Different cultures have their own set of behavioural rules, and Thailand is no exception. By paying a little attention to your behaviour though, and observing a few basic rules, it’s easy to ensure that you don’t accidentally offend any Thai person or the Thai culture in general.

-Don’t Insult The Monarchy-

The Thais are fiercely proud of their Royal Family and will not tolerate any disrespect being shown, or derogatory comments being made about their much beloved King and his family. Even standing on a coin or bank note featuring a member of the Royal family is seen as being highly disrespectful, and could land you in a lot of trouble with the locals!

-Don’t Point Your Feet At People-

The feet are seen as the lowest, dirtiest part of the body and as such feet should ideally be kept at floor level, or if seated, tucked out of the way. Pointing your feet at another person, or even worse, at a statue of the Buddha inside a temple, is considered very rude behaviour and is very disrespectful to the person your feet are pointed at.

-Don’t Touch People’s Heads-

Just as the feet are seen as the lowliest part of the body, the head is considered to be the highest and cleanest part. To touch another persons head in Thailand, even patting the head of a child, is completely taboo and will be frowned upon. Heads are for hats only!

-Don’t Express Extreme Emotions-

Tempting as it might be to get angry in stressful situations, a Thai person will always try to avoid this, instead practicing the principle of having a ‘cool heart’ and not participating in fights or acts of aggression. Similarly, displays of public affection which may seem normal in Western society are seen as overly forward in Thailand, and discretion should be practiced if you are visiting Thailand with a partner.

-Don’t Dress Provocatively-

Look around in many Thai areas, whether cities or small villages, and you will notice that very few people if any have their shoulders bared. This is particularly accurate where women are concerned, and generally the only Thai ladies whose shoulders will be bared are either very young or working in the sex trade. It is for this reason that wearing clothing which doesn’t cover the shoulders is generally frowned upon.

Although in recent times, the Thais have become more used to Western ways and are not as offended as they once might have been, if you do not wish to risk appearing cheap in the eyes of the Thais, then covered shoulders are best. Similarly, very short hotpants and shorts will also gather disapproving looks from the locals.

If you plan on visiting any of the numerous temples, or Wats, in Thailand, make sure you have both shoulders and knees covered - failing to cover up in holy places is probably one of the most disrespectful acts a foreigner can do whilst in Thailand.

-Don’t Get Out of Control-

As with most cultures, the Thais like to have a good time and enjoy themselves; Thailand isn’t called the Land of Smiles for nothing after all! Drinking to extremes however, is again seen as disrespectful, particularly if the drinker in question is female. Smoking and drinking, although becoming more acceptable for Western women is still seen as inappropriate for Thai women of good character. Keeping control of your emotions and alcohol intake will ensure that you’re far less likely to offend the Thai culture.

-Women: Don’t Talk To or Touch Monks-

This rule applies to women only, as a female touching or talking to a monk could be considered incredibly offensive; this is not the case with men, who are free to initiate conversation. As a woman, if you are spoken to by a monk, etiquette dictates that you are allowed to reply, but under no circumstances should physical contact take place. If an object needs to be passed between a woman and a monk, or vice versa, the object is usually set onto the floor, or a table rather than be passed directly, as this again ensures no contact is accidentally made.

Adhering to these few basic rules, being culturally aware and behaving in a dignified, peaceful manner will help your visit to Thailand to be one to remember for positive reasons. Smiling politely, learning a few basic words such as ‘hello’ and ‘thank you’ will also stand you in good stead and help you to settle into your time in Thailand.