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| Travel tips and advice posted by real travelers and Bangkok locals. • 12 Photos
• 16 Reviews
See all Bangkok Local Customs |
 | Bangkok The Wai - Traditional Thai Greeting Reviews | 1 - 10 of 16 |  |
As you know we do 'Wai' by put both of your hands on your chest and bend your head a little bit to hands.
'Wai' is for
1) Greeting
2) Thank
3) Good Bye
4) Apologize
5) Praying to the Buddha
6) Begging
But!!! Do you know ? We don't 'Wai' to everyone. Thai people pay respect to someone who is older as senior and we respect them as boss in a service business. So, please don't 'Wai' to anyone who is younger than you. Younger people won't feel comfortable to get your 'Wai' first. But if they do to you, you'll have to accept them back by do it the same after that.
Don't have to 'Wai' everyone who you don't know. For example; if you buy something in the shop, you don't have to 'Wai' the owner because you're the customer unless they invite you to stay over or join food with them. 'Wai' must be feeling or meaning to that person.
But whether you do right or wrong, Thai people are still happy to see you do that because we like what you try to do as our custom. Leave a Comment
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"Wai Prah"
The "Wai" is when you grasp two hands together and bring them towards your chin with your head bent slightly forward. This action is used in greetings and farewells, very graceful to see and used as often as a show of respect and acknowledgement rather than as a handshake in the west.
There are quite a number of hidden “codes” involved with the wai, and it can all seem rather complicated when a local gives you the full ins and outs.
So look; DO NOT PANIC !!! As a visitor, Thai’s won’t be expecting you to get it all A1 and correct first time out. As with nearly all cultures, the fact that you are showing consideration, respect and enjoying yourself is more than enough. Getting a wai right is icing on the cake.
The person who usually gives the first wai is the one showing the respect to the other person. And the person giving the first wai will have their hands closer to their temples / nose than the person responding with their wai. (Watch out for Thais greeting each other in hotel lobbies and at airports and you'll see how it's done, and how graceful it can be. Particular cute when young kids greet their grandma.)
As a guest you will tend to get the respect shown to you. So, it is best to wait for someone else to wai you first (unless you’re meeting the Prime Minister for a few quiet beers…).
When the restaurant / hotel / shop / tailor staff do wai you, the easiest and most polite thing to do is to lob back a smile, and give a wai at the level shown by Ronald in the picture.
You’ve seen Paradorn "wai" at Wimbledon (to all four sides to show his respect). We’ve seen David Beckham "wai" at the National Stadium. There are now posters of Mr B doing his in the hut used but the security guards at our office. If you get it full on you never know, your "wai pic" might end up in the tailors... next to Kenny Rogers. Michelin Man does a good "wai" too.
Oooops, only one point, best NOT to return a Wai to a young child. Drop them a big smile instead Leave a Comment
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Thais greet each other with the ‘wai’ (pronounced like the word ‘why’), placing the palms of their hands together as in prayer and raising them to the level of their face whilst bowing slightly.
Before coming to Thailand, you may have thought of this gesture as no more than a charming habit of waiters in Thai restaurants, but it carries deep resonance for Thais. You will see Thai mothers teaching babies to wai even before they can speak. Many people take both pride and pleasure in the gracefulness and warmth of their wai.
In addition to greeting and saying goodbye, the wai is also always used when either presenting or receiving a gift. The wai is, amongst other things, a mark of respect for position and age. For Thais, different levels of the closed hands can show different degrees of respect.
As a rule, if someone wais you, you should always wai back. However, it is not considered correct to wai children or to wai someone who is thanking you for your patronage. Thais are aware that foreigners don’t use the wai and in situations where you are unsure, a nod and a smile will always pass as an acceptably polite response.
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The Bhuddist greeting, put your hands together as if in prayer, raise to face and bow head. It becomes automatic after a day.
It is disrespectful to pray to Bhudda with your feet pointing to wards him.
Do not expect to buy statues of Bhudda as a tourist item. They are highly respected and revered, not as a souvenir. Leave a Comment
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A Bow with two hands together which you will put your hands infront of your chin! And say" Sawasdee!" Its a sign of respect in Thailand and people here always used that in their everyday lives!
Most of the people are very smiling, friendly, specially when you have babies with you. They're very close to babies and I think they love babies!
Most of the people can communicate with the medium of instruction which is English but if they can't say it properly, they can only understand you. In Thailand, everybodies heads are sacred so be aware not to touch their heads! Be respectful in terms of their King as they have a strong respect in it.
Try to avoid those tuk-tuks, taxi driver's in the night time as many of them will charge you hardly. If possible, ride with their BTS Sky Train.
Enjoy Thailand! Leave a Comment
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How to greet your local friends
Do it the way you wanna do. Depends how close you guys are. And depends how 'conservative' your friend is. To me (personally) I'm used to western style of greetings. Kissing on the cheeks is acceptable if you know each other well enough AND if you know that your friend is open-minded and quite a 'modern' Thai. Otherwise just shaking hands.
Even cheek-kissing. Do it just to greet your friends is OK. But romantic kiss between couples (yes, even only on the cheeks) is a NO.
What about greeting non-friends?
Don't "Wai" everyone. (See what is "Wai" here) Do that to the people they're older than you only AND they must be someone you're supposed to show respect (for example, visiting your friends' parents) But to the monks it doesn't matter how old they are. You can always "Wai" them (we do) before and after a chat (if you visit temple and have chance to talk to the monks)
To people in general (one those you're not familiar with, just a nodding or slightly bow your head is enough.
Showing affection in public
Hugging is always OK here (at least, in Bangkok) I mean a 'friendly' hug though not to romantic couples hug which you know that is not appropriate to do that in public. (behind the scene, everything goes, but keep that for your private)
Too smoochy couples are always annoying for us (yeah..fussy country) We understand that some are here for their honeymoon. But it doesn't mean we like to see people showing their affection in public especially kissing (mouth-to-mouth) is a big NO..don't do that. Please.
Holding hands? Leave a Comment
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Thais greet each other with a 'wai' a prayer like, palms together gesture, not a handshake. Generally a younger person wais an elder, who then returns it. Leave a Comment
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The traditional Thai greeting is not a handshake but a wai, where the hands are brought together in front of the chin. The younger or lower-ranking person wais first, but don't let this stand in your way if you feel someone merits a wai. Shaking hands is also becoming a commom feature in everyday Thai life. If in doubt, let the local initiate the greeting. Leave a Comment
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WAI
Just press your palms together and raise your fingertips towards your eye level and say Sawasdee!!! Leave a Comment
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How to Wai: The Thai greeting is known as Wai. It involves pressing one's palms together & lifted towards the chin. Generally, the inferior party initiates the wai & holds the greeting higher & longer. The superior will then return it accordingly. The general concensus is one should not wai waiters, waitresses, street vendors & children. Leave a Comment
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