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Thailand Do's and Dont's AusWaThai ver: 20-07-11
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The Thai people are well known for their tolerance, hospitality and cheerfulness. They will ignore the small blunders of social etiquette that we make (as we do). For the average tourist it’s very difficult to go wrong. Just smile a lot, avoid confrontation, and don’t insult the religion or monarchy. Here are a few specific do’s and don’ts.
The Monarchy
Social Etiquette
Religion
Dress & Appearance
Other links: Bangkok tourism maps, Online Thai language links and more The Monarchy All members of the Royal Family are held in the highest reverence in Thailand and visitors should show similar respect. Negative remarks about the monarchy may be considered lese majeste, an offence carrying severe punishment in Thailand. Do not step on a coin or make any negative references toward the Royal Family. When the national anthem is played, at 8.00 am and 6.00 pm everyday and at public events or in cinemas, for example, you are expected to stand. The best guide is to check what other people are doing and follow suit. 6pm be ready to stand still! The National Anthem is played at 6pm in most public places and people show the upmost respect. More at W.A.T. Thai Culture A to Z back to Index Religion Do not insult the religion in any way, whether it be the majority religion, Buddhism, or any of the minority faiths. It is an offence to commit any act that may be considered insulting to a religion. For the traveler, this means proper conduct in temples or any location containing religious images. All Buddha images, large or small, are considered sacred. Don’t climb atop or pose for photos in front of images of the Buddha. Always dress neatly in temples – shorts and sleeveless shirts are considered inappropriate. Do not wear shoes inside the main chapel of a temple where the principal Buddha image is kept. It’s OK to wear shoes in the temple compound. Monks are forbidden to touch or be touched by a woman. A woman wishing to present something to a monk or novice should first place it on a piece of cloth. This can then be retrieved by the monk. Any shrine regardless of size must be considered "protected" property Do Not say or do anything disrespectful. In a Muslim mosque, men should wear hats and women should be well-covered with slacks or a long skirt, a long-sleeved blouse buttoned to the neck, and a head-scarf. More at W.A.T. Thai Culture A to Z -
www.wat.austhai.biz/Home/thai-culture back to Index
2 Social Etiquette Wai
The head is a temple
gifts
never say No
affection is private
temper don't lose face
shoes/footwear
In the big cities such as Bangkok and Chiang Mai, Western customs are well known and widely accepted. Upcountry, traditional customs and social behavior are still used. Here are a few customs to keep in mind. Wai Thais greet each other with a ‘wai’, a prayer-like, palms-together gesture, not a handshake. Generally, a younger person ‘wais’ an elder or senior person, who will then return the gesture. Even though most Thais are familiar with the Western handshake, a ‘wai’ is always appreciated. for history of a wai visit www.wat.austhai.biz/Home/thai-culture/a-wai The Head is a temple Thais regard the head as the highest part of the body, literally and figuratively. Don’t touch Thais on the head, even playfully. If you accidentally touch someone’s head, offer an apology immediately. Similarly, the foot is considered the lowest part of the body. Don’t use your feet to point at either people or objects. Don’t touch anyone with your feet. Don’t rest your feet on tables or chairs. Don’t step over people – always walk around or politely ask them to move. When sitting on the floor, try to tuck your feet underneath and to the side so they’re not pointing at anyone. Always keep both feet on the ground when you are sitting do not point your fingers at anyone do not step over another person or any part of their body When handing objects to people, use both hands or the right hand only. Do not slide or toss objects across the room. Get up and pass them in person, no matter how inconvenient this may seem. Affection is Private! Public displays of affection are frowned upon. Some Thai couples may be seen holding hands, but this is the extent of public affection in polite society. Kissing in public is not acceptable behavior. Do not hug a Thai person in appreciation and never hug or kiss someone's wife and NEVER touch a monk Temper! .... "don't lose face" In Thai society, losing your temper or even speaking loudly is a sign of poor breeding. Keeping ‘face’ is of paramount importance. Never raise your voice or show anger, it will get you nowhere. Keeping cool, hiding your emotions and smiling is far more productive. Do not be surprised if things move at a much slower pace than you are used, make sure you keep your cool and exercise tolerance, do not overreact. Make sure you do not insult anyone, personal insults are taken very seriously and bringing shame to a Thai person can have serious consequences, it is a good idea to watch what you say even if you are joking. Shoes / footwear Shoes have to be taken off before entering a temple. It's also expected practice before entering a Thai house (not inside the house). Leave them in front of the threshold, even when your host says it does not matter, they will prefer them to be outside! Gift! When you hand over a present, nicely enveloped and decorated the Thai receiver will thank you and .... put the present aside without opening it! This will be done only after the guests and the giftdonor have left! why.... Local traditions and politeness ... If the Thai receiver is not happy with the gift they might not be able to hide the reaction and therefore lose face, something which is not acceptable. If you do open a gift... Don't say something like ‘You shouldn’t have done this’ as most Thais will take the remark literally and will not give another present in the future!
3 Never say "No" !!!! Thais always say ‘yes’, very rarely say ‘no’ which is not always conforming to your approval. Why? Because saying ‘no’ is simply very impolite. So, try to avoid questions which engender answers such as ‘yes’ or ‘no’. The ‘yes’ would only mean ‘yes, I heard what you said’! Do not be surprised if someone who accepted an invitation does not show up, Thai people rarely decline invitations even if they have no intention on attending an event. More at W.A.T. Thai Culture A to Z - www.wat.austhai.biz/Home/thai-culture back to Index
Dress & Appearance The Thais place great importance on personal cleanliness and appearance. Tank tops, singlets, shorts and the like are considered inappropriate dress everywhere except at the beach. Please note dress codes are more relaxed at Tourism locations, however if you show resect you will get it back. certain elements of Dress code considered very important in Thai culture Sandals are OK except at formal occasions. Going topless or nude at the beach (or anywhere else) is seen as disrespectful to the local people. It’s also illegal. Thai's tend to cover up, it's partly to do with their culture but also because of the climate and preference for a light colour skin. When visiting someone’s home or at certain offices and shops, it’s polite to remove your shoes at the entrance. If you see shoes arranged on the floor at the door, don’t wait to be asked remove your shoes before entering. Note: Dress code is very strict to Temples or places of worship.
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Culture Do's and Don'ts: topics below are direct links or see website for more The Monarchy
Social Etiquette
Religion
Dress & Appearance
Thai Culture A to Z Community website
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