Respecting Thai Culture at Festivals
Thai festivals welcome visitors, but many are also religious or royal occasions. A few simple habits show respect to the people around you. This guide covers temple manners, the main festival rules, the alcohol ban on Buddhist holy days, and transport.
The rules and dates below were checked in September 2026. Festival dates follow the Thai or Chinese lunar calendar and local organisers, so check the organiser's announcement before you book.
Understanding Thai Cultural Values
Three ideas explain most Thai etiquette:
- Face (na): avoid embarrassing anyone in public.
- Cool heart (jai yen): stay calm, even in crowds, heat or delays.
- Fun (sanuk): joining in with a smile is welcome.
Return smiles and do not shout or argue in public. If you lose your temper, you and the other person both lose face. Never touch anyone's head, the most respected part of the body, and always speak about the Thai royal family with respect.
Temple Festival Etiquette
A temple is still a place of worship during a festival, so the normal temple rules apply.
| Body part | Acceptable | Not acceptable |
|---|---|---|
| Shoulders | Covered | Tank tops, sleeveless tops |
| Legs | Covered below the knee | Shorts, short skirts |
| Feet | Bare inside temple halls | Shoes inside buildings |
Carry a light scarf, so you can cover your shoulders if you arrive underdressed.
Do:
- Take off your shoes before you enter a temple hall.
- Sit with your feet tucked to one side, pointing away from Buddha images and monks.
- Set your phone to silent, and follow what local people do during chanting.
- Give offerings to monks with both hands.
Do not:
- Point your feet at Buddha images or monks, or touch a Buddha image.
- Sit higher than monks.
- Pose for photos with your back to a Buddha image.
Women should not touch monks or hand things directly to them. Place the offering on a cloth that the monk lays out, or ask a man to pass it on.
Water Festival (Songkran) Etiquette
Songkran is the traditional Thai New Year. In 2026 the Songkran public holidays were 13 to 15 April. UNESCO added Songkran to its Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in December 2023.
Bangkok ran Songkran 2026 under a "3S" code. Safe: water play only in designated areas, with no alcohol. Soft: modest dress, no powder and no harassment. Spirit: keep the tradition. Powder, chalk, coloured sprays and high-pressure water guns were banned in the main zones. The 2026 penalties were:
| Offence | Penalty |
|---|---|
| High-pressure water guns or modified guns | Up to 2 years in prison or a fine of up to 4,000 THB |
| Revealing clothing or indecent behaviour | A fine of up to 5,000 THB |
| Drink-driving (limit 50 mg%, or 20 mg% under the age of 20) | Up to 1 year in prison and a fine of 5,000 to 20,000 THB |
| Riding on the edge or roof of a moving pickup truck | Banned |
Check the city's announcement before the next Songkran.
Use clean water, never ice water, and splash gently. Do not splash monks, elderly people who are not taking part, people carrying babies, anyone on a motorcycle, or anyone who signals that they do not want to play. Keep your phone and cash in a waterproof pouch, and wear modest, quick-drying clothes.
Buddhist Holy Days and the Alcohol Ban
Alcohol sales are banned nationwide on five Buddhist holy days. Shops, convenience stores and ordinary restaurants must stop selling. These places may still sell: hotels licensed under the Hotel Act, international airport passenger terminals, licensed entertainment venues, entertainment venues in designated tourist areas, and designated venues for major events. The next ban day is Ok Phansa on 26 October 2026, so plan any drinks at a licensed hotel.
| Holy day | 2026 | 2027 (expected) |
|---|---|---|
| Makha Bucha | 3 March | 21 February |
| Visakha Bucha | 31 May | 20 May |
| Asanha Bucha | 29 July | 18 July |
| Khao Phansa (start of Buddhist Lent) | 30 July | Not yet known |
| Ok Phansa (end of Buddhist Lent) | 26 October | 15 October |
The 2027 dates are not yet official. Selling alcohol during a ban can bring up to 6 months in prison, a fine of up to 10,000 THB, or both, so do not ask staff to make an exception. On normal days alcohol may be sold from 11:00 to 14:00 and from 17:00 to 24:00, and never to anyone under 20.
Religious Ceremonies and Merit-Making
On holy days, temples hold chanting, merit-making and evening candlelit processions. Arrive early, sit quietly, and stand or bow when the people around you do.
