Do's and Dont's

There are a lot of things that we do in our everyday lives in Western culture that would be considered very disrespectful in Thai culture. It can be hard to remember some; especially as in Western culture the actions are just normal. Follow these guidelines and you'll get by just fine:

• Do not touch a Thai person on their head
• Do not step over a Thai persons legs or any body part, for instance if they are seated
• Do not step over any food or drink on the ground
• Do not embarrass a Thai person, or cause them to loose face
• Do not swear at a Thai person. Even though the language may be different, they will know you are swearing
• Do not loose your temper or fight with a Thai person. As a foreigner you will always be out numbered and the Police will favour Thai nationals over you
• Do not point your finger at someone
• Remove your footwear before entering any home. Many shops and businesses also require you to remove your footwear before entering. Just look outside the door before entering, and if there are shoes outside, remove yours too. If there are no shoes, you’re probably okay to keep them on.
• Do not offend Buddhism or the Royal Family in any way
• Always respect elders, no matter what the situation
• Do not point with your foot
• Do not shout or argue in public
• Keep any public affection to a minimum
• Thai's greet each other with the traditional 'wai' and not with a handshake or kiss on the cheek. If a Thai wishes to greet you in a western way, wait for them to initiate it, otherwise keep your greeting traditionally Thai.

Don't worry if you forget something, just apologise if it appears that you have upset or offended anyone, maybe even do the traditional Thai 'wai'