Travel Etiquette - Thailand

Etiquette can vary widely between different cultures and nations. What is excellent etiquette in one society may shock another.

By most Western standards, Thailand is a perfect representation of the Asian culture. It has a mix of Chinese, Buddhist, Thai and Hindu traditions which allows a visitor to get a glimpse of a lot of Asian cultures in a single visit. Approximately 300 thousand Filipinos visit Thailand annually.

With its long history, rich cultural heritage and complex social hierarchy, Thai etiquette is a fascinating, sometimes rigid but dignified characteristic that sets the country apart from its Asian contemporaries. Thailand is welcoming of outsiders and tolerant of the differences, yet its people continue to steadfastly uphold some strict traditional habits that have not been diluted by outside influence.

Following a few simple rules of Thai etiquette will not only prevent you from accidentally offending locals, it will separate you from the hordes who visit every year. Thailand is known as the "Land of Smiles" for a reason. The people will usually forgive simple infractions of Thai etiquette anyway.

Here are a few guidelines to live by.

. The "wai" is the common form of greeting and adheres to strict rules of protocol. Raise both hands, palms joined with the fingers  pointing upwards as if in prayer.

. The standard Thai greeting is "Sawasdee" - sounds like "sahwahdee" - accompanied with a "wai" gesture and a smile. Women end their greeting with a drawn out "khaaa." Men end by saying "khrap." The "r" is rarely pronounced, so the ending sounds more like "kap."

. Thais hold their king in very high regard and any sign of disrespect is potentially a crime under the law. Currency, postage stamps, magazine covers and any other items with the king's image are never tossed to the ground or treated harshly.

Manners in Visiting Thai Sacred Places

. In any country there are places considered sacred by the citizens. To visit such a place as a temple, you should be respectably dressed. Remove your hat if you are wearing one and also take off your shoes. The best thing to do is observe what the people who get there before you are doing.

. Do not wear dark glasses inside the sacred places.

. As you walk past a respected object such as Buddha's image or the king's portrait, stop a while and pay respect, either by giving a "wai" or bending your head.

Table Manners

. Do take your time and pick at your food, enjoy the conversation and the laughter and the sense of community.

. Make sure to take only small portions of each dish so there's enough to go around.

. Finish everything on your plate, it lets the host know you enjoyed the meal.

. It is a tradition to let the senior ladies of the group do the ordering.

Gift-Giving Etiquette

. Gifts should be wrapped attractively, since appearance matters. Bows and ribbons add to the sense of festivity.

. Appropriate gifts are flowers, good quality chocolates or fruit.

. Do not give marigolds or carnations, as they are associated with funerals.

. Try to avoid wrapping a gift in green, black or blue as these are used at funerals and in mourning.

. Gold and yellow are considered royal colors, so they make good wrapping paper.

. Gifts are not opened when received.

Business Etiquette and Protocol

. Relationships develop slowly and do no flourish after one meeting.

. Watch your body language and facial expressions, as these will be believed over your words.

. Always send an agenda and material about your company as well as data to substantiate your position prior to the meeting. Allow sufficient time for the material to be re viewed and digested.

(Reference: Asia Travel Guide)