Thai Culture FAQ

What are the do’s and don’ts for Thailand?
There are a number of do’s and don’ts in Thailand as it is a different culture. The visitors must not disrespect the king or culture of Thailand at any cost.
Being impolite about the King or the royal family will land you in serious trouble. Do not make any negative comment or joke about the king or royal family
The visitors have to dress properly while visiting the wats or the temples of Thailand. The Buddha images are sacred so do not climb on them.
Feet are considered the lowest part of the body so make sure you do not point it at someone or touch someone with it.
Thais are usually very calm and composed so similar attitude is expected from your end. Try to smile a lot and maintain an amiable attitude.
It is important to take your shoes off before going into a Thai house or a temple.
Always use your right hand or both of your hands while giving things to anyone as left hand is considered impure.
Try to be properly dresses outside of the tourist areas.

How are the people of Thailand actually?
Thailand is called the ‘land of thousand smiles’ for its amiable people. The friendliness of the people reflects in their daily attitude. The Thais however can hassle and lie to you incase they want to sell you something. The experience with the Thai people is better out of the tourist areas as out there you can get to see the real mentality of the people.

What kind of outfits should I wear in Thailand?
Thais are extremely conservative so try to wear descent clothes. In the tourist areas, the types of dress you wear is not a major concern however in the non-tourist areas try to wear descent clothes. It is best to copy the locals regarding clothes. It is best not to wear clothes, which are dirty or unwashed.

Is it difficult to communicate with the Thais?
It is difficult to speak with the Thais as most of them do not know any English. However, it is not a problem traveling around this country without the knowledge of Thai and thousands of tourists come and travel this country with no problem all year round. However, it is always better to know some Thai.

Is it common to go topless or roam nude in the beaches of Thailand?
In the major tourist spots Thailand like Phuket, Koh Samui and Ko Pha-Ngan, the visitors can go topless or nude as these are exclusive tourist spots. The locals here do not care about the actions of the foreigners. But in the non-touristy places it would be offensive to go topless or nude. It is illegal to be nude on the beaches so try to avoid it.

What kind of kids should I give the Thais?
Thais can be very gratified if they get photos or postcards from you home country. Foreign chocolates are also a favorite of most of the Thai people. if you are invited to a house, you can give or gift them flowers.

Can I buy Buddha images and take it out from Thailand?
Small amulets or lockets with Buddha images can be taken out of the country without any problem. The non- Buddhists might face some problem if they want to take home a big Buddha statues and one also has to get a permit for it.