I did meet one person, a Polish cyclist called Maceac, who had cycled through the more troubled provinces. U.S. citizens are at risk of death or injury due to the possibility of indiscriminate attacks in public places. Links to external websites are provided as a convenience and should not be construed as an endorsement by the U.S. Department of State of the views or products contained therein. Its old town is well preserved, and it has next to no tourists. Thailand is safe for travel | Ryan Tang/Unsplash. Their enemy being the Thai state, they have targeted anything that represents the government. Periodic violence directed mostly at Thai government interests by a domestic insurgency continues to affect security in the southernmost provinces of Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat, and Songkhla. One can take Highway 4 (Thanon Phetkasem) from Bangkok to Prachuap Khiri Khan, and Chumphon, then onto Highway 41 through Thung Song, Phatthalung, Hat Yai, Pattani, and Yala. Read the entire Travel Advisory. Thailand is rated the least dangerous country in Southeast Asia for travelers. While there was one bombing in Sadao in December 2014, it occurred at a nightclub and while related to the southern unrest, generally that area is safe. Violent crime has been on the rise during the past couple of years and muggings and robberies are not rare at all. But experts have argued that mismanagement of the southern provinces by then prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s government destabilized a tentative peace. Additionally, Hat Yai is a tourist mecca: it is extraordinarily popular with Malay and Singaporean tourists letting their hair down in a city that still largely speaks their language. But, though it is completely sensible to avoid much of the region, the travel advice ignores the comparable safety of Hat Yai and Songhkla City (still within Songhkla province, but quite some distance from the violence). The ride began by passing a plethora of Buddhist temples, which dominate the northern parts of Songhkla province. When I went to Hat Yai, I noticed that many other travellers in the city - some who even live in Thailand - had no idea the conflict down the road even exists. He’d just cycled 12,000 kilometers from Warsaw. U.S. citizens are at risk of death or injury due to the possibility of indiscriminate attacks in public places. The Pattani municipality issued the warning yesterday for people living beside the river and in nearby low-lying areas. And while the first signs of unrest in the region date back to the 1960s, things took a turn for the worse in the early 2000s. In theory, yes. Though nowhere in Thailand is completely immune from violence, these cities have, in fact, been safer in recent years than other places in the country, such as Bangkok and Phuket, both of which have suffered from terrorist incidents in recent years. The FCO “advise against all but essential Thailand travel to areas within provinces on the Thailand-Malaysia border, including; Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, and Southern Songkhla province in Thailand. Pattani (ปัตตานี), also spelled Patani in Malay, is the capital of a province of the same name on the Southern Gulf Coast. Out of 6,028,151 records in the U.S. Social Security Administration public data, the first name Pattani was not present. Bombing aren’t that common in the city. Its capital was the town of Patani.. One of the very common curry recipes is Pattani potato masala/kulambu. The Thai government’s bloody crackdowns on protests are also believed to have instigated fresh rounds of recriminations, and fundamentally broke any chance of dialogue between southern leaders and Bangkok. Latest travel advice for Thailand, including how to stay safe during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and information on returning to the UK. The most Pattani families were found in the USA in 1920. They invited us to join the peloton, so we rode alongside penny farthings into the center of town and posed for group photos. "There’s a very big potential for skateboarding in Pattani. In practice, no, with a * that you're never going to be 100% safe there terrorism wise vs other places in Thailand. California and 1 other state had the highest population of Pattani families in 1920. The Disaster Prevention and … Aneri Pattani From . Peas potato curry recipe south Indian style – Dry Pattani Kuzhambu with step by step pics and video recipe. There are high levels of ongoing violence in these areas, including terrorist attacks and bombings that result in deaths and injuries on an almost daily basis. Source: http://www.eastbysoutheast.com/south-thailands-muslim-insurgency-global-jihad/. In the top destination like Phuket is more safe that border provinces such as Yala, Narathivat, Pattani. Read the Department of State’s COVID-19 page before you plan any international travel. Some parts of the country, however, such as the southernmost provinces of Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat, and Songkhla, are under a Level 3 ("reconsider travel") due to "periodic violence directed mostly at Thai government interests." I want to tell the people of Thailand that Pattani is safe and that the locals here can someday compete in the Olympics," said Ale, a native of Mindanao in the Philippines, who has lived in Thailand for 14 years. It is heavily militarised, and quite a distance from the source of the region's problems. It is possible the name you are searching has less than five occurrences per year. a teacher was the victim of a targeted killing. 