Etiquette in Thailand: what’s acceptable and what NOT to do

Thai people are known for their polite and calm demeanour, but regardless of how gentle and courteous one might seem, it’s always important to still show respect and basic courtesy. Etiquette in Thailand is one of the most important topics to address when talking about visiting this Southeast Asian country, because I can’t tell you how much harmful behavior I’ve observed, both in person and on social media, towards the people, the environment, and animals. 

Sometimes it happens due to a lack of knowledge, which is why I wrote this detailed article about how to behave in Thailand, from basic tips like following the dress codes at temples to unspoken rules like not taking photos of monks without permission, to unethical animal tourism activities to avoid.

Cultural etiquette in Thailand: everything you need to know

Cultural etiquette unique to Thailand

1. Show respect to the king. Thailand still has a monarchy, and it’s important to show respect in the following ways:
   1. Don’t insult, defame, or criticise the king and the royal family. It’s not only considered disrespectful, but it’s also a criminal offense. 
   2. Don’t step on coins and paper money, and don’t toss, crumble, or throw them, as it has the king’s face on them. Handle money gently.
   3. Stand up during the royal anthem.
2. Unspoken rule: shower daily, and a few times if possible. Hygiene is important in Thailand, and with such a humid climate, it’s normal to sweat a lot, and a few showers a day are expected. 
3. Embrace “sanuk”, which is a Thai philosophical concept of finding joy in everyday life. Essentially, it loosely also means don’t take things too seriously and don’t get riled up over nothing.
4. Don’t step on door thresholds, as traditional beliefs hold that guardian spirits live there, so stepping on the threshold is considered disrespectful. Instead, you should always step over it. 

Temple etiquette in Thailand

Visiting temples is one of the top cultural activities in Thailand, so here are all the important temple etiquette to follow. These apply in Thailand and elsewhere, such as Bali, as well as in other sacred and religious places, such as mosques and churches.

1. Follow the dress code: dress modestly with loose outfits, covering shoulders and knees, for both men and women. If you’re not dressed appropriately, you can use the sarongs they offer at the temple entrance, but please keep them on.

Insider tip: Thailand is hot and humid, so it’s best to wear loose clothing with natural materials like linen and cotton.

2. Remove your shoes when entering the temple’s praying areas. 
3. Do not take photos of people, especially monks, without permission. Temples are sacred places for local communities, and people performing rituals aren’t photo ops. It’s also disrespectful to invade someone’s praying time.
4. Do not touch the Buddha statues with your feet, or even point at them with your feet. And definitely do not sit on them.
5. Do not touch the monks, especially if you’re a woman.
6. Don’t talk loudly or show exuberant behaviour. 
7. This is not on-site temple etiquette, but a general rule: do not use the Buddha in marketing or as a decorative image, such as a tattoo, no matter how much the Buddhist religion resonates with you.
8. Some vendors sell Buddha statues, and some require a permit to export them from Thailand. Make sure to check. 

Social etiquette: how to behave in Thailand

When in public

1. Don’t walk around in a bikini or shirtless unless you’re at the beach. Thailand is a conservative country, and beachwear (or being shirtless) is for the beach or at the pool only. Plus, you wouldn’t walk around shirtless in your city, so why do it in other countries? 
2. Avoid PDA. This is a general etiquette, but especially at temples. Holding hands is ok.
3. Don’t talk loudly, especially on the train and in public spaces (you all remember what happened to the Italian kids on the skytrain, right?).
4. Do not put your feet up on the table. Feet are considered the dirtiest part of the body, both physically and spiritually. 

When interacting with others 

1. Don’t touch people’s heads, even small children’s. The head is considered the most sacred part of the body. 
2. Don’t gesture with, or point your feet at people. 
3. Remove your shoes when entering someone’s house. 
4. Thailand is a conservative country, and despite the popular idea of sex tourism, it’s inappropriate to touch Thai women without permission.  
5. Return the traditional Thai greeting, the wai, by putting your hands together and bowing slightly, especially if someone does it to you first. Don’t initiate it with children and others younger than you. Hierarchy matters. 

Gift-giving 

1. Do not give marigolds or carnations, as these are associated with funerals.
2. Don’t wrap presents in black, blue, or green colours, as they are associated with funerals.
3. If you receive a gift, don’t open it in front of the gift-giver. Similarly, don’t expect them to open your gift in front of you.

Eating etiquette in Thailand

1. Tipping is not the norm in Thailand, so there’s no need to tip in restaurants. In fact, leaving a tip when it’s not customary can lead to issues like inflated costs, expectations, and mess with the staff’s baseline income. 
2. Do not snap fingers or raise your voice to get a waiter’s attention. Just make eye contact and nod, or make a polite hand gesture like a short wave.
3. If eating in a group setting with local Thai people, let the elders and seniors lead the process and order placement.
4. When sharing dishes, use the designated utensil (usually a serving spoon) to scoop food onto your plate. Never use your own utensils. 
5. Take small amounts of food rather than pile large portions on your plate. 
6. Eat with the right hand, but avoid the urge to lick your fingers.
7. Wait to be seated by your host.
8. Leave a tiny bit of food on your plate to indicate that you ate well and you’re full.

