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{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions -->| name                            = Patong
| official_name                   = Patong Town Municipality<!-- เทศบาลเมืองป่าตอง -->
| native_name                     = ป่าตอง
| native_name_lang                = th
| settlement_type                 = [[Thesaban|Town Municipality]]
| image_skyline                   = Patong Beach.jpg
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| pushpin_map                     = Thailand
<!-- the name of a location map as per http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Location_map -->| pushpin_label_position          = <!-- the position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none -->
| pushpin_map_alt                 = 
| pushpin_map_caption             = Patong
| coordinates                     = {{coord|7|53|35|N|98|17|54|E|display=inline,title}}
| coor_pinpoint                   = 
| coordinates_footnotes           = 
| subdivision_type                = Country
| subdivision_name                = Thailand
| subdivision_type1               = Province
| subdivision_name1               = [[Phuket Province]]
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| unit_pref                       = Metric<!-- or US or UK -->
| area_footnotes                  = 
| area_total_km2                  = 16.4
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| area_note                       = 
| area_metro_km2                  = 67.09
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| population_total                = 19,346
| population_as_of                = 
| population_density_km2          = auto
| population_demonym              = 
| population_note                 = Registered residents only
| population_metro                = 59,261
| timezone1                       = [[Time in Thailand|ICT]]
| utc_offset1                     = +7
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}}

'''Patong''' ({{langx|th|ป่าตอง}} {{RTGS|Pa Tong}},<ref>{{cite book |editor=Supeepat Chongpanish|year=2007|title=ชื่อจังหวัด อำเภอ/กิ่งอำเภอ ตำบล เขต และแขวง ไทย-อังกฤษ ฉบับรับรองโดยราชบัณฑิตยสถาน / Thai-English Transcription of Changwat, Amphoe, King Amphoe, Tambon, Khet and Khwang Approved by the Royal Institute|language=Thai|location=Bangkok|publisher= กองวิชาการและแผนงาน. กรมการปกครอง / Technical Services and Planning Division. Department of Provincial Administration|isbn=9789747857047}}</ref> {{IPA|th|pàː tɔ̄ːŋ|pron}}) refers to the [[beach]] and town on [[Phuket Province|Phuket]]'s west coast. It is the main [[tourist]] resort on the island of Phuket, and is the centre of Phuket's nightlife and shopping. The beach became popular with Western tourists, especially Europeans, in the late-1980s. It has numerous [[hotel]]s and the area has expanded into a tourist place. Bangla Road is a popular street in this area with vibrant nightlife. <ref>{{cite web |title=Patong Beach |url=https://www.tripadvisor.in/Attraction_Review-g297930-d1866109-Reviews-Bangla_Road-Patong_Kathu_Phuket.html |website=Trip Advisor |access-date=1 July 2025}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Patong Beach, Phuket Thailand - panoramio.jpg|thumb|left|Bangla Road, Patong Beach Walking Street, 2013]]
[[File:Bangla Road Patong Thajsko 2018 5.jpg|thumb|left|Bars along Bangla Road, Patong (2018)]]

Patong Beach is known for its [[nightlife (activity)|nightlife]] and 2850-metre (1.77 mile) beach that runs the entire length of Patong's west side. Nightlife is centered in two main areas, Bangla Road and the "Paradise Complex", with Bangla Road being predominantly [[Heterosexuality|straight]] and Paradise Complex [[gay]]. Both are lined with many [[Bar (establishment)|bar]]s, [[discotheque]]s, and [[go go bar]]s. [[Prostitution in Thailand]] is illegal, but tolerated, as is the case in Patong. 

On 26 December 2004, Patong Beach along with many other areas along the west coast of Phuket and Thailand were struck by a [[tsunami]] caused by the [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake]]. The wave caused a great deal of destruction to the waterfront of the beach and immediately inland and only one woman was killed in a basement seafront grocery store. Patong was one of the worst affected areas of Phuket, although the destruction was not as bad as nearby [[Khao Lak]]. Patong has largely recovered since the tsunami.

==Environment==
{{Asof|2015}} the waters off Patong Beach exceeded Thai Pollution Control Department standards for [[fecal coliform]] bacteria (FCB) and [[enterococci]] bacteria.<ref name="PCD-AR2015">{{cite book|title=Thailand State of Pollution Report 2015|date=2016|publisher=Pollution Control Department, [[Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (Thailand)]]|location=Bangkok|isbn=978-616-316-327-1|url=http://infofile.pcd.go.th/mgt/PollutionReport2015_en.pdf|accessdate=5 September 2017|archive-date=5 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170905191033/http://infofile.pcd.go.th/mgt/PollutionReport2015_en.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>{{RP|60}} To avoid paying the municipal wastewater treatment fee of five [[Thai baht|baht]] per cubic meter, many households discharge their wastewater untreated into canals and the sea. Patong also has limited capacity to treat wastewater. The municipal wastewater treatment plant is nearing its capacity of 28,000 m<sup>3</sup> a day. An upgrade be operational in 2018 which will increase capacity by an extra 9,000 m<sup>3</sup> per day.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Chuennirun|first1=Achadtaya|last2=Wipatayotin|first2=Apinya|title=Image-conscious Patong to dredge 'black' waste canal|url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1454074/image-conscious-patong-to-dredge-black-waste-canal|accessdate=28 April 2018|work=Bangkok Post|date=28 April 2018}}</ref>

=== Municipality's Efforts to Maintain Cleanliness at Patong Beach in Phuket ===
Patong Beach, attracting a large number of visitors every day. Unfortunately, this influx of tourists can sometimes lead to pollution and garbage on the beach.{{cn|date=December 2024}}

=== Nightlife ===
Bangla is considered as the most popular walking street in Phuket. Along the street is full of beer bars and go-go bars, which makes tourists stay there longer or in a whole night.<ref>{{cite web |last=Patwary |first=MD Faysal Islam |title=Bangla Road: The shady heart of all Phuket nightlife |url=https://incredibleasia.org/bangla-road-the-shady-heart-of-all-phuket/ |website=Incredible Asia |date=January 5, 2023 |access-date=October 6, 2024}}</ref>

[[File:Patong Beach, Phuket, Thailand Panorama.jpg|left|thumb|800x800px|Patong Beach.]]

==Gallery==

<gallery>
File:Вид с вертолета на Патонг (март 2013) - panoramio (1).jpg|Aerial view of Patong
File:Patong Beach Phuket November 2012.jpg|Patong Beach
File:PhuketStreet.jpg|[[Songthaew]]s, Thawiwong Rd, Patong Beach
File:PatongBeach.jpg|Patong Beach from Thawiwong
File:Thanon Thawewong Patong Phuket.jpg|Traffic in Patong's streets
File:Jungceylon Patong Thajsko 2018 1.jpg|Jungceylon Shopping Mall
File:Night market Patong Thajsko 2018 1.jpg|Banzan Night Market
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Patong Beach}}
*{{Wikivoyage-inline}}
*[http://www.patongonline.com Patong videos] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220626074809/http://patongonline.com/ |date=2022-06-26 }}
*[http://thailand.tv/watch/patong-beach Patong Beach video guide]

{{Prostitution in Thailand}}

[[Category:Populated places in Phuket province]]
[[Category:Beaches of Phuket province]]
[[Category:Red-light districts in Thailand]]