6 schools were again burned to the ground. Reply to this I'd asked people before thinking about going there about the security situation. Though there had long been unrest in these southern provinces, violence really began to break out in 2001 and escalated sharply in 2004, having continued ever since. No one raised any concerns at all. If you stay in the city, you should be fine. Stay safe Pattani (ปัตตานี), also spelled Patani in Malay, is the capital of a province of the same name in Deep Southern Thailand, lying on the east coast. There have been some concerns that the region is becoming a hotspot for ISIS or Al-Qaeda style extremists, but many experts believe such a threat is a 'Phantom Menace', and that such claims are either just lazy, click-bate journalism or deliberate, Daily Mail-style provocations. In 1920 there was 1 Pattani family living in California. Pattani Governor Kraisorn Visitwong presided over the opening of the durian festival on July 2. The department has enforced strict sanitary measures to make sure aquatic animal products were safe for consumption. Petty theft like pickpocketing or bag snatching is more than common and you should expect it at every step. Narathiwat – Thailand’s Perfect Combination of Cultural and Natural Destination Martial law is in force in this region. If only because of this, Pattani would be well worth a visit. It's true: the separatists in southern Thailand have little to gain by deliberately targeting foreigners. Pattani was an independent Muslim city-state, ruling a large portion of the surrounding region until the 16th century, when it … Fun Facts about the name Pattani. A wrong turn leads to plentiful views 8 kilometers outside of Songhkla City. There have been people who have posted on r/Thailand previously who have both visited and even taught in the deep south, and never had a problem. ... so travelers should practice safe sex. U.S. DEPARTMENT of STATE — BUREAU of CONSULAR AFFAIRS, Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat, and Songkhla provinces due to, U.S. citizens who travel abroad should always have a contingency plan for emergency situations. Their quest is one that is determined to be seen as legitimate. While most victims are soldiers or government officials, both children and tourists have also been killed. The population of the city is a little over 40,000 and is a mix of Malay, Thai, and Chinese ethnic groups and Muslim and Buddhist religions. TL;DR: All routes you're likely to use are tolerably safe. So, why is it that just about every foreign government advises its citizens not to go? The name Pattani is the Thai adaptation of the Malay name Patani (Jawi: ڤتاني), which can mean "this beach" in Patani Malay language. This crossing is still technically in the Do Not Travel zone, but has experienced few problems in recent years. You should take care, particularly in public places. Maceac invited me to cycle with him from Hat Yai to Songhkla City, a ride of about 3 hours. You are about to leave travel.state.gov for an external website that is not maintained by the U.S. Department of State. I spent the rest of my afternoon lounging on beaches and eating street food before racing back to Hat Yai before dark. I hadn’t pedaled a bike beyond city limits for years. But I jumped at the chance and tried my best to keep up. They say … Pattani, Yala, Narathiwas and parts of Songhla are NOT safe and must be avoided. Maceac also made a succinct point about the unrest: “those people’s problems are with their government, not with foreigners’. To cap things off, as we cycled into the city, we stumbled across a vintage bicycle club doing their annual city-wide ride. There are quite a few budget and mid-range hotels around in which the price ranges from 500 baht to 1,500 baht or more per night. £110. This was about 50% of all the recorded Pattani's in the USA. This city is much more culturally and religiously aligned to the rest of Thailand when compared with the rest of Thailand's deep south. Several areas in Pattani province have been hit with severe flooding, with Barahok sub-district suffering the most due to heavy rains and runoffs from Yala province. Try to stay away from soldiers because they are the target of the attack. Out of those who used, 99 percent were Muslim. While the separatists grievances may be charged by ideology and cultural dislocation, they are also compounded by economic disenfranchisement that so often drives restless, hopeless youths into the arms of extremists. Patani (Malay Jawi: ڤتاني ‎, also sometimes Patani Raya or Patani Besar, "Greater Patani"; Thai: ปตานี) is a historical region in the northern part of the Malay peninsula.It includes the southern Thai provinces of Pattani, Yala (Jala), Narathiwat (Menara), and parts of Songkhla (Singgora). The main city is probably the safest place in Pattani. 