Inside Pattaya’s Dark Underworld: Suitcase Murd3r of Teen Exposes Shocking $13-an-Hour Reality
$13 AN HOUR: THE GRISLY TRUTH ABOUT PATTAYA’S SE-EDY UNDERWORLD EMERGES AFTER THE SUITCASE MU-RDER THAT SH0CKED THE WORLD
The chilling murder of a teenage girl whose lifeless body was found folded and stuffed inside a suitcase has suddenly plunged the popular tourist hotspot of Pattaya into the spotlight.
The sickening crime has truly shocked the world, as Australian truck driver Simon Peter Carman, 45, is charged with the alleged murder of Tunchanok Donhomla.
Mr Carman is currently in the custody of Pattaya City Police and is awaiting a court appearance, with investigations continuing.
Pattaya has exploded in popularity
Once a quiet fishing village, the seaside city of Pattaya has exploded in popularity since the 1960s and is now bursting at the seams with countless huge resorts, high-rise apartments and giant shopping centres.
Located around two hours from the nation’s capital, Bangkok, tourism in the area really started booming during the Vietnam War, when it became a popular Rest and Relaxation (R&R) destination for American servicemen stationed at nearby Thai and Vietnamese bases.
Word of mouth spread, and many would rent houses from Phraya Sunthorn at the south end of the beach, on what is now known as the “Strip”.
Pattaya is one of Thailand’s most popular tourist destinations, drawing visitors from around the world. Picture: Sirachai Arunrugstichai/Getty Images
A navy soldier in Pattaya during some R&R in the 1970s. Picture: Facebook
While boasting stunning tropical scenery that Thailand is known for, there is no denying Pattaya is also notorious for its dark underbelly.
The horrific alleged murder of Ms Donhomla is sadly not the first time a woman was killed in such a brutal way in the area.
Investigators have confirmed that two very similar unsolved cases of women being found inside suitcases have occurred in the past two years around Pattaya.
Other cases of shocking violent crimes involving tourists – both as the perpetrators and victims – has caused Pattaya to be on the world stage in the past.
In April 2025, a 42-year-old Chinese national named Fu Tongyuen was arrested at Suvarnabhumi Airport while trying to flee to China.
Tunchanok Donhomla’s body was found stuffed into a suitcase. Picture: Pattaya Police
Simon Peter Carman is being held by Pattaya police. Picture: TPBS via AP
He later confessed to the gruesome strangulation and mutilation of 25-year-old Thai transgender woman Woranun Pannacha in a rented Pattaya apartment.
Even all the way back in February 2007, two Russian women were found shot to death in their lounge chairs on Jomtien Beach in Pattaya.
Their bodies were found slumped in deck chairs at dawn, just a few feet from the water’s edge.
A 24-year-old local man, Anuchit Lamlert, later confessed to the killings, claiming the motive was robbery, however police believed it may have been linked to organised crime.
Chilling incidents such as these have long painted Pattaya as a seedy, dangerous hotspot, attracting nothing but immoral tourists looking for a hedonistic holiday.
But is it the entire truth?
Pattaya Beach is a popular spot for tourists. Picture: iStock
Many travellers have reached out and shared their experiences with news.com.au.
While many admit Pattaya has a dark side, beyond the seedy areas, it is not that different to other towns in Thailand.
Local families live there, children go to school and people work normal jobs, far removed from the red-light districts that made Pattaya famous.
Australian expat, David Caruso, has run a business and lived in Thailand for over 16 years, and told news.com.au Pattaya has “earned its seedy reputation”.
“The bar strips and the night-life built around sex tourism are real, they’re out in the open, and they pull in a certain type of visitor who acts like the normal rules don’t apply to them once they land,” he explained.
“But that’s only half the place. A few streets back it’s families, expats, markets and ordinary Thai life.
“Both Pattayas sit side-by-side. The real danger is travellers who buy the ‘anything goes’ fantasy and switch off the common sense they’d use anywhere else in the world.”
Pattaya’s famous Walking Street is a popular tourist spot with plenty of go-go bars and night clubs. Picture: iStock
Sex tourism
Prostitution is rife and in high demand, as tourists from all corners of the globe flock to the city in droves solely for this purpose in what has been called the world’s “prostitution capital”.
The debaucherous ‘Walking Street’ is the pulsating heart of the city’s night life, with a well-known red light district stretching a full kilometre along the Pattaya Bay.
The area features hundreds of go-go bars, adult-themed cabarets and 24-hour nightclubs, where over 30,000 sex workers station themselves around the clock.
The price for sex can be heartbreakingly low, with some tourists admitting to paying as little as AUD$13 for an intimate encounter.
In a series of online groups seen by news.com.au, both expats and tourists in Pattaya appear comfortable openly discussing their latest exploits.
Soi 6 is another famous street in Pattaya. Picture: iStock
“What is the least you have paid for a ST?” one asked, with ‘ST’ referring to a “short time” sexual encounter lasting for an hour or two.
On the other hand, ‘LT’ is code for “long time”, which generally covers the entire night or 24 hours with a sex worker.
“Don’t bring her to your room, instead go for a ST in a love hotel,” one commented.
“300 Baht (AUD$13) for one hour”.
“800 Baht (AUD$34) plus tip, it would be ashamed to take advantage of them,” another shared.
One wanted to know what is the least they had paid for sex. Picture: Supplied
One bragged about only paying 300 Baht for sex – around $13. Picture: Facebook
Another shared their frustration at the prices of sex workers apparently “skyrocketing”, recalling that they “only paid 50 baht (AUD$2) back in 1982”.
