Pattaya, Thailand – At 12:36 AM on March 22, 2025, a violent brawl unfolded near the entrance to Walking Street, along Pattaya Beach. Reporters received a tip from tourists who witnessed and recorded a shocking incident involving a transgender woman brutally assaulting a foreign tourist. The attack occurred in full view of numerous passersby and fellow tourists, with the attacker showing no regard for the potential damage to Pattaya’s reputation as a world-class family friendly tourist destination.
The video footage captured a tall, imposing transgender woman dressed in a cream-colored outfit and high heels, loudly berating a male foreign tourist, estimated to be between 45 and 55 years old, whose nationality and name is unknown. The tourist, wearing a black t-shirt, cream-colored trousers, and carrying a plastic shopping bag, appeared to have just finished shopping. The confrontation quickly escalated as the transgender woman unleashed a barrage of profanity before losing control entirely. She launched a frenzied attack, jumping and kicking the tourist, then removing her high-heeled shoe to strike him repeatedly, seemingly oblivious to the stunned onlookers watching the scene unfold.
Despite the tourist’s attempts to flee, the transgender woman relentlessly pursued him, continuing to beat him with her shoe, targeting his body and head. Her actions suggested deep-seated rage, though no bystanders dared intervene—possibly out of fear of retaliation. After the assault, she casually walked away as if nothing had happened.
Eyewitnesses reported that the incident began when the tourist was walking along a sidewalk near Soi 13/4, adjacent to Pattaya Beach. The transgender woman trailed him, hurling insults, though the exact cause of their dispute remains unclear. The situation came to a head in front of a beachside massage parlor, where a heated argument erupted. Moments later, the transgender woman attacked, striking the tourist with her high heel until his head was bloodied and split open.
One witness told reporters that such incidents—ranging from violent assaults to theft—are all too common in this area. The perpetrators are often transgender women who congregate in groups, allegedly engaging in prostitution. According to the witness, trouble frequently arises when tourists, upon realizing the individuals approaching them are transgender, attempt to disengage and walk away. In response, some of these individuals fabricate accusations—claiming harassment or molestation—to extort money from the tourists. The witness suggested that the assailant in this case is a local “regular” and part of a group linked to a similar assault on a tourist in the early hours of March 17 that we reported on here.
The witness was concerned about the recurring nature of these incidents, calling for authorities to increase patrols in this high-risk area. They urged officials to crack down on groups exploiting Pattaya’s tourism scene for prostitution and violence, arguing that such behavior tarnishes the city’s image time and again. “This isn’t right,” the witness said, emphasizing the need for preventive measures to protect visitors and restore the city’s reputation.
As for the injured tourist, there have been no reports of him filing a formal complaint with the Pattaya City Police Station. It is known only that he sought assistance from Pattaya’s special affairs officers. With a split head and visible injuries, he is believed to have sought medical treatment and may file a report later.
This incident also comes after a similar incident in Phuket that led to a crackdown on transgender women in the Patong area which has gained the ire of human rights activists as our sister site The Phuket Express reported here.