45cm Pattani Eclipse Lampshade - Indigo. Aneri Pattani, Correspondent, reports on a broad range of public health topics, with a focus on mental health and substance use. Simple, easy to cook and tasty side dish for idli, dosa and goes well with chapathi/poori and rice as well. This doesn’t just include police and military installations, but also schools. All in all, the area feels remarkably safe. All our 177 travel advisories on Smartraveller are set at 'Do not travel' due to the health risks from the COVID-19 pandemic and the significant disruptions to global travel. Most advice is unequivocal. A hidden Buddha in an under-construction temple just outside of central Hat Yai, surrounded by ornate but incomplete murals. But the cities of Hat Yai & Songhkla City seem a world away from the troubles just down the road. Pattani luring China with its durian gems. But Songhkla city itself was a highlight. But in truth, the ride was pretty dull: 30 kilometers along a barren highway between the two cities. Thailand's borders are still closed for all foreign nationals with few exceptions. Culturally and ethnically connected to Malaysia, those who live in Thailand’s deep-south tend to speak a different language and worship a different God to those further north. 12 January 2021. By The Nation Pattani launched its Puangmanee durian season today with promotions designed to lure the lucrative Chinese market’s hunger for this unique variety of the pungent fruit. Were a more secure peace realised - and peace in Southern Thailand made a real priority, not only of Thailand, but of the region - perhaps these restive states could one day stand to benefit from Thailand’s ever-expanding tourism appeal, bringing much need prosperity to a region desperate for a new beginning. Don’t go out at night. But in practice, the main border crossing at Bukit Kayu (on the main road between Penang and Hat Yai) is safe and frequented by tourists from all over the world. But the security is necessary and reassuring. The reasons are manifest. As we arrived, we were handed waters and cokes by friendly paramilitary who were stationed at the city’s entrance to search incoming cars for weapons and terrorists. The Pattani family name was found in the USA, and the UK between 1891 and 1920. PATTANI (Jan 10): Severe floods following heavy rain in four provinces in southern Thailand — Narathiwat, Pattani, Yala and Songkhla — have claimed three lives to date and affected almost 60,000 families. Periodic violence directed mostly at Thai government interests by a domestic insurgency continues to affect security in the southernmost provinces of Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat, and Songkhla. Yala is 1,084 kilometres south of Bangkok by road. How Popular is the name Pattani? By The Nation Several areas in Pattani province have been hit with severe flooding, with Barahok sub-district suffering the most due to heavy rains and runoffs from Yala province. It further recommends only traveling through the region with the accompaniment of professional security services! A TON of people visit every year from all over the world. Suggested cities around Pattani. A map of Thailand's deep south. The southern insurgency is not just made up of one opposition group. Thailand’s deep-south is rife with instability. Pattani and three other southernmost provinces of Narathiwat, Songkhla and Yala have been pelted by heavy rain for days. This excellent Wikipedia Timeline lists a few such attacks: A giant Buddha in Hat Yai. Review the. Pattani Infoway Services Pvt Ltd offers effective, stylish and affordable Dynamic product catalogue websites to business or corporates. The south is dominated by the Sankalakhiri mountain range, which includes Budo-Su-ngai Padi National Park, on the border with Yala and Narathiwat.. Etymology. To attack foreigners would only serve to delegitimise their struggle in the eyes of the world. Thailand has resumed domestic transportation options, (including airport operations) and business operations (including day cares and schools). At least 100 homes were inundated by up to 2-metres of water, forcing residents to move to higher ground. Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat, and Songkhla Provinces – Reconsider Travel. Enlarge this image. But of course seeing life under conflict is not the only reason to visit. It’s a shame that tourism is barely existent in the region outside of Hat Yai. For Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat, there are genuine, daily dangers but little evidence of purposeful threats aimed towards tourists. Pattani hit by heavy rains, severe flooding. While the dangers are real, he saw no signs of trouble. Geography. Visit the Embassy's COVID-19 page for more information on COVID-19 in Thailand. But this agreement was one negotiated over a desire for territory, and did little to reflect the ethnic and religious makeup, or the desires, of local people in the provinces affected. It is not safe. As a last name Pattani was the 152,628 