USS Abraham Lincoln: US sailors arrive in Thailand's Pattaya after record 250 days at sea - BBC News

The USS Abraham Lincoln is docking close to Pattaya, known for its neon-lit nightlife, and for sex tourism.

To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.This video can not be played

Watch: Why US troops have a history in this raucous Thai city

After a record 250 days at sea without a port stop, the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln has docked in Thailand, giving its nearly 5,000 crew members a much-needed break.

The ship is docking close to the beach resort of Pattaya, known for its raucous nightlife and for sex tourism. For the US it also carries strong historical echoes.

When the weary sailors walk into the city's bars and restaurants, they will be treading in the footsteps of the hundreds of thousands of US troops who came here for R&R – rest and relaxation - during the Vietnam War.