Giant Bhuddha in Buriram

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Thailand is justly celebrated for its tolerance and hospitality, and the average tourist will have no difficulty in adjusting to the local customs. All the same, as when coming into any unfamiliar society, a visitor may find it helpful to be aware of certain do's and don't's and thus avoid giving accidental offense. Basically, most of these do's and don't's are simply a matter of common sense and good manners - not really all that different from the norms of behavior in one's own country - but a few behavioral rules are special enough to be pointed out.

Monarchy, Religion

Thais have a deep, traditional reverence for their Royal Family, and a visitor should also be careful to show respect for the King, the Queen, and the Royal Children. In a movie or other public event, for example, a portrait of the King is shown during the playing of the national anthem, and the audience is expected to stand. When attending some public event at which a member of the Royal Family is present, the best guide as to how to behave is probably to watch the crowd and do what it does.

What are seen as affronts against the monarchy are probably the least excusable faux pas a foreigner can commit in the country, and they are among the few that will make every Thai angry. As banknotes carry the portrait of the King, defacing or tearing them apart is a criminal offence. Even to crumple them up is at least in bad taste.

Thais are more attentive on treating portraits of a the King respectfully than foreigners often can be, even if they intend not to display any offending behavior. This author has observed postal clerks removing stamps from letters brought by foreigners - not in order to keep the stamps but to re-attach them, showing the portrait of the King in an upright position (the stamps had been affixed horizontally by the foreigners).

Also treated with utmost respect are all Buddha images, all of which are considered sacred, regardless of whether they are old or new, large or small, or in one piece or broken - regardless also of their artistic value or purchase price. For information why this is the case, as well as for rules of conduct when visiting temples, please see the chapter Religion.

Social Customs

The limits of what is acceptable in Thai social behavior are less clearly defined than those concerning the monarchy or religion - especially in a city like Bangkok where Western customs are better known and more widely accepted than in the rest of the country. However, what is acceptable in Bangkok may be much less so upcountry where the old ways are still strong. Here, then, are a few things to keep in mind:

Thais don't shake hands when they greet one another, but instead press the palms together in a prayer-like gesture called Wai. Generally, a younger person wais an older, who returns it. One watches how the Thais do it, and does likewise.

It's considered rude to point one's foot at a person, so an effort must be made to avoid doing so when sitting opposite anyone; following the conception that the foot is a lowly limb, nothing is pointed at with the foot as an indicator.

Thais regard the head as the highest part of the body both literally and figuratively. As a result they don't approve of patting anyone there, even in a friendly gesture.

Similarly, if one watches Thais at a social gathering, it can be noticed that young people go to considerable lengths to keep their heads lower than those of older ones, to avoid giving the impression of "looking down" on them. This isn't always possible, of course, but it's the effort that counts.

Public displays of affection between men and women are frowned on. One may see some very Westernized young Thai couples holding hands, but that's as far as it goes in polite society.

Losing one's temper, especially in public, will not get anyone anywhere. To Thais angry displays simply denote poor manners. Demands and even protests are best presented with a smile, as if a disagreement on anything, including prices, was just a misunderstanding.

One must not be surprised by being addressed by one's first name as, for instance, as Mr. Bob or Miss Mary - instead of by one's surname. This is because Thais refer to one another in this manner, usually with the title "Khun" (Mr., Mrs., or Miss) in front. Family names are a rather recent invention in Thailand, and often they are awkwardly long. The representative of the Thai Board of Investment in Sydney is Mr. Boonkul Changsirivathanathamrong, to give just one example. But names like Yeltsin or even Kohl sound easier only to Westerners.