Editing Patpong (section)

==History and ownership==
Patpong gets its name from the family that owns much of the area's property. [[Luang Patpongpanich]] (or Patpongpanit), an immigrant from [[Hainan Island]], [[China]], purchased the area in 1946.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Slow |first=Oliver |date=2020-10-30 |title=When the CIA Ran Covert Operations From Bangkok's Red-Light District |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/when-the-cia-ran-covert-operations-from-bangkoks-red-light-district/ |access-date=2024-09-06 |website=VICE |language=en-US}}</ref> At that time it was an undeveloped plot of land on the outskirts of the city.<ref name="Experience Unique Bangkok">{{cite web |title=Patpong night market - the one amid the red light district |url=https://www.expique.com/blog/2016/07/18/patpong-night-market-the-one-amid-bangkoks-red-light-district/ |website=Experience Unique Bangkok |access-date=19 December 2018 |date=18 July 2016}}</ref> A small [[klong]] (canal) and a teakwood house were the only features. The family built a road – now called Patpong 1 – and several shop buildings, which were rented out. Patpong 2 was added later, and both roads are private property and not city streets.<ref name="Experience Unique Bangkok" /> Patpong 3 and Soi Thaniya are not owned by the Patpongpanich family. The old teak house was demolished long ago and the klong was filled in to make room for more shops. Originally Patpong was an ordinary business area, but the arrival of bars eventually drove out most of the other businesses.

By 1968, a handful of nightclubs existed in the area, and Patpong became an [[R&R (military)|R&R]] (rest and recuperation) stop for US military officers serving in the [[Vietnam War]],<ref name="Experience Unique Bangkok" /> although the main R&R area for GIs was along New Petchburi Road, nicknamed "The Golden Mile".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Janssen |first1=Peter |title=Patpong: the rise of Bangkok's most famous red light district charted at new museum, complete with mock-up bar room and 'X-rated' area |url=https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3039692/patpong-rise-bangkoks-most-famous-red-light-district |access-date=24 December 2019 |work=South China Morning Post |date=29 November 2019}}</ref> In its prime during the 1970s and 1980s, Patpong was the premier nightlife area in Bangkok for foreigners, and was famous for its sexually explicit shows. In the mid-1980s the sois hosted an annual Patpong Mardi Gras, which was a weekend street fair that raised money for Thai charities.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Patpong Mardi Gras |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1983/02/19/The-Patpong-Mardi-Gras/9110414478800/ |website=UPI |access-date=19 December 2018 |language=en |date=19 February 1983}}</ref> In the early-1990s, however, the Patpongpanich family turned the sidewalks of Patpong 1 Road into a night market, renting out spaces to street vendors.<ref>Michael Backman. [http://www.theage.com.au/news/business/the-banana-plantation-turned-sex-zone/2005/09/20/1126982060480.html The banana plantation turned sex zone], ''[[The Age]]'', 2005-09-21</ref>

The consequence was that Patpong lost much of its vibrancy as a nightlife strip, becoming crowded with tourist shoppers who ignored the nightlife. [[Nana Plaza]] and [[Soi Cowboy]] drew away many of Patpong's thrill seekers. Patpong became a designated "entertainment zone" in 2004, along with [[Royal City Avenue]] (RCA) and portions of [[Ratchadapisek Road]], where the largest commercial sex venues are found. This designation allows its bars to stay open until 02:00, instead of the 24:00 or 01:00 legal closing times enforced in other areas.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Itthipongmaetee|first1=Chayanit|title=Why Bangkok's Fun is Ending at Midnight Again|url=http://www.khaosodenglish.com/life/entertainment/2018/02/13/bangkoks-fun-ending-midnight/|access-date=19 February 2018|work=Khaosod English|date=2018-02-13}}</ref>

In October 2019 the [[Patpong Museum]] opened in Patpong Soi 2, housing a collection of [[art]], [[antiques]] and [[displays]] covering 70 years of Patpong's history. The privately owned museum was located on the 2nd floor of building 5 opposite [[Foodland (Thailand)|Foodland]] supermarket and below Black Pagoda.<ref>{{cite news|title='Patpong Museum' opens in Bangkok's original soi of sex|url=https://coconuts.co/bangkok/news/patpong-museum-opens-in-bangkoks-original-soi-of-sex/|date=28 October 2019|website=Coconuts}}</ref> Patpong Museum closed as of May 2023.