Thailand Do’s and Don’t's
Thailand
Below is a list of Thailand do’s and don’t's to help you navigate the cultural differences between Thailand and the West.
It is easy to have good manners in Thailand with a few simple steps. Try the do’s and don’t's below to ensure success in your trip.
- Avoid conflict. Thais appreciate a soft tone of voice and are very averse to conflict. Find a deferential way out of tense situations.
- Avoid pointing or other confrontational behavior
- Don’t point at anything with your foot
- Treat images of Buddha like you would a respected person
- If you’re sitting not on a chair, sit so your feet are not in front of you
- Do not stare at people.
- When greeted with a wai, the traditional greeting, do not lower your head to acknowledge the wai
- If you pass an older person, dip your head slightly to appear more like their height
- Do not speak ill of the king, discuss politics or mention that the King was born in America
- At 8 AM and 6 PM in public, stand quietly for the national anthem.