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Patpong consists of four parallel streets which run between Silom Road and Surawong Road . Patpong 1 is the main street with many go go bars. This is where most of the action is. Patpong 2 has many bars, a few of which attracts regular tourists. Patpong 3 is for gay men. Patpong 4 has a few bars with Thai girls that caters to Japanese men.
The area started as a R&R (Rest and Recuperation) location for US troops involved in the Vietnam War. In its prime during the 1970s and 1980s, Patpong was the premier red-light area in Bangkok, famous for its sex shows. Today, the other red-light areas of Nana Plaza and Soi Cowboy provide strong competition. However, Patpong is the only one of these areas to lie within the official entertainment zones decreed in 2004.
In recent years, the streets of Patpong have been taken over by the Patpong night market , making movement in the area difficult and filling the area with farang tourist couples and backpackers.