Dos and Don'ts in Thailand, What to Do and What not to Do in Thailand

• The Monarchy: Thai people have a deep, traditional reverence for the Royal Family, and a visitor should be careful to show respect for the King, the Queen and all members of the Royal Family.
• Religion: Visitors should dress neatly at all places of worship. They should not wear skimpy tops or shorts or any revealing clothing.
• It is acceptable to wear shoes when walking around the compound of a Buddhist temple, but not inside the chapel where the principal Buddha image is kept. Each Buddha image, even if it is a ruin, is a sacred object. Never climb onto one to take a photograph or do anything which might indicate a lack of respect.
• Buddhist monks are forbidden to touch or be touched by women, and they may not accept anything directly from a woman’s hand. When a woman wishes to make an offering to a monk, she must first hand it to a man, and he will present it.
• Thais do not normally shake hands when they greet one another, but instead press the palms together in a prayer-like gesture called wai. Generally a younger person will wai an elder, who will return the greeting, but even casual acquaintances wai politely when they meet.
• Thais regard the head as the highest part of the body, literally and figuratively. One should never touch a person’s head and should take care not to point the feet, the lowest part of the body, at anyone or anything. Shoes should be removed when entering a Thai home.
• Public displays of affection between men and women are more common today but still frowned on.

• Beware of unauthorised people who offer their services as guides! For all tourist information, contact the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Tel: 1672. For information about Bangkok, contact the Bangkok Metropolitan Tourist Bureau, Tel: 0 2225 7612-4.
• Observe all normal precautions regarding personal safety and the safety of your belongings. Walking alone on quiet streets or deserted areas is not recommended. Be sure that all your valuables, money, jewellery and airline tickets are properly protected from loss. Visitors needing assistance should call the Tourist Police, Tel: 1155.
• While walking in the city, put food wrappers or anything you wish to discard into a waste bin. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration is enforcing antilitter regulations to keep the city clean and tidy. Fines will be imposed on anyone caught spitting, throwing away cigarette stubs or drops litter in public places.
• Penalties for drug possession are very severe in Thailand.
• Never buy any products made from wild animals including reptiles like snakes or monitor lizards, or turtle shells and ivory. Avoid local restaurants serving wild animal delicacies, as killing wildlife for food is illegal in Thailand.

National flower: Ratchaphruek Ratchaphruek was chosen as the national flower because it is widely known in Thailand and can be seen everywhere throughout the country. It bears beautiful clusters of flowers in summer. The colour of the flowers is bright yellow, the colour associated with Buddhism and the colour of Monday, the day of His Majesty the King’s birthday.

National animal: The Thai elephant
The Thai elephant, or Chang Thai, was chosen as the national animal because of the part it has played in Thai history and culture. It has a long life, and has always been closely related to the life of the Thai people as a working animal and as a form of transport in times of peace and war. White elephants have a royal significance, and the former national flag was a white elephant on a red ground. According to Thai tradition, a white elephant is a noble creature of special importance because it symbolises the honour and glory of the king. A true white elephant would be presented to the king, and to acquire one during his reign would bring prosperity and happiness throughout the kingdom.

National architecture: Sala Thai
The Sala Thai, or Thai pavilion, is a unique Thai structure typical of the architecture of temple buildings, where people can sit or gather. Its steeply pitched roof is supported on pillars and its sides are open to the breeze. When you see a sala, and there are many of them around the country, you know that you are in Thailand.