Your first trip to Asia will be an exciting journey for you. Which city should you get to know first? What traditions and customs are there in Thai culture? How to dress? Why can they be taken to the police? You will find all the answers to your questions in this article.
It is definitely not worth taking warm clothes. Thailand has a very warm and favorable climate. The weather is moderately hot, and you can swim at least all year round. If you forget slippers or a light T-shirt, don't worry. You can buy it here, and the prices for clothes and shoes will pleasantly surprise you.
Thai cuisine is spicy. If you are not used to spicy food, you should ask for it in advance. For example, no spicy or middle spicy. Do not be afraid to buy food in the market or in the macaroni. It is quite inexpensive, but it is very tasty.
Thais are quite tolerant people. They always try to help, not only to local residents, but also to foreigners. The Thai will always show you the way and answer all your questions.
Things are different in Pattaya and Phuket. Locals are already accustomed to a large flow of tourists, so here you can easily get on a dishonest person. Moreover, citizens of other countries also come here to earn money. Do not expect deception from merchants, hotel employees, waiters. All of them value their business and work, so it is not at all profitable for them to deceive tourists.
Thefts happen in crowded places. If you are on a holiday, keep everything with you. Never let go of your bag. You shouldn’t even wear it on your shoulder, because motorcycle drivers often steal at the resort - they drive at high speed and just snatch out their purse.
Particular attention should be paid to medical insurance. To find the most profitable option for yourself, you need to use special services.
Almost all Thais are followers of Buddhism. Therefore, this religion should be treated with respect. If you are planning to visit a temple, the first thing to consider is your clothing. You should not come here in beach shorts or dresses. You should also cover your knees and shoulders. Larger attractions have clothing rentals. Typically, this is relatively inexpensive. For example, in the Grand Royal Palace you can rent clothes for 250 baht.
If the doors of the temple are open, then anyone can come here, regardless of their religion. You should never turn your back on statues or images of the Buddha. You need to talk quietly so as not to disturb those people who came here to pray.
When meeting with monks, you do not need to extend your hand to greet them. Just nod. Female representatives are not allowed to touch the monks.
The Thai mentality is very different from ours. If this is your first trip to Thailand, try to follow all the rules of their life so that your vacation will give you only positive emotions. You must take off your shoes before entering the temple. All people go barefoot. The same rule applies to shrines, private homes, and even some shops. Thais will appreciate this gesture as respect for their traditions and will be very happy.
In Thailand, everyone speaks calmly, without shouting. Do not raise your voice to each other. All people try to restrain their emotions. This is taught from early childhood.
Wai is a traditional Thai greeting. This is also a special ritual that you need to know about. The greeting is a bow with arms folded in front of you at chest level. This gesture is used for other occasions as well. For example, when expressing gratitude or special respect.
By the way, Thais don't really like it when foreigners try to copy their behavior. Wai is not as simple as it might seem at first glance. If you don't know how to do this gesture yet, it's okay. There is a way out of this situation! If one of the locals wai to you, just put your hand on your chest and bow slightly. It would be enough.
Many believe that in Thailand they adhere to free morals. In fact, everything is different. Yes, Thais are really good with people of non-traditional sexual orientation, but they are not used to public kisses and hugs. Naturally, most of these situations are forgiven for tourists, but for sex in a public place (on the beach), you can be fined.
Before the trip, be sure to familiarize yourself with some rules that must not be violated. If your trip does not include police detention, it is better not to break the law. These tips will be useful to everyone: both for those tourists who fly to Thailand for the first time, and for more experienced travelers. Unfortunately, all these rules are often violated by foreigners.
Thais treat the royal family with special respect. Despite the restrictions in power that appeared in 1932, the king and his family are very loved and revered. Do not try to grimace next to the image of the monarch. Also, don't point your finger at them. Even banknotes depicting the king must be treated very carefully. All your statements about the royal family should be left - speak out at home after the trip.
Some Thais understand Russian, so any word you say can be a reason for him to contact the police. If you write a post for a social network, start discussing the monarch's family on the phone, or use foul language against him, an enterprising local resident will definitely contact the police. For such a crime, you can’t even get off with a simple fine. You can get jail time. Some journalists have been sitting here for several years because of their emotional statements and publications.
In Thailand, drug offenses can also be punished. In Pattaya, the police take this with extreme caution. Sometimes police officers can provoke and check tourists. If one of the foreigners is caught with drugs, he will certainly end up in jail. There are no other options.
Since 2019, the country has banned smoking in public places. The ban is not only on cigarettes, but also on hookahs, IQOS and other smoking systems. Tobacco products can be bought in some stores. The cigarette display itself is hidden from customers, but there is a list nearby, as expected. If you smoke on the beach, you will also be fined. You can also be fined for throwing a cigarette butt on the street. For such an oversight, you will pay approximately 2200 baht.
It is also worth mentioning the situation with insurance companies. Employees of these organizations do not like to help drivers in a state of intoxication. Such cases are not considered insured. If alcohol is found in your blood, help may not be expected. The same is true for pedestrians. Even if you drank just a glass of wine and a car ran over you, you can forget about insurance. For driving while intoxicated, you will pay a fine of 6,000 baht, and for drug use, you face a prison term.
The main advice is not to argue with the police. The locals respect their police. You can prove something to the police only if you are 100% sure of your words. But for this you will have to hire an interpreter.
Despite a decent list of bans, Thailand is still a comfortable country for tourists. The rules here are quite simple and can be followed without any difficulty. Treat the residents and the country with respect - then you will definitely enjoy the trip!
