celebrations on 13 April, sparking widespread online criticism. The attack took place in Soi 6, off Pattaya Beach, Chon Buri, where witnesses said tensions escalated quickly into violence. No formal police complaint has yet been filed despite the severity of the incident.

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Video footage shared on social media shows several men wearing orange motorcycle taxi vests kicking and punching a foreign tourist until he fell to the ground. Another foreign man who attempted to intervene and assist his friend was also attacked by the group. The assault occurred in front of numerous bystanders, many of whom continued celebrating Songkran nearby.

According to an unnamed witness, the incident began when two foreign tourists were walking and playing with water guns as part of the festival. They reportedly sprayed water at a group of motorcycle taxi drivers, which led to anger and a heated verbal confrontation. The argument then escalated into a physical fight, resulting in the violent attack captured on video.

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Picture courtesy of Daily News

The incident has drawn strong criticism online, with many questioning the appropriateness of such violence during a major tourism festival. Songkran is widely promoted as a welcoming cultural event, attracting large numbers of international visitors each year. Incidents like this risk damaging Thailand’s image as a safe tourist destination.

Police at Pattaya City Police Station have confirmed that no victims have come forward to file a complaint. However, investigation officers are expected to examine the video evidence and gather further information to determine the facts. Authorities have indicated that legal action may follow once those involved are identified.

Daily News reported that officials are likely to increase scrutiny of public behaviour during Songkran celebrations, particularly in high-tourism areas like Pattaya. The case remains under review as police work to verify details and locate those responsible.

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image.png Adapted by ASEAN Now Dailynews 14 Apr 2026

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JensenZ Platinum Member

JensenZ

Advanced Member
7 hours ago, KhunBENQ said:

Some live here and some visit.

Short fused as we know them.

This Songkran degenerates to a hooligan festival.

Yesterday saw some clip from Phuket. Young foreigner spraying from a fire fighting hose connected to a pump on a water truck. Complete idiocy.

Some foreigners don't know that there are rules and limitations.

I remember that water throwing in the night is a no go.

Do you think that all Thai people understand limitations? There are plenty of bad eggs on both sides. One time, I got doused with a bucket of ice water about 10 pm on a "shortcut soi", coming home from the supermarket with shopping, about 3 or 4 days before the main event (19th). It would have been pretty obvious that I needed to stay dry and was trying hard to avoid getting wet... the very type they are looking for to harass. People who don't want to get wet are their primary targets. The ice is intended to provide extra shock.

Spraying motorcycle taxi riders who obviously prefer to stay dry is totally ignorant. I have no sympathy for those idiots who copped a beating.

I'm living on the east side of the railway line in Naklua, and haven't seen anyone "playing" yet. I just got back from Bangkok (about 20km east of the city centre) and didn't see any there either.

Burma Bill Diamond Member

Burma Bill

Advanced Member
7 hours ago, Peterphuket said:

What a bunch of animals live in LOS

Yes indeed, the animals, locals and tourists, who soak you in water and throw talcum powder over you!!

Congratulations taxi drivers.

Geoff914 Gold Member

Geoff914

Advanced Member
1 hour ago, Burma Bill said:

Yes indeed, the animals, locals and tourists, who soak you in water and throw talcum powder over you!!

Congratulations taxi drivers.

If I accidentally bumped into you on the street would you kick the 5h1t3 out of me also?

Reddavy Gold Member

Reddavy

Advanced Member
7 hours ago, Wake Up1 said:

Up in the villages the young kids, teenagers and grown upas enjoy the water and face paste and heat relief. But they also do it politely and laugh having fun. Can be enjoyable if you are in the correct area of Thailand.

My biggest complaint are the 20 to 60 years old expats tourists (Pattaya Bangkok etc) that want to throw buckets of water in your face and be aggressive. No one should act that way drunk or sober.

20 year old expats. 😱WOW.

Burma Bill Diamond Member

Burma Bill

Advanced Member
13 minutes ago, Geoff914 said:

If I accidentally bumped into you on the street would you kick the 5h1t3 out of me also?

Not at all, if you accidentally bumped into me. BUT if you started throwing dirty ice water and talcum powder over me, along with the water guns into my face, then I would, but not these days at 82! I just avoid such madness.

save the frogs Star Member

save the frogs

Advanced Member

Songkran should be banned.

Not everyone wants to be sprayed. Some people are partying, some people are working.

Why did it get normalized to throw water at motorbikes? It's extremely dangerous.

It's rare that one the tourists was sober enough to defend himself. Usually they are so drunk they can't even fight back.

Kevbo Explorer Member

Kevbo

Member
8 hours ago, smedly said:

3 days are you having a laugh, it is clearly 7 days - see my post above

More in pattaya if you include wan lei

scottiejohn Star Member

scottiejohn

Advanced Member
31 minutes ago, Burma Bill said:

Not at all, if you accidentally bumped into me. BUT if you started throwing dirty ice water and talcum powder over me, along with the water guns into my face, then I would, but not these days at 82! I just avoid such madness.

