Joanna James
Despite the modernity of places like Bangkok and Phuket, Thailand is deeply traditional. Local culture still heavily incorporates ancient customs and traditions into everyday life, much like most Southeast Asian nations. Here are 5 essential Thai customs travellers to Thailand should know, in order to avoid any potentially awkward situations.
The traditional Thai greeting is called the wai, it's a simple gesture where you bring your hands together as in prayer. Hold them at chest or nose level, smile, and slightly bow your head to say hello, goodbye, sorry, or thank you. It's a show of respect and should not be attempted if you are holding anything. Put everything down before clasping your hands together. Although a wai must always be returned, there are exemptions. Buddhist monks or royalty, for instance, are not expected to return a wai. Sometimes, a simple nod of the head and a thank you will also suffice, and is a welcomed sign of respect towards hotel staff, drivers, and service workers.
Never offer your left hand in greeting, nor when serving food, offering money, or handing something over. It is considered unclean for the simple reason that a person uses that hand to wash up after using the toilet—whether it is toilet paper or the traditional bucket and ladle method.
Be sure to put this custom into practice anywhere in Thailand, from paying the bills at Ao Nang restaurants to greeting tour guides in Bangkok.
Thailand is predominantly a Buddhist nation, with temples virtually everywhere, including locations just minutes from hotels like Avani Ao Nang Cliff Krabi Resort. Therefore, a lot of the culture and beliefs are centred on religion.
Body language is often interpreted from several angles; your stance and how you react to others through gestures can be perceived as good or bad. It's important to become aware of your natural movements because you could offend without realising it.
For example, the head is considered the most sacred part of the body, as Thais believe it houses a person's spirit. Therefore, touching another's head would be disrespectful, and also why bowing one's head is considered deeply respectful. The feet are the lowest part of your body, and are therefore closely linked to earthly sufferings. So take care to never sit pointing your feet in the direction of someone, or to use your feet to point out things. When sitting, make sure your feet are tucked out of sight, especially if you are seated cross-legged.
Thai communities value calmness, and do not take kindly to dramatic displays of emotion. Whether you are angry, surprised, or annoyed, do not give in to shouting or arguing points, as you will be seen as losing face. If you do lose your cool and end up being overly emotional, you may notice locals laughing; this is in no way a tactic to make you feel small or angrier, rather, it's a way of conveying discomfort. So go ahead, count to ten, and then speak the next time you feel strong emotions taking over.
The nation has earned the nickname Land of Smiles, because Thais believe smiles can save the day; hence, you will be greeted with a friendly smile during your holiday in Thailand, which you can go ahead and return as a gesture of courtesy. Smiles may also have different meanings. It can be an apology smile, a smile of embarrassment, or even a smile to say things are not going as planned. Simply being observant will help you to fit in well and earn the respect of the local community, so you can enjoy a fabulous holiday at your Thai resort.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
