Thailand is a beautiful country with a rich culture and friendly people, but there are also some rules and customs that you need to be aware of to avoid offending anyone or getting into trouble. In this blog post, I will share with you 5 things that you should not do when traveling in Thailand. These are some of the common mistakes that tourists make in Thailand that can ruin their trip or worse. By following these tips, you will have a more enjoyable and respectful experience in Thailand.
Thailand is a beautiful country with a rich culture and friendly people, but there are also some rules and customs that you need to be aware of to avoid offending anyone or getting into trouble. In this blog post, I will share with you 5 things that you should not do when traveling in Thailand. These are some of the common mistakes that tourists make in Thailand that can ruin their trip or worse. By following these tips, you will have a more enjoyable and respectful experience in Thailand.
1. Don’t take taxis that don’t have meters
Taxi scams are very common in Thailand, especially in tourist areas like Bangkok, Phuket, or Pattaya. Some taxi drivers will try to charge you a fixed price that is much higher than the actual fare, or they will take you on a longer route to increase the meter. To avoid this, always ask the taxi driver to use the meter before you get in the car. If they refuse or say that the meter is broken, just walk away and find another taxi. There are plenty of taxis in Thailand that operate with meters, so don’t fall for this scam.
2. Don’t touch people’s heads
This may seem like a harmless gesture of affection or friendliness in your home country, but in Thailand, it is considered very rude and disrespectful. The head is the holiest and cleanest part of the body in Thai culture, and touching it is seen as an invasion of personal space and dignity. The only exception is if you are traveling with a child or someone you have a very close relationship with, but even then, you should be careful and respectful. If you want to show your appreciation or respect to someone, you can bow slightly or wai them instead. Wai is the Thai way of greeting someone by pressing your palms together at chest level and bowing your head slightly.
3. Don’t make physical contact with monks
Monks are highly respected in Thailand and they follow strict rules of conduct and discipline. One of these rules is that they are not allowed to touch women or receive anything directly from them. This means that if you are a woman and you want to give something to a monk, such as food or money, you have to place it on a tray or on the ground and let the monk pick it up himself. You should also avoid sitting next to a monk on public transportation or standing too close to them. If you are a man, you can shake hands with a monk, but only if he initiates it first. Otherwise, you can just wai them as well.
4. Don’t point with your feet or your finger
These are both considered rude gestures in Thai culture and can offend or anger someone. The feet are the lowest and dirtiest part of the body in Thai culture, so pointing with them or showing the soles of your shoes is an insult. You should also avoid stepping over someone or something with your feet, as this is seen as disrespectful. The finger is also seen as a gesture of aggression or disrespect, especially if you point it at someone’s face or chest. If you want to point at something or someone, use your whole hand or nod your head instead.
5. Don’t drink the water, gamble, talk about the royal family, or vape
These are all illegal or unsafe things to do in Thailand and can get you into serious trouble. The tap water in Thailand is not safe to drink, so stick to bottled water or boiled water. You can also use the tap water for brushing your teeth or washing your hands, but don’t swallow it. Gambling is illegal in Thailand and can land you in jail or worse. There are some underground casinos and lottery shops in Thailand, but they are very risky and not worth it. The royal family is revered in Thailand and any negative comments or jokes about them can be considered lèse-majesté, a serious crime punishable by imprisonment. You should also avoid taking pictures of any royal portraits or statues without permission. Vaping is also banned in Thailand and can result in fines or confiscation of your device.