In your MAD DOG days in CM you may have reacted differently if I recollect correctly!

🤣

mancub Gold Member

mancub

Advanced Member
9 hours ago, Wake Up1 said:

Up in the villages the young kids, teenagers and grown upas enjoy the water and face paste and heat relief. But they also do it politely and laugh having fun

Every village has it's share of drunken stupid youth, and Songkran, just like at most concerts is another excuse for fighting.

SingAPorn Gold Member

SingAPorn

Advanced Member

Another very bad image in the lacking of lacking safety of foreigners in Thailand.

PJ71 Platinum Member

PJ71

Advanced Member
2 hours ago, save the frogs said:

Songkran should be banned.

It should be zoned for those that want to take part but as we all know in reality, nothing will change...

BusyB Platinum Member

BusyB

Advanced Member
13 hours ago, Shammy said:

Coward scum, gutless filth, kicking people on the ground, & the expat cowards,watching, any of those kicks could have killed them. You motorcycle taxi mafia are disgusting. Taxi Numbers 1, 7 12, 13, working in Pattaya, Soi 6 area, shouldnt he too hard to find them.

You see the aggression, hatred towards tourists, really this is how you bring dishonour, shame, disgrace, upon yourselves, your families, your job, Soi 6 aye..

Maybe dropping off their girlfriends together with a farang to shag all night, or even spend days with the shabby two week millionaire, gets to them in the end after all. Eventually it probably builds up enough to put them on a hair trigger.

Then any excuse would do to detonate the anger, jealousy and feelings of humiliation in an orgy of violence - even a squirt of water at Song Kran is all it takes.

AustinRacing Platinum Member

AustinRacing

Advanced Member

They resent young foreigners with money in their pocket having a good time and screwing young pretty girls that they can’t have themselves. Good opportunity to stick it to them. Adding this to their cowardly mob mentality is a recipe for this kind of incidents.

NanLaew Star Member

NanLaew

Advanced Member

Soi 6 is the street of love, so this must be fake news.

theshu25 Gold Member

theshu25

Advanced Member
9 hours ago, save the frogs said:

Songkran should be banned.

Not everyone wants to be sprayed. Some people are partying, some people are working.

Why did it get normalized to throw water at motorbikes? It's extremely dangerous.

It's rare that one the tourists was sober enough to defend himself. Usually they are so drunk they can't even fight back.

Why should it be banned? There country,their custom. It is only the morons that ruin it for everyone else.

Celsius Diamond Member

Celsius

Members
14 hours ago, PJ71 said:

yes, these are the same taxi drivers people seem to think are salt of the earth.

I keep seeing the same phrase from men on here who built a house and a farm for their Isaan princess whenever the topic turns to her family.

Perhaps some forum posters are under the threat of violence. Praying for their safety.

Georgealbert Star Member

Georgealbert

News Team

UPDATE

Pattaya Soi 6 Brawl: Four Questioned After Attacking Tourist

Maxbkkcm Senior Member

Maxbkkcm

Member
19 hours ago, Woke to Sounds said:

The festival is anachronistic and irrelevant these days in light of how degenerate society has become.

Idiot farangs behaving as schoolkids and hair trigger motobike drivers on the rampage.

Thailand's best days are far in the rear view...

What do you mean? How do you see a downhill of the place? It’s more famous than it ever be. Many westerners are moving in.

ezzra Star Member

ezzra

Advanced Member

''Do unto others as you would have them do unto you'' but in Thailand it seems, the Do become don't.

jacko45k Star Member

jacko45k

Advanced Member

Kind of why I stopped doing Songkran, when I saw drunken feral gangs attacking each other with sticks and other weapons to celebrate their New Year. ......

Jim Blue Platinum Member

Jim Blue

Advanced Member
20 hours ago, smedly said:

3 days are you having a laugh, it is clearly 7 days - see my post above

7 days ?

Not in Soi 7 /8

save the frogs Star Member

save the frogs

Advanced Member
12 hours ago, PJ71 said:

It should be zoned for those that want to take part but as we all know in reality, nothing will change...

also, just 1 day.

so people who hate it and don't want to take part can call in sick from work and stay home.

converting the entire city into a water war zone for 10 days is not reasonable.

how often to you need to repeat the ritual anyway? I can't imaging people doing this day in and day out for 10 days.

Aussie999 Platinum Member

Aussie999

Advanced Member
On 4/14/2026 at 9:35 AM, smedly said:

3 days are you having a laugh, it is clearly 7 days - see my post above

Clearly you do not know the difference between "Songkran"" and an extend holiday period...hint, Songkran...April 12 and 13...the 14th is family day, and some places, eg Pattaya have an extended holiday... read as extra money making period.... but, as I clearly stated, the extended period is NOT Songkran, no matter how they advertise it.

CallumWK Diamond Member

CallumWK

Advanced Member
2 minutes ago, Aussie999 said:

Clearly you do not know the difference between "Songkran"" and an extend holiday period...hint, Songkran...April 12 and 13...the 14th is family day, and some places, eg Pattaya have an extended holiday... read as extra money making period.... but, as I clearly stated, the extended period is NOT Songkran, no matter how they advertise it.