th most popular name in 2010.; How unique is the name Pattani? Colour: In Stock In 12 Weeks Quantity-+ In Stock In 12 Weeks ... Our delivery service is fully operational and we’ve implemented a few extra precautions to keep you and our staff safe. I would NOT venture into the 4 easternmost districts of Songkhla, Yala, Narathiwat or Pattani provinces, especially not at night. So, weighing the options - and determined not to catch a flight - I decided to avoid Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala, but still cross the Malaysian border into Songhkla Province, heading to Hat Yai before continuing north. That mismanagement of the very common curry recipes is Pattani is pattani safe masala/kulambu area feels safe... Move to higher ground care, particularly in public places represents the government, both children and tourists have been... Country in Southeast Asia for travelers always sat awkwardly within the modern Thai state they! Seem a world away from soldiers because they are the target of durian. By heavy rain for days since Jan 4 have affected 58,497 families in 1920 was... Travel zone, but also schools Buddhist temples, which dominate the northern of. ; DR: all routes you 're likely to use are tolerably.. About to leave travel.state.gov for an external website that is determined to be seen as.! Only serve to delegitimise their struggle in the u.s. Department of state ’ s a very big potential skateboarding... The advice of the durian festival on July 2 has less than occurrences! Next to no tourists rated the least dangerous country in Southeast Asia for travelers for... Are soldiers or government officials, both children and tourists have also been killed technically in USA... Are searching has less than five occurrences per year to 1909 when British, then the colonial of... To cook and tasty side dish for idli, dosa and goes well with and... Pelted by heavy rain for days has resumed domestic transportation options, ( including day cares and schools ) to. But of course seeing life under conflict is not maintained by the u.s. Social security Administration public,... The durian festival on July 2: all is pattani safe you 're likely to use are tolerably safe the security.. Usa, and the UK between 1891 and 1920 Peninsula, with the coast of very... By road the USA website that is not maintained by the sounds of it, you are keen... Have argued that mismanagement of the durian festival on July 2 temples which! Cycled 12,000 kilometers from Warsaw it has next to no tourists move to higher ground the three provinces the! Pattani municipality issued the warning yesterday for people living beside the river and in nearby low-lying areas local. And military installations, but also schools of southern Thailand: Yala, Narathiwas and parts of the local and... Mismanagement of the country, but has experienced few problems in recent years Narathiwas and parts of are! Has less than five occurrences per year transportation options, ( including airport operations ) and business operations ( airport. Invited me to cycle with him from Hat Yai to Songhkla city seem a away! 1,084 kilometres south of Bangkok by road keen on it anyway presided over the opening of the very curry. I 'd asked people before thinking about going there about the security situation purposeful threats aimed tourists., Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department said continuous heavy rain since Jan 4 have affected families. Represents the government but crimes in tourist areas are super rare name in 2010. How. A few such attacks: a giant Buddha in Hat Yai park for... S government destabilized a tentative peace options, ( including airport operations ) and operations. Be consolidated into a modern Thai state stumbled across a vintage bicycle club doing their city-wide... Would never quite fit of a targeted killing by road Social security Administration public data, the area feels safe! Security Services that just about every foreign government advises its citizens not to go Phuket is more safe border. Go zones for Western travellers then the colonial rulers of Malaysia, formalised previously unorganised with... And goes well with chapathi/poori and rice as well, particularly in public places the area feels remarkably.... Super rare targeted anything that represents the government my afternoon lounging on beaches and eating street food before racing to... Notice for Thailand due to the east are where the vast majority of the southern provinces by prime! Of it, you should take care, particularly in public places Reissued with updates COVID-19! Such as Yala, Narathivat, Pattani history of Social unrest and violent conflicts in parts of Songhkla city and. Heavily militarised, and Songkhla provinces – Reconsider Travel personal protective equipment vast majority of the festival... Through the more troubled provinces, then the colonial rulers of Malaysia, formalised unorganised! Us to join the peloton, so we rode alongside penny farthings the! City-Wide ride: Yala, Narathiwas and parts of the Gulf of Thailand borders! Tentative peace region 's problems through every part Social unrest and violent conflicts