In another stomach-turning post, one traveller named a bar where they could get a drink, a lap dance and engage in sexual acts for just AUD$4.
In response to a post asking for tips for first time travellers to Pattaya, one allegedly married man advised others to “leave their wives” at home if they planned on visiting.
Surprisingly, sex work is technically illegal in Thailand under the Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act of 1996.
However, it is understood that sex work is a longstanding and widely tolerated part of the city’s night-life and the law is rarely enforced against individual sex workers under normal circumstances, according to Siam Legal International.
More severe offences, however, such as human trafficking and any sexual activity involving anyone under the age of 18 as prosecuted with extreme severity.
Women working in a club in Pattaya. Picture: iStock
Far more to it
According to the Pattaya Mail, the top five nations that visit Pattaya in order of most visitors are China, Malaysia, India, Russia and South Korea.
Around 150,000 to 200,000 Australians visit Pattaya each year, according to the Bangkok Post, out of the estimated 800,000 who visit Thailand annually.
While often perceived as a playground for single male tourists, Pattaya has been working hard to overcome its licentious reputation.
Instead, they are striving to become a more family friendly destination, especially in the quieter areas, which are close to world-class water parks, theme parks, and expansive beach resorts.
“Dual identity”
Melbourne woman Anna Sherchand has travelled throughout Thailand five different times and even used to live in Bangkok.
She told news.com.au Pattaya is one of those destinations that has a “dual identity” and believes that the “seedy” reputation of the town is largely confined to certain areas.
“Specific pockets like Walking Street or certain streets after dark are like this,” Anna, an author and avid traveller who has visited over 100 countries, told news.com.au.
Anna has travelled around Thailand. Picture: Supplied
“If you look for the red-light district, you will find it. However, the media’s hyper-focus on this single element completely misrepresents the rest of the city.
“Beyond the night-life, Pattaya has evolved heavily into a hub for wellness, culture, and major international event, even hosting global festivals like Tomorrowland later this year.
“During the day, it is a bustling coastal destination. Striking architectural wonders like the hand-carved, all-wood Sanctuary of Truth draw in visitors.
“Windsurfing, coastal hiking, and quick boat jumps to pristine nearby islands like Koh Larn is popular, while neighbourhoods like Jomtien and Pratumnak Hill offer a completely laid-back, family-friendly beach lifestyle far removed from the neon lights.”
As a solo female traveller, she believes the area is safe “as long as you keep your wits about you”.
“Violent crime targeting tourists is incredibly rare, the main things to look out for are nonviolent petty crimes,” she explained.
She has lived in Bangkok. Picture: Supplied
“Things like overcharging at bars or petty pickpocketing in dense crowds. occasional scooter.
“Pattaya, and Thailand in general, is a choose-your-own-adventure destination, but safety isn’t an automatic guarantee.
“Bad characters exist everywhere around the world. If you keep your wits about you, you’ll likely find Pattaya a highly walkable, vibrant, and culturally rich coastal city that completely defies the one-dimensional stereotypes.”
Other travellers, such a Mick Owar, 42, told news.com.au he avoided Pattaya at all costs during his travels, despite visiting Thailand over 20 times.
“I deliberately avoided it… I went to Thailand for paradise, culture, food and tropical scenery — not smut, sex tourism and the risk of ending up surrounded by people chasing the darkest side of the place,” the Melbourne man explained.
Mick Owar, pictured here during his first trip to Thailand, said he refused to ever visit Pattaya. Picture: Supplied
“I preferred popular destinations while staying in the less tourist-heavy areas. That gave me a very different experience of Thailand: quieter, more local and far removed from the version built around bars, prostitution and excess.”
He said, however, that does not mean the whole of Pattaya, or Thailand generally, should be painted with the same brush.
“Your experience depends heavily on where you stay and what you go looking for,” he added.
“Someone visiting beaches, temples, islands and family areas will see a completely different country from someone deliberately entering its red-light districts.”
‘Two sides’
Australian expat Charlie Watson has lived in Thailand for more than a decade and told news.com.au the city of Pattaya is “like no other”.
While the 43-year-old, from the Gold Coast, said he was well aware of the “seedy reputation” of Pattaya, he highlighted that there were definitely two sides of the city.
“When I travel to rural areas in Thailand like Isaan, even the locals are aware of the seedy nature of Pattaya,” he revealed.
Pattaya’s floating air market is a huge drawcard. Picture: iStock
“They automatically assume because I am a ‘farang’ (foreigner) that I love the place because of the girls and the night-life.
“There are two sides to Pattaya though. The Thai government wants to try to portray Pattaya as a family-friendly destination.
“The truth is, it can be but with a caveat. If you stay away from the bars and night-life, there are plenty of family places to visit such as the floating market, The Sanctuary of Truth, Nong Nooch Tropical Garden, Pattaya Elephant Village and more.”
Sanctuary of Truth temple in Pattaya, Thailand. Picture: iStock
He said the way the media portrays the city has given it a bit rap, which has been difficult for the city to escape.
“It’s a known tourist hotspot for men due to the amount of available sex workers not only in bars, but freelancers that work the streets and online,” he said.
“Pattaya is generally safe though. You won’t get into any trouble walking alone late at night as crime is low.
“The most you would have to worry about is getting pick-pocketed, especially on walking street.
“You could almost assume the same for the rest of the country. I am comfortable walking through an alley even in Bangkok late at night.
“I wouldn’t do that in most western countries.”
SOURCE: https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/incidents/13-an-hour-grisly-truth-about-the-seedy-underworld-of-pattaya-thailand/news-story/93972cc5b4780519eff8fe722acd00db
