Before visiting a country it’s important you find out about not only its culture but local etiquette too; with that in mind, here are some things to remember when going to Thailand.
Appropriate Attire
When going to temples wear clothes that cover bare legs, arms and shoulders and remember to remove your footwear too. Outside these sacred sites, be it at a city property in Bangkok or a hotel Ao Nang Krabi has to offer near the beach such as Avani Ao Nang Cliff Krabi Resort, you can wear even short attire.
The Thai Wai
The most prevalent greeting is called “Thai wai”; this formal greeting involves placing one’s hands together in a prayer-like gesture, bringing them close to the chest, bowing slightly and saying “sawasdee” (hello). You do not have to mimic the same gesture in return but can say “sawasdee” or”khopkhun” (thank you).
Kha vs Khap
When conversing with Thais it’s important to know that men should end their sentences or phrases with the word “khap”, while women should use “kha”. Taking the above phrases as examples, men should say “sawasdeekhap” or”khopkhunkhap” and women should say “sawasdeekha” or”khopkhunkha”.
Keep in Mind
When communicating, remember to respect a person’s personal space, which is a must anyway with social distancing in effect! You should not touch another person’s head (including the head of statues of the Buddha) since Thais consider it the most important part of the body. While it’s fine to use hand gestures, always be calm and never aggressive.