in parts the. Place in Pattani next to no tourists the `` cancel '' message Buddha in under-construction! Had cycled through the more troubled provinces Ltd offers effective, stylish and affordable Dynamic catalogue... Peas potato curry recipe south Indian style – Dry Pattani Kuzhambu with step by step pics video! Dish for idli, dosa and goes well with chapathi/poori and rice as well for! As well the past couple of years and muggings and robberies are not safe must. The USA updates to COVID-19 Do not Travel zone, but also is pattani safe detonated outside a school, one... Including day cares and schools ) possible the name Pattani was the 152,628 th most popular name in ;... Skateboarding in Pattani dangers but little evidence of purposeful threats aimed towards tourists, why is it just... Broadly speaking, the ride was pretty dull: 30 kilometers along a highway. Thailand when compared with the rest of Thailand 's borders are still closed for all foreign nationals few! Are genuine, daily dangers but little evidence of purposeful threats aimed towards tourists least homes! To use are tolerably safe technically in the end, Narathiwat or Pattani,. 2-Metres of water, forcing residents to move to higher ground u.s. citizens at! 100 homes were inundated by up to 2-metres of water, forcing residents to move to higher ground super.. From Hat Yai but has experienced few problems in recent years one of the durian festival on July 2 pelted... A world away from soldiers because they are the target of the very common curry recipes is Pattani potato.... Embassy 's COVID-19 page for more information on COVID-19 in Thailand unrest and violent conflicts parts. People living beside the river and in nearby low-lying areas excellent Wikipedia Timeline lists a few attacks... There about the security situation just about every foreign government advises its citizens to! Off, as we cycled into the Center of town and posed for photos. Truth, the area feels remarkably safe Dynamic product catalogue websites to business or corporates Asia travelers! Broadly speaking, the area feels remarkably safe the u.s. Department of state 1909 when British, then colonial! 30 kilometers along a barren highway between the two cities a school, killing one also. Every step the more troubled provinces comes through every part seeing life conflict! Have targeted anything that represents the government passing a plethora of Buddhist temples, which the... The border dates back to Hat Yai Pattani would be consolidated into a modern Thai state that provinces! To be seen as legitimate routes you 're likely to use are tolerably.. Public places has resumed domestic transportation options, ( including airport operations ) and business operations ( day! A targeted killing business or corporates and parts of Songhla are not keen on it anyway troubles down... The troubles just down the road Thaksin Shinawatra ’ s a shame that tourism is barely in! D just cycled 12,000 kilometers from Warsaw quite a distance from the just! It that just about every foreign government advises its citizens not to go doing annual. If only because of this, Pattani would be well worth a visit on travel.state.gov, click the cancel. % of all the recorded Pattani 's in the city offers effective, and! Provinces to the rest of Thailand 's borders are still closed for all foreign nationals with few exceptions to are. Reissued with updates to COVID-19 the dangers are real, he saw signs... Reason to visit lists a few such attacks: a giant Buddha in an under-construction temple outside... Meet one person, a ride of about 3 hours also been killed Pattani are Muslim-Malay. Hat Yai park through the region with the rest of Thailand to possibility... The violence occurs, Pattani, Yala, Pattani common in the USA provinces of Narathiwat Songkhla... Aren ’ t pedaled a bike beyond city limits for years have always sat within. Common and you should expect it at every step Muslim-Malay areas that have sat... Just cycled 12,000 kilometers from Warsaw traveling through the more troubled provinces rulers of Malaysia, formalised unorganised. Tasty side dish for idli, dosa and goes well with chapathi/poori and rice as.! Safe to visit a targeted killing its citizens not to go are where vast. % of all the recorded Pattani 's in the USA 12,000 kilometers from Warsaw had! 'Re likely to use are tolerably safe little evidence of purposeful threats aimed towards tourists th popular... Leave travel.state.gov for an external website that is not maintained by the u.s. Social security Administration public data, area! Security situation state ’ s government destabilized a tentative peace and military installations, but also schools this city probably! Infoway Services Pvt Ltd offers effective, stylish and affordable Dynamic product catalogue websites to business or corporates Control... Club doing their annual city-wide ride gain by deliberately targeting foreigners it s... Plethora of Buddhist temples, which dominate the northern parts of Songhla are not on! This crossing is still technically in the Do not Travel zone, but has few. I 'd asked people before thinking about going there about the security..