Thailand Local Customs

 
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Most Viewed Local Customs in Thailand

1.

Dress codes   Bangkok

Dress codes, Bangkok

 17 Reviews  In most Asian countries it's common to understand the remains of British influence, in the students' dress code. In Bangkok we saw a parade with students using traditional costumes and some... 

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2.

Religion & Beliefs   Ko Samui

Religion & Beliefs, Ko Samui

 10 Reviews  One of the things that I have never understood about travellers is their desire to break the rules, or guidelines of the local people. Out of respect to the people who look after this temple, and also... 

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3.

Correct behaviour   Chiang Mai

Correct behaviour, Chiang Mai

 21 Reviews  To take off your shoes is extremely important when visiting temples. At the massage rooms, it was also necessary to do so. It was even requested at one of the restaurant I went to. So, it is helpful... 

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4.

Bullfighting   Hat Yai

Bullfighting, Hat Yai

 1 Review  Apparantly Hat Yai is one of the main centre for Bullfighting in Thailand. Many local people seem to have no problem with a variety of 'sports' that enable humans to use dumb defenceless animals for... 

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5.

General Dos and Don'ts   Bangkok

General Dos and Don'ts, Bangkok

 29 Reviews  The must Do: -dress properly when visiting a temple -treat monks with the highest respect -try to learn a few Thai phrases -smile -enjoy DON'T EVER TRY TO: Don't show disrespect towards the... 

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6.

Language   Ko Samui

Language, Ko Samui

 3 Reviews  As with any foreign country it is an advantage to learn some basic communication terms.In thai it is handy to know the following terms. Sa-wa-dee khap for males,Sa-wa-dee ka for females(hello or... 

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7.

Local people   Chiang Mai

Local people, Chiang Mai

 17 Reviews  This flower market is located along the western bank of the Ping River, to the north of Nawarat Bridge. Here you can see stalls and shops selling the offering garlands that people take to temples plus... 

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8.

Religion   Hat Yai

Religion, Hat Yai

 1 Review  At various shops around the place you will see orange buckets loaded with food and toiletries. These are passed to monks as part of their daily 'alms-collecting'. Monks are supposed to have very few... 

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9.

The Wai - Traditional Thai Greeting   Bangkok

The Wai - Traditional Thai Greeting, Bangkok

 17 Reviews  Many people in the capital speak some English, sometimes too enthusiastically as they speak so fast. However you should try to learn the basic words, but no-one expects you to learn much more than... 

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10.

Song Kran Festival   Chiang Mai

Song Kran Festival, Chiang Mai

 8 Reviews  Songkran Day has been celebrated as New Year's Day in the Thai solar calendar since ancient times. The date coincides with the day the sun leaves Pisces and enters Aries, usually falling on April 13... 

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11.

Thai Language   Bangkok

Thai Language, Bangkok

 17 Reviews  People who want to learn the Thai language should listen to some Thai music.Listening to Thai music is a good way to improve your listening skill as well as to learn new words . One band that is... 

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12.

Excursions   Chiang Mai

Excursions, Chiang Mai

 7 Reviews  Interested in different kinds of Fruits and Plants not found in your country? Then there is a good chance of seeing something entirely different in an Akha & Lisu village. I saw a Longan Fruit tree,... 

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13.

Feet (and Heads)   Bangkok

Feet (and Heads), Bangkok

 16 Reviews  In Buddhist culture, the feet are the lowest and most unclean part of the body, while the head is the highest part of the body. Touching someone on the head, or shaking your foot, or pointing with... 

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14.

Buddhism / Monks   Bangkok

Buddhism / Monks, Bangkok

 38 Reviews  A few years ago, a Thai friend told me that it was forbidden and highly avoided that a female approach and give alms to monks. Females can do so via a male conduit. I am not sure if this is till... 

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15.

Beer drinking   Bangkok

Beer drinking, Bangkok

 6 Reviews  Singha beer is the leading beer product in Thailand and the Boon Rawd Brewery Co. Ltd. (located in Bangkok, Thailand) Brews this popular beer. Singha has for many years been Thailand’s most popular... 

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16.

People   Bangkok

People, Bangkok

 22 Reviews   On the banks of the Chao Phraya river, you will see rickety old wooden houses on stilts and covered boats. The people that live here are called the boat people. They do not have much money but seem... 

