Pattaya Traffic Police Crack Down on Illegal Sidecar Vendors, Arrest Vietnamese

At 11:30 PM on August 1st, 2025, Pattaya City Police, led by Police Lieutenant Colonel Arut Saphanont, Deputy Superintendent of Investigation, and Police Lieutenant Colonel Phanuphong Nimsuwan, Traffic Inspector, conducted a sweep targeting sidecar vendors illegally operating along Pattaya’s beachfront road. The operation followed complaints from locals about vendors obstructing traffic and causing public inconvenience.


The crackdown resulted in the arrest of 17 individuals, all of whom were operating sidecar vehicles to sell goods in public spaces, violating traffic regulations. Each offender was issued a fine of 500 baht.

Among those detained was a 22-year-old Vietnamese national, Mr. Ho The Khoi, who was found illegally selling grilled pork neck from a sidecar without a permit. This activity violates the Foreign Employment Act of 2017, as street vending is a profession reserved exclusively for Thai nationals.

Authorities took Mr. Ho into custody and transferred him to Pattaya Police Station for further investigation. He faces charges under Section 8 and Section 101 of the Act for working without a permit or engaging in unauthorized employment. The offense carries a fine of 5,000 to 10,000 baht, and he will face deportation proceedings.

Pattaya Traffic Police Crack Down on Illegal Sidecar Vendors, Arrest Vietnamese National - The Pattaya News

The TAT can fret as much as they like about tourist numbers but until they understand that tourists exoerience the country at the personal level then things can only get worse.

Free advice to the TAT: Stop taking away street food which is mostly a positive part of the tourist experience and instead get rid of these violent transgender robbery gangs who are absolutely not good for tourism. It really isn't hard.