Thailand Etiquette, Cultural Do's and Don'ts, and General Travel Tips

Different cultures carry a different set of rules and etiquette. When in a different country, it's only polite to do your best not to make any obvious blunders.

General Etiquette

Thai social etiquette places a high value on calmness, politeness, and maintaining a gentle demeanor, so certain gestures we are used to in Western culture are simply not appropriate in Southeast Asia and can be considered hostile.

• To press your palms together with a small bow is called a wai. You will end up doing this countless times during the day. Is it is a politeness and sign of respect when you say thank you, hello, goodbye, etc. You're typically do not wai children.
• Don't point to the bottoms of your feet at anyone, particularly an image of the Buddha. The feet are considered the lowest part of the body.
• Don't pat anyone on the head.
• The thumbs up symbol, the okay symbol, and winking at someone can all be considered lewd gestures.
• Putting your arm up in the air to beckon a person or taxi is not appropriate. Hold your hand out and sort of pat the air.
• Pointing with a single finger is not appropriate. Motion with your entire hand. It can be a little weird.
• Standing with your hands on your hips is considered a sign of impatience or possibly aggression.
• Do not pose with an image of the Buddha.
• The Thai culture is generally quiet and modest. Do not be loud and obnoxious.
• It is a criminal offense to make negative comments about the King or other members of the royal family.
• If invited to someone's home, bring a small gift of snacks or fruit.

Dress / What to Wear

• In temples, always cover your shoulders and knees.
• Away from beach areas, it is appropriate to dress more modestly. Although you will see many tourists dressing as if they are at the beach, it is not polite.
• Try and pay attention if you are entering somewhere that is a shoes-off place, and do so accordingly.
• At certain bathing places, it's not appropriate to wear a bikini. Such as bathing elephants for a local watering hole. If they do not provide you with an outfit, wear shorts and a t-shirt over your suit.

Food / Eating

• Do not drink the water. This includes brushing your teeth or in the shower. Most hotels other than the most basic provide a bottle or two of water.
• When choosing a local place to eat, choose one that's full of locals.
• If given a fork and a spoon, use your fork to move the food onto the spoon and use the spoon to eat with. Eating with a fork similar to eating with a knife in Western culture.
• You generally don't use a knife. Cut with your spoon if you need to.
• Chopsticks are used for noodle dishes. They usually won't give them to you unless you are eating a dish that warrants them.
• Finishing everything on your plate suggests you weren't given enough food. Leave a bite or two to show you are full and were given enough.

Transportation

• For tuk tuks and taxis, agree on the price before you get in. Bargain like heck, too. They'll usually start high. For taxis it's usually best if they will use the meter, but good luck.
• I met a wonderful taxi driver in Bangkok, Mr. Nid. You can contact him on WhatsApp for a ride within the city or an airport pickup. You may have to work with him on price but he has been very reasonable with me. He'll pick you up on the arrivals level with a smile. +66 0902548043
• Grab, Bolt, and InDrive are the rideshare apps in Thailand. InDrive usually being the cheapest.

Money / Shopping

• It is not a tipping culture. Do not force your tipping culture on them.
• It is a bargain culture. It's part of the game. It is not quite as deep as it used to be, but still expected.
• If you do bargain and they meet the price you are asking, it's bad form not to complete the sale.
• Try not to use your "small money" unless you have to. Nobody ever has change (taxis in particular). Use larger bills any chance you can such as in a grocery store, for park entry, etc.

Scams / Safety

Thailand is generally pretty safe. I use the typical precautions like keeping my room locked, keeping my hand on my purse, and walking with confidence.

• There are some instances of methanol poisoning with unlabeled or an expensive alcohol. Deaths have occurred. If drinking something other than an opened bottles/cans stick to respectable establishments.
• The gem scam is still in full force in Bangkok. He will walk up to a tourist site and they will tell you it is closed for something like Buddha day. They may even be dressed in an official uniform. They will get you on a tuk-tuk for a little tour, take you to jewelry shops and such. Usually no harm no foul. Just trying to sell you overpriced gems which they assure you you can resell for much more in the States.
• If have had mustard squirted on me while they're accomplice was probably going to try and pickpocket me. Fortunately I already knew this trick so they didn't get away with it. Other than getting away with covering one of my few shirts in yellow mustard. :(
• See Common Travel Scams to Watch Out For for other common worldwide travel issues

Everything Else / General Travel Tips

• On my most recent trip, I never once had to use my electrical adapter type C. Everywhere I went, even the most rustic beach hut that only had electricity a few hours per day, had an international outlet as I have pictured here.