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17.

Bargaining   Bangkok

Bargaining, Bangkok

 7 Reviews  Bargaining is meant to be fun so the first rule is that you should never get angry or rude with merchants. Sometimes merchants will be rude to you in an effort to make farangs lose face but don't... 

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18.

Shoes - when to take them off   Bangkok

Shoes - when to take them off, Bangkok

 11 Reviews  Whenever you enter a religious building (Buddhist temple, Mosque, etc), you must first remove your shoes prior to entering. So, sandals with closed heals or other shoes easily removed and put on are a... 

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19.

Traditional Thai Dancing   Bangkok

Traditional Thai Dancing, Bangkok

 9 Reviews  With all forms of dance drama in Thailand, music forms an important role which is greatly bound by tradition The performances you will see are mystical dances based on stories from classical Thai... 

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20.

Songkran Festival   Bangkok

Songkran Festival, Bangkok

 7 Reviews  Songkran is the Thai New Year's festival. It is celebrated on the first after the first new moon of April. Everything shuts down for the Songkran festival and then a country wide water fight emerges.... 

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21.

Shrines and Spirit Houses   Bangkok

Shrines and Spirit Houses, Bangkok

 15 Reviews  There are many Thais with Chinese ancestors ,so you will often see Chinese style shrines all over the country .On certain ocassions such as Chinese New Year you will see people paying respect to Gods... 

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22.

Respect for Royalty   Bangkok

Respect for Royalty, Bangkok

 17 Reviews  A person can notice coming to Bangkok that many people (men and women) are wearing light pink shirts. Dress shirts, polo shirts or tee shirts in light pink. Winston, my VT friend, explained how the... 

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23.

Money   Bangkok

Money, Bangkok

 3 Reviews  Paid 250Baht to get into the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaeo, upon entering the palace, looked up and was surprised to see a sign that says it's FREE for the Thais. Later, I found the same thing for... 

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24.

Statues   Bangkok

Statues, Bangkok

 9 Reviews  Shiva's carriage was the bird of eagle. Shiva is the Hindo deity of Destroying, and Creating! That is why this deity is considered the supreme Hindu Deity, possibly the oldest one. That is to say the... 

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25.

Traditional Thai Massage   Bangkok

Traditional Thai Massage, Bangkok

 2 Reviews  Thai massage is believed to have been developed by Jivaka Kumar Bhaccha, physician to Buddha, more than 2,500 years ago in India. It made its way to Thailand, where the Ayurvedic techniques and... 

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Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Do's and Don't in Thailand

by may1273

Do's and Don't in ThailandReligion : Visitors should dress neatly in all religious shrines. They should never go topless, or in shorts, hot pants or other unsuitable attireIt is acceptable to wear shoes when walking around the compound of a Buddhist temple, but not inside the chapel where the principal Buddha image is kept. Each Buddha image, large or small, ruined or not, is regarded as a sacred object. Never climb onto one to take a photograph or do anything which might indicate a lack of respect. Buddhist monks are forbidden to touch or be touched by a woman, or to accept anything from the hand of one. If a woman has to give anything to a monk, she first hands it to a man, who then presents it. Social Norms : Thais don't normally shake hands when they greet one another, but instead press the palms together in a prayer-like gesture called a wai. Generally a younger person wais an...

Keeping cool with St. Luke's Prickly Heat Powder

by phil_uk_net

When I first visited Thailand I noticed that a lot of people wore white powder on their faces and other parts of their bodies. I was curious but didn't think much more about it. On subsequent visits to Thailand I just accepted this as one of the local customs. It wasn't until fairly recently that I discovered this little secret for myself.St. Luke's Prickly Heat Powder contains menthol which has a cooling effect on the body. Applying it after a shower is a great way to stay cool. But gents, a word of warning. Unless you are used to the sensation, it can feel a little weird around the scrotal area. Apply with care!

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Tips on Eating Like Thais

by riproy

There are two types of eating arrangments that prevail in Thailand - ordering and eating your own dish of food, like a khao pat (fried rice) or pad thai (fried noodles) or kwitio (noodles). These are quick meals that you would typically get at a roadside stall and if you are by yourself or in a hurry, you can order some of them at 'proper' restaurants too.The more common way of eating for Thais is the communal way - a group orders many different dishes and the rice comes separately. All is shared. You plop some rice on your plate and then 'graze' the variety of dishes that were ordered. Thais do not load their plate up first and then eat as in my culture - they take a little of one dish, say yam pla duk foo, and spoon it on their plate, eat it with their rice, and then go for the next dish they would like to try. Also, there is no passing of dishes around the table. Everyone reaches. If...

