Making a Good Impression in Thailand
When visiting a country for the first time, especially one in the Middle East or Asia, it can be a little alarming when it comes to avoiding social gaffes, particularly if you are traveling on business. Here are a few ideas to help you when visiting Thailand.
Dress conservatively! Particularly when visiting the temples and shrines. Dress neatly, as you would in your own house of worship. And cover up! No shorts, sleeveless or tank tops, nothing that bares the midriff, or that is too short. Go for the early sixties and you will be fine. You can wear shoes on the outside of the temple, but remove them when you are in the temple itself.
When visiting shrines, it’s important to remember that these are religious sites, and not tourist attractions. Every image of Buddha is sacred, no matter the size or the condition. Never stand or sit on one. Never do anything that could be construed as disrespectful.Buddhist monks may not have physical contact with women, if a woman wants to hand something to a monk, she should do so through a man, or place it in his bowl. Don’t hand anything to the monk directly.
The Thais have a great respect and affection for their Royal Family. Please don’t make any comments that might indicate a lack of respect for them.
The Thais set a lot of store on good manners and in handling things with a smile. If something goes wrong, a Thai is likely to smooth it over with a smile or a laugh. This is not an insult, or disrespectful. This is graceful living. So be gracious. Losing your temper is considered very bad form. If you must complain, do so with a smile.
The Thais use a courtesy form of address: “Khun”. Don’t be surprised if someone calls you “Khun John”, or simply “Khun”. It is also very common for a Thai to use your first name at a first meeting.
The Thais consider direct eye contact impolite and will probably not look directly at you while speaking to you.
The head has special significance to the Thais, as do the feet. They are the highest and lowest parts of the body, respectively. It’s important that you don’t touch anyone on the head. Also, pointing your feet at a person or object is considered very rude. Do remove your shoes when entering a private home or the sanctuary of a temple.
Instead of a hand shake, you may be greeted with a “Wai”. Return the gesture. A Wai is made by pressing your palms together as if you were going to pray. It is a graceful and courteous exchange of greetings.