Clearly it is you who don't understand.

Firstly, the water throwing started on the 11th, which is 2 days before Songkran.

There are no extra holidays, even government offices are open from the 15th onwards, and even on the big day 19 April. Immigration is open on the 19th. (not this year of course since it is a Sunday, but I have been to immigration on the 19th in previous years)

Nobody, other than the water trucks, make some extra money. Businesses LOSE money. Bars - restaurants - shops are depleted of customers during those days

metisdead Legendary Member

Inflammatory posts have been removed @CallumWK @Aussie999 :

  • Be polite and respectful to other users.

  • Do not post defamatory, offensive, or discriminatory content.

  • Avoid flaming, trolling, or stalking other members.

Aussie999 Platinum Member

Aussie999

Advanced Member
52 minutes ago, CallumWK said:

Clearly it is you who don't understand.

Firstly, the water throwing started on the 11th, which is 2 days before Songkran.

There are no extra holidays, even government offices are open from the 15th onwards, and even on the big day 19 April. Immigration is open on the 19th. (not this year of course since it is a Sunday, but I have been to immigration on the 19th in previous years)

Nobody, other than the water trucks, make some extra money. Businesses LOSE money. Bars - restaurants - shops are depleted of customers during those days

Mate, clearly you do not understand what I said...you should have read it slowly, and carefully..Songkran is officially 2 days, 12 and 13...the 14th is family day, any days either side of that is NOT Songkran, they are simply extra local money making days. Let me put it in more simple terms..we celebrate new year's eve, and new years day, if a local city starts partying a day before, and a few days after, is that still new year celebrations...of course it's not New year celebrations are Dec 31 and Jan 1, does that help you. Do a bit of googling.

Perhaps I should have said extended party days, instead of holidays...I hope that makes you happy.

smedly Star Member

smedly

Advanced Member
1 hour ago, Aussie999 said:

Clearly you do not know the difference between "Songkran"" and an extend holiday period...hint, Songkran...April 12 and 13...the 14th is family day, and some places, eg Pattaya have an extended holiday... read as extra money making period.... but, as I clearly stated, the extended period is NOT Songkran, no matter how they advertise it.

clearly you are confused

if it clucks like a duck............

CallumWK Diamond Member

CallumWK

Advanced Member
5 minutes ago, Aussie999 said:

Mate, clearly you do not understand what I said...you should have read it slowly, and carefully..Songkran is officially 2 days, 12 and 13...the 14th is family day, any days either side of that is NOT Songkran, they are simply extra local money making days. Let me put it in more simple terms..we celebrate new year's eve, and new years day, if a local city starts partying a day before, and a few days after, is that still new year celebrations...of course it's not New year celebrations are Dec 31 and Jan 1, does that help you. Do a bit of googling.

Perhaps I should have said extended party days, instead of holidays...I hope that makes you happy.

Clearly you're a bit full of yourself, and I suggest you do some reading and googling yourself.

To start with @smedly didn't mean that Songkran was 7 days, he meant that the water throwing last 7 days, and even more in Pattaya.

Secondly, Songkran is not on the 12th and 13th.

Key 2026 Songkran Details:

  • Official Dates: April 13, 14, and 15, 2026.

  • Public Holidays: April 14–16, 2026.

Finally, many restaurants and bars are closed, other depleted of customers because they can't reach the venue without being soaked, so how would they make money?

Just have a look at the traffic on the main roads in Pattaya, which is about half of what is on normal days.

If you don't understand how that translates to less business, then I can't help you

smedly Star Member

smedly

Advanced Member
1 hour ago, CallumWK said:

Clearly it is you who don't understand.

Firstly, the water throwing started on the 11th, which is 2 days before Songkran.

There are no extra holidays, even government offices are open from the 15th onwards, and even on the big day 19 April. Immigration is open on the 19th. (not this year of course since it is a Sunday, but I have been to immigration on the 19th in previous years)

Nobody, other than the water trucks, make some extra money. Businesses LOSE money. Bars - restaurants - shops are depleted of customers during those days

100% correct

smedly Star Member

smedly

Advanced Member
3 minutes ago, CallumWK said:

Clearly you're a bit full of yourself, and I suggest you do some reading and googling yourself.

To start with @smedly didn't mean that Songkran was 7 days, he meant that the water throwing last 7 days, and even more in Pattaya.

Secondly, Songkran is not on the 12th and 13th.

Key 2026 Songkran Details:

  • Official Dates: April 13, 14, and 15, 2026.

  • Public Holidays: April 14–16, 2026.

Finally, many restaurants and bars are closed, other depleted of customers because they can't reach the venue without being soaked, so how would they make money?

Just have a look at the traffic on the main roads in Pattaya, which is about half of what is on normal days.

If you don't understand how that translates to less business, then I can't help you

again 100% correct

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