10 Thai Customs That Might Surprise You

In short: Stand still for the anthem at 8am and 6pm, keep your feet away from people and Buddha images, take your shoes off at the door, answer a wai with a wai, and never joke about the monarchy. Here are ten Thai customs that surprise first-time visitors, what they mean, and what to do when you meet them.

In this guide

• The national anthem stops the country twice a day
• Kathoey are part of everyday life
• Days of the week have colours
• Your birth day matters as much as your birthdate
• Most men spend time as a monk
• Nicknames are wonderfully random
• Heads are sacred, feet are dirty
• Spirit houses and amulets
• The wai
• Standing for the King at the cinema
• Three more that trip people up

1. The national anthem stops the country twice a day

At 8am and 6pm the national anthem plays in schools, stations, parks and government buildings, and on television and radio. Everyone stops and stands still until it ends, including people mid-stride on the pavement or halfway onto a train. Do the same. It lasts under a minute and it is one of the easiest ways to show respect.

2. Kathoey are part of everyday life

Transgender women, called kathoey in Thai and often "ladyboys" in tourist areas, are a visible and long-accepted part of Thai society. You will meet them serving in shops and restaurants, in offices and on stage. Treat them as you would anyone else. The word ladyboy is used freely around bars and cabarets, but not everyone likes it, so follow the lead of the person you are talking to.

3. Days of the week have colours

Each day has a colour tied to the Buddhist and Hindu astrology Thais grow up with. Yellow is Monday, the colour of King Vajiralongkorn, who was born on a Monday like his late father King Bhumibol, so you will see plenty of yellow shirts at the start of the week. Pink is Tuesday, another royal colour, and light blue is Friday, for Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother, who was born on a Friday.

4. Your birth day matters as much as your birthdate

Thais will ask which day of the week you were born, because each day carries its own character and luck. It decides your colour, the Buddha posture you pray to at the temple, and sometimes which names are lucky for you. If you do not know yours, look it up before you go; someone will ask.

5. Most men spend time as a monk

Traditionally every Thai man ordained as a monk at some point, usually for a few weeks or months in his twenties, to make merit for his family. Fewer do now, but it is still common, and boys as young as seven ordain as novices for the school holidays. So the monk collecting alms at dawn may be a bank clerk by Christmas.

6. Nicknames are wonderfully random

Thai first names are long, so almost everyone goes by a one-syllable nickname given at birth, and a lot of them are English words. You will meet men called Nut, Earth, Bank, Titan, Boat, Ice, Golf and Beer, and women called Pink, Milk, New and Cartoon. Use the nickname; nobody expects you to manage the full name.

7. Heads are sacred, feet are dirty

The head is the highest and holiest part of the body and the feet the lowest. Do not touch anyone's head, including children's. Do not point your feet at people, at monks or at Buddha images, do not step over people or food, and do not push a door or drawer shut with your foot. Sitting on the floor in a temple, tuck your feet behind you. Our guide to visiting a Thai temple respectfully covers the rest.

8. Spirit houses and amulets

The small shrines on a plinth outside almost every building are spirit houses, homes for the guardian spirits of the land, and the offerings of red Fanta, rice and garlands are replaced daily. Amulets around the neck, sacred tattoos, cloth wrapped around old trees and prayers painted inside taxi roofs are all part of the same everyday spiritual life. Look, but do not touch and do not step on the offerings.

9. The wai

Hands together at chest height with a small bow is the greeting, the thank-you, the apology and the goodbye. The higher the hands, the more respect: chest height for peers, nose height for elders and bosses, forehead height for monks and the royal family. Return a wai you are given; you do not need to wai children, waiters or shop staff, who will wai you first, and a smile and a nod is the right answer.

10. Standing for the King at the cinema

Before every film the audience stands for the royal anthem while a tribute video plays. Stand with everyone else and sit when they do. It takes a minute and it is expected of visitors as much as locals.

Three more that trip people up

• Shoes off at the door of homes, temples, many guesthouses and some shops. If there is a pile of shoes outside, add yours.
• Money carries the King's face. Never step on a dropped banknote to stop it blowing away, and do not fold notes into your shoe.
• Keep your cool. Raised voices and public anger lose face for everyone involved and get you nowhere. A smile and patience work far better in a dispute, a queue or a taxi negotiation.

You will meet most of these in the first day of any of our Thailand trips, and your guide will walk you through them. If you are still planning, our guides to Thailand's weather, the TDAC arrival card and which plug adapter you need cover the practical side.

Frequently asked questions

Is it rude not to wai back?

A little, if the person is your equal or elder. Return it at the same height. You do not need to wai staff or children who wai you; a smile and a nod is enough.

Can I talk about the royal family?

Politely, yes. Criticising or joking about the monarchy is a criminal offence under Thailand's lèse-majesté law, with long sentences, and that applies to visitors and to social media posts. Leave the subject alone.

What should I do during the anthem if I am eating or walking?

Stop, stand still and wait. Nobody minds a tourist who is unsure, but everyone notices one who keeps walking.

Do I need to cover up outside temples?

In cities and on beaches, no. In temples, the Grand Palace and rural villages, shoulders and knees covered. A light scarf in your bag solves it.

Why book with Backpacking Tours?

We have run small-group Thailand trips since 2013 with a licensed Thai guide throughout, and the customs above are explained on the first day rather than learned the hard way. Transfers, accommodation and every listed activity are included, and each trip is held with a small deposit.

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