Local customs and etiquette

Thais are a welcoming bunch, even more so when visitors acknowledge and respect their culture and customs. Here are tips on how to behave in the Land of Smiles. Locals and visitors alike must carry ID at all times in Thailand. Identification papers are checked frequently in a variety of situations, and if you cannot produce them, when asked by a police officer, you may be arrested. A photocopy of your passport will suffice.

You'll hear conflicting reports about the dress codes at various Bangkok temples. When in doubt, be conservative. Singlets and sleeveless tops are never allowed (carry a shirt or blouse in your bag and put it on when required). Some popular temples will tolerate open-toed shoes, but cheap flip-flops are a no-no. To not complicate matters, you must remove footwear when in main prayer halls. The best option is to wear light, closed-toed slip-on shoes (such as boat shoes or plimsolls).

Learn a few basic Thai phrases and Bangkok's already-friendly locals will treat you like family. In Thai, men end common phrases with 'krap' and women with 'kaa', so for 'hello', a man would say 'sawadee krap' and a woman would say 'sawadee kaa'. 'Thank you' is 'khob khun krap' (if you're male) or 'khob khun kaa' (if you're female).


When using the public transport, don't get precious about your place in the queue—it's every man for himself when the train/bus pulls in.