Breakaway Destination Guides (International)

Touching between people of the same sex is more common in Thailand than in many other Asian countries. However, touching someone of the opposite sex is taboo. Do not show affection in public. Never touch or pass anything over anyone's head. The head is considered sacred in Thailand and must be respected..

Learn some Thai phrases. We have included a few that will go a long way to making your holiday more enjoyable.

When speaking Thai, it's good to end your sentence with a word that doesn't translate easily or neatly, but simply conveys politeness, much as "sir" or "ma'am" would in English. In Thailand, however, the word reflects the gender of the speaker rather than of the listener. Men end a sentence with 'khrap' women with 'kha'

These phrases are so common and expected that you can mangle the pronunciation quite a bit and still be understood.

  How to Wai by Breakaway

Don't wai unless you know what you're doing. The wai (the slight bow with fingertips touching in front of one's face or chest) is a greeting, and a way of showing respect or thanks. But it's more complicated than that. If you return a wai to someone of much lower social status for example, you may feel you're striking a blow for equality. Actually you're just embarrassing the person. Unless you've got an audience with the king, a westerner can just smile instead of doing a wai.

Be generous. It's expected that the person of higher social status and wealth will pick up the check and show generosity in other ways. Generally, that would be you. [If a Thai clearly issues an invitation to you to go out to dinner, then picks up the check]

Gift-giving is common, and comes with its own customs and expectations. An attractive wrapping counts. DonƎt expect a gift to be opened in front of the giver. The recipient typically sets it aside, to be opened in private. And it's not just the thought that counts. While your gift needn't be expensive, it shouldn't seem too cheap, either. An appropriate item brought from the U.S., showing that you made an extra effort, would mean more than something purchased at a local Thai market.

Speak quietly and gesture softly. Loud voices, calling attention to yourself, pointing at people or things, throwing things, and making big hand gestures, all seem graceless to the Thai sensibility. Making a scene might get results in Europe or the US but here it gets you avoided.

Thais avoid conflict. That attitude ingrained in the culture, part of the mai pen rai attitude. If you put a Thai in a confrontational situation, chances are he or she will disappear at the first opportunity. To get results, avoid conflict. Do not lose your cool Everything moves much more slowly here in Thailand. To show irritation or frustration will only make things worse.

Thai life centres around the family. You'll find Thai's far more devoted to their family life than are most Europeans. Parents and elders are respected, and even in adulthood, "making my parents proud of me" remains a driving goal for most Thais. As for terminology, don' be surprised if a new friend says he's an only child, then later refers to his "brothers". Terms like brother and uncle are often used to indicate an affectionate but non-biological relationship.

Use your right hand to pass an object and for most other purposes.

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