Thailand Tips and Customs

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Thailand tips and customs

Having lived in Bangkok for over a year, I have learned many things about the Thai people and I wanted to share some of my experiences with other foreigners living or vacationing here. Firstly, you have to accept that Eastern culture is different. The people in the East show less emotion and are more polite, and while they know Westerners are different, they are often uncomfortable when we stray from their norms. Below are some useful tips to help you enjoy your time in Thailand:

Looking smart in their white uniforms, members of the Thai Royal Navy prepare for a parade.

Be Polite - Thai people hold being polite above all else. Their very language has politeness built into it. If you follow what is considered "common courtesy", you will be fine.

Thai King - The Thai People Love their King, King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX). Never show any type of disrespect to His Majesty or the Royal Family. When attending a public event where a member of the Royal Family is present, the best guide on how to behave is to watch the crowd and do what everyone else does.

Safety - Be aware of stealth crimes. For example pick pocketing can be a problem, especially in the bigger cities, so it's worth keeping a close eye on your belongings at all times and being aware of the people around you. Unprovoked violence against tourists is very rare, but it pays to exercise common sense.

National Religion - Buddhism is Thailand's national religion, with nearly 95% of Thailand's population being Buddhist. All images and sculptures of the Buddha are considered sacred and there are laws against removing them.

The narrow streets of Bangkok are packed with traders.

Buddhist Monks - Buddhist Monks are easily recognized by their shaved heads, bare feet and bright orange robes. It is forbidden for a woman to touch a Buddhist monk; this includes a woman handing anything to a monk. If you are a woman and you want to give something to a monk, it must be first given to a man, who can then pass the item to the monk on your behalf. Also, Western men should never attempt to shake hands with a monk.

A sculpture of Buddha found in the ancient capital of Thailand, Sukhothai.

Buddhist Temples - Wearing shoes around a temple is acceptable, but they should be removed when entering the Buddhist church (the area where the Buddha image is kept).

Be Quiet - Loud people are considered impolite. Speak softly and do not laugh loudly. Of course there are occasions such as in bars,parks or during celebrations when being loud is appropriate and expected.

Greetings - To the Western eye a greeting in Thailand can seem quite formal in appearance. The 'Wai' (pronounced 'way') is a basic gesture in which you put the palms of your hands together, fingers up, then you raise your joined hands in front of your face and give a slight bow of your head. The words "sawa dee (krap)" (or "kah" for women) are spoken during the bow. It is more complicated for Thai people, with three levels based on age and position, but Westerners attempting this greeting are not expected to know these levels and so a general 'Wai' is acceptable. (For those interested, the levels are: 1. to monks - Thais will perform a 'Wai' where their thumbs touch their forehead during the bow; 2. to someone the same age or older - Thais will perform the 'Wai' with their thumbs touching their lips; and 3. to a younger person - Thais will perform a 'Wai' with their thumbs touching their chin.)

Food - Food in Thailand is customarily HOT, spicy HOT. Most Westerners cannot handle the level of spice that Thai people enjoy. To help you order a tasty and pleasurable meal, I would advise any visiting Westerner to use one of the following two phrases (based upon your preference): 1) "my pet" - not spicy; and 2) "pet nik noy" - a little bit spicy. The food is awesome in Thailand and this tip should help you enjoy it even more.

Street Food - There is an old Thai saying "a little bit of dirt makes the food a little bit more delicious" (rough translation). For Westerners, buying food on the street can have a negetive impact upon your health with the possible contraction of various gastro digestive problems. While most street food vendors are clean, this is only by local standards. I live by a simple rule which has served me well whilst I have been living in Bangkok, the rule is:"only eat from the street what is cooked in front of you". This ensures that the food is fully cooked before you eat it. Unfortunately, this eliminates a lot of food served on the street, but it is better to be safe than sorry!

Tipping - Leaving a tip isn't as expected in Thailand as it is in other Western societies, although it is becoming more prevalent in the more modern tourist areas. The high class, high end restaurants and hotels will include a service charge in their bill. However, bearing in mind the low wages of Thai staff, a little tip goes a long way. Of course, if you are unhappy with the service, don't leave a tip, but if you feeling generous, be sure to round up your fare and tip your taxi driver, and in restaurants leave a few coins (around 10% of the full bill).

Som Tum - a delicious and spicy Thai salad made from papaya.

Body Odor - Thai people almost never smell badly and they find it offensive if others do.

Crowds - If you go to areas in Thailand during Thai holidays and celebrations, be prepared to encounter a lot of people. Some Westerners will be shocked by the sheer number of people. When there are large crowds be prepared to be pushed and shoved, no one means you any harm, it is just the Eastern sense of personal space is quite different from that of the West.

Colorful and exotic tropical flowers on sale outside a Thai florists.

Watch where you walk - The sidewalks of Bangkok are uneven and full of obstacles, so pay attention!Also, the streets have many stray dogs - the dogs are not aggressive, but they may leave little smelly landmines on the sidewalks.

Taxi Drivers - Most taxi drivers are fine. Generally,in Bangkok it is always better to use the metered taxis. Tuk tuks are always more expensive than cabs and with Bangkok traffic you could be breathing in a lot of smog on the way. If you are traveling a significant distance, try to negotiate the fare. Also, bear in mind that the taxis marked, "We love farang, we speak English", may not - they will however, have a radio connected to a person who will know a little English.

A Thai military parade in the grounds of the Grand Palace, Bangkok, Thailand.

Movie Theater - After the advertizing and right before the movie starts, a tribute to the Thai King will come on and everyone is expected to stand in respect of the King.

Driving in Thailand - If you are feeling brave and decide that you want to drive yourself around Thailand, don't be too worried, it really isn't that bad. There are just a few things to understand: firstly (unlike the US) drivers in Thailand use the left side of the road and the roads tend to be narrower, so driving next to a bus or a truck can be a little intimidating. Also, be aware that other drivers will come towards you on your side of the road � they will do this pretty slowly, so just pull over a little to let them pass.

Toilets - To the Western traveler, Eastern toilets can be quite intimidating. Be aware that Eastern toilets are little more than holes in the ground surrounded by ceramic and involve water, not paper, for cleaning yourself. To be honest, I still have not gotten used to this type of facility. (It is a useful tip to take some toilet tissue from your hotel room out with you, just in case you need to use an Eastern style toilet.) Fortunately, in many tourist areas there are Western style toilets. Either way, remember not to put your used paper down the toilet, but in the bin next to the toilet. Also, there are often women in the men's room, stationed there for cleaning. It can be quite unnerving when you first experience this but they are not there for anything more than cleaning.

Following these tips will give you a better understanding of the Thai people and of how things function in Thailand. Not only will this make the locals feel more comfortable with you, but in turn it will ensure that you will have more fun during your stay.

Christopher Snyder is the Founder and Managing Director of Asia Products LLC and currently is living in Bangkok, Thailand.

He writes on a variety of topics including current events, politics, and travel ideas. He manages an e-commerce store buying products to sell on http://www.asiaproductsllc.com. He is documenting some of his more interesting travels in his Asia Travel Ideas website : http://www.apllc-connect.com.

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