Responsible travel etiquette in Thailand

Mindful and responsible travel in Thailand

1. Be aware of your privilege in Thailand: your tourist money can go a long way, but life isn’t always easy for the local people.
   1. Don’t brag about how “cheap” things are
   2. Bargain politely and respectfully. Don’t overbargain for a few cents or a few dollars/euros/pounds.
2. Support local communities. Buy from local artisans, eat at local restaurants, stay in locally-owned accommodation or with a local in a homestay. 

Animal tourism issues in Thailand

1. Many people go to Thailand to see elephants, but the animal tourism industry, particularly elephant tourism, can be extremely exploitative. Everyone knows that riding elephants is bad because they go through rigorous “training” to tolerate humans riding them, and they’re constantly hit on the head to get them to move as needed. But other interactions like feeding, petting, bathing, riding, trekking next to them, and close photo ops, are also harmful to the elephants, as this means that the elephants are being coerced to be at an exact spot at a certain time. Also, elephants don’t need help feeding or bathing themselves. The most ethical way to see elephants in Thailand (and any wild animals anywhere) is to observe them from a distance.
2. Don’t buy “exotic” animals. You might encounter animal-selling stalls at markets like Bangkok’s Chatuchak Weekend Market, the biggest market in Thailand, where animals are kept in terrible conditions, often in tiny cages without food and water.
3. Don’t pay to pet or feed wild animals kept in captivity, like tigers. 
4. Don’t feed the wildlife, including monkeys. 
5. Never chase or harass turtles when snorkelling. This also applies to all animals everywhere. 
6. Don’t purchase anything made from endangered species, such as turtle shells, ivory, etc. It’s not only illegal and costly if you’re caught, but it also encourages more animal exploitation. 

Help to protect Thai children

1. Be aware of human trafficking and the exploitation of children in Thailand. Don’t give gifts, money, or treats to children on the street because there’s usually an adult or a group of people behind that, using children and trapping them in a cycle of exploitation and poverty. 
2. Don’t visit orphanages as a tourist attraction, or even as a short-term volunteer. Orphanages are sometimes profit-making businesses that use children rather than protect them.
3. Don’t take photos of children without permission, and don’t share them online. Not only is that potentially dangerous for them (there’s always predators lurking online), but it’s also now feeding AI.

Environmental etiquette in Thailand

1. Don’t take corals and shells from the beach. Crabs and other marine creatures use shells as a home. Taking corals and shells can also lead to erosion.
2. Don’t try to swim in the sea if it’s not allowed, such as Maya Bay, a beautiful beach that got popular in the early 2000s because of the movie The Beach, which had to close down from 2018 to 2021 to preserve its marine ecosystem. You can still visit Maya Bay, but people aren’t allowed to swim there anymore.
3. Don’t walk on live corals. It damages them, and it takes decades to recover. 
4. Wear reef-safe sunscreen to prevent harmful chemicals from leaking into the sea. Also, allow your sunscreen to soak in for at least 20 minutes before heading out in the water, otherwise it’s just going to get washed off.
5. Plastic pollution is a huge issue in Thailand. Avoid single-use plastic, and reduce your overall plastic consumption. 
6. Always stay on designated trails when hiking and exploring. It’s for your own safety and that of others, including fauna and flora.
7. Don’t damage historical sites, for instance, by climbing them or scratching your name on them.
8. Don’t fly drones in no-fly zones. Respect the rules; they’re there for a reason.

FAQs: cultural etiquette in Thailand

What’s the dress code for visiting temples in Thailand?

Always cover your shoulders and knees when visiting temples, and wear loose-fitting clothes rather than short and tight outfits.

What’s considered disrespectful in Thailand?

Touching someone on the head is disrespectful in Thailand, as the head is considered the most sacred part of the body. Similarly, the feet are considered the dirtiest, so don’t point your feet at people or at the Buddha. 

Another incredibly important thing to remember is not to use the Buddha image in marketing or as tattoos, as it’s considered disrespectful.

How to see elephants ethically in Thailand?

To see elephants ethically in Thailand, look for places that don’t allow ANY interaction, such as riding, feeding, petting, or walking close to them. Also, avoid any activities that guarantee a specific observation, such as “watching elephants bathe in the afternoon”. A truly ethical wildlife activity, in any country, allows you to observe animals from a distance, without any guarantee, as the animals are free to roam as they wish.

Does Thailand have a King?

Yes Thailand has a king and a royal family, and it’s important to show respect. Avoid any kind of mockery or insult of the royal family, and treat cash gently because the king’s image is on coins and paper money.