The wai is the Thai greeting: palms pressed together with a small bow of the head. Return a wai when someone gives you one. When shop or hotel staff greet you with a wai, a smile and a nod are enough.
Common ways to make merit (tam bun) are giving food to monks, lighting candles and incense, offering flowers and making a donation to the temple. Carry small notes. There is no set amount.
Phuket Vegetarian Festival Etiquette
In 2026 the nine main days of the Phuket Vegetarian Festival (Nine Emperor Gods) are 10 to 18 October. The Go Teng pole is raised on the evening of 9 October. The dates move each year with the Chinese lunar calendar: in 2025 the festival ran 20 to 29 October.
Street processions leave from the shrines each morning from 11 to 18 October, starting between 06:00 and 08:00. Fire-walking and blade-ladder climbing start around 20:00, mainly on 14 to 17 October at the main shrines, such as Jui Tui, Bang Neow and Kathu.
- Wear white, with long sleeves, long trousers and closed shoes, not flip-flops. Firecrackers are thrown along the routes, so protect your ears too.
- Arrive before the listed start time.
- Ask before you take close-up photos of anyone in trance, and do not touch the mediums.
- Shops with yellow flags sell "jay" food: no meat, dairy, eggs or alcohol, and no garlic, onion, shallot, chives or leek.
Loy Krathong and Yi Peng Etiquette
Loy Krathong 2026 is on Tuesday 24 November, and in Chiang Mai the Yi Peng celebrations centre on 24 and 25 November. The city has not yet published its official programme. You can watch for free along the Ping River, at Tha Phae Gate, by the Old City moat and at temples such as Wat Phan Tao. Ticketed mass lantern releases take place outside the city.
- Float a krathong made of natural materials, such as banana trunk, banana leaves and flowers, not styrofoam.
- Do not release sky lanterns in Chiang Mai city limits or near airport flight paths. Breaking this rule can mean fines and possibly jail. Release lanterns only at the announced times and places.
- In 2025, lanterns in Chiang Mai and Lamphun were allowed only from 19:00 to 01:00 on the festival nights, and Chiang Mai airport stopped all flights by 19:00. On festival nights, choose a flight that lands or leaves before 19:00, and check with your airline.
Photography Etiquette
Ask before you photograph people, especially at religious rituals: "Khor thai rup dai mai?" means "May I take a photo?". Do not use flash during ceremonies.
Leave your drone at home unless it is registered with the NBTC (and with CAAT if it has a camera or weighs over 2 kg), insured for at least 1 million THB, flown by a certified pilot and approved 3 days in advance. Fly no higher than 90 m, in daylight only, keep the drone in sight, and stay at least 9 km from airports unless you are authorised. Do not fly over urban areas, government buildings, hospitals or military zones. The penalty is up to 1 year in prison, a fine of up to 40,000 THB, or both.
Basic Thai Phrases and Food Stalls
| English | Thai | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | สวัสดี | sawatdee |
| Thank you | ขอบคุณ | khop khun |
| Delicious | อร่อย | aroi |
Men add "khrap" and women add "kha" at the end of a sentence to sound polite. At food stalls, carry small notes, wait your turn, do not haggle over food prices, and put your rubbish in a bin.
Getting to and from Festivals
Allow extra travel time on festival days, and agree a pickup point away from the parade route. In Bangkok, the IMF and World Bank Annual Meetings bring extra security from 12 to 18 October 2026, and banks in Bangkok are closed on 16 October.
Smile Taxi Service fares are fixed, per vehicle (not per person) and one way, with expressway tolls included.
- Bangkok festivals: Suvarnabhumi Airport to Bangkok costs 600 THB by sedan (up to 3 passengers), 800 THB by SUV (up to 5) or 1,100 THB by van (up to 7). Book a sedan from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Bangkok.
- Phuket Vegetarian Festival: Phuket Airport to Patong Beach costs 1,000 THB by sedan, 1,100 THB by SUV or 1,400 THB by van. Book a sedan from Phuket Airport to Patong Beach.
- Yi Peng in Chiang Mai: Suvarnabhumi Airport to Chiang Mai costs 7,500 THB by sedan, 8,500 THB by SUV or 10,000 THB by van. Book a sedan from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Chiang Mai, or compare all options in How to Get from Bangkok to