Types Of Smiles

by white_smallstar

Pic 1YIM MAI ORK I want to smile but can't = "the smile that doesn't come out"Pic 2YIM CHEUN CHOM The smile used when you are impressed with od admire someonePic 3 YIM MEE LAY-NAIThe smile used to conceal evil ideas = “I’m-smiling-because-I’m-about-to-rip-you-off-and-you-don’t-realize-it”

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High & Low Season

by YaaDong

The high season is just about to start: beginning of November until end of January. The temperatures are the lowest, which is bearable by then for tourists. Plus the King's birthday on 5 December and the holiday season being the peak(s) of the high season. The slow season is the hot season: end of February until June - the hot season. Temperatures can reach 40 C; not really ideal for tourists. But today it's blurring a bit. The high season still is high season (= high prices) but the low season is disappearing. Any season is a good season in Thailand.

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Amulets

by YaaDong

Buddha amulets are very popular in Thailand.I think most Thais own at least one amulet.The main reason for this is these Buddhist amulets are believed to bring luck, fortune and prosperity to their owner. For example ,Jatukarm Ramathep a beautiful finely detailed amulets originated from the south in Nakhon Sri Thammarat province .These amulets were big business the "in thing "in Thailand and was not unusual to see people wearing more than one Jatukarms around their necks.Also people paying alot of money for them (a slight contradiction to Buddhist teachings).Buddhist amulets are now very commercial and are available in many different colors, styles, size and of course price ranges. The trading of amulets is also very common in Thailand. For many temples the production of amulets is now a major means of fundraising.

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Thai Travel Dictionary

by volopolo

Where is the ticket office – horng khai tua yoo thee naiHow much is the fare – kha rod thao raiWhat time does the train leave – rod fai ork moea raiWhat is the next station – sa tha nee tor pai khoe sat ha nee a raiTicket please – khor doo tua

Thai Food Dictionary

by volopolo

Tea - ChaCoffee – KafaeA cup of tea – cha thuai noengBlack tea – cha damFruit juice – nam phon la maiFood – a hanThai food - a han thaiRice – khawBoiled rice – khaw tomChicken – khaw tom kaiEgg – khaiOmelet – khai jiao

Movies: The Beach

by volopolo

The Beach (2000) If you like to see Thailand in a movie choise: The Beach (2000) with Leonardo DiCaprio, Tilda Swinton, Virginie Ledoyen.... A young American backpacker named Richard (Leonardo DiCaprio) yearns to experience something real. So he arriving in Thailand, in Bangkok city first and in Khao San Road in a small hotel... Watch in the movie places, waterfalls, forest, Festival about Thailand.The Beach (2000) Director: Danny Boyle Screenplay: Alex Garland Cast: Leonardo Di Caprio, Virginia Ledoyen Runtime: 119 min

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Movies: The Bridge on the River Kwai

by volopolo

The Bridge on the River KwaiThe famous movie: The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) is a superb Prisoner of War movie in Kanchanaburi Province Thailand, with William Holden, Jack Hawkins, Alec Guinness...

Top 3 Hotels in Thailand

The Oriental, Bangkok  Bangkok

 25 Reviews and 922 Opinions  its an experience one must have...stay there at any cost. its totally worth it in every way u can... 

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Mom Tri's Villa Royale Phuket  Phuket

 4 Reviews and 312 Opinions  Ocean Wing Suites (Villa Terracotta) Mom Tri’s Villa Royale now have a beautiful new area which is... 

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Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi  Chiang Mai

 2 Reviews and 320 Opinions  Everything you would expect from a Mandarin Oriental plus the really spectacular design. Two... 

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Questions and Answers

Ihearttheworld profile photo

Q:  I am from Canada and going to Thailand, what kind of plug adapter do I need to charge my camera? 

leics profile photo

A: You will find all the information you need about voltages and plug adaptors (and photos of plug types) here: http://www.kropla.com/electric2.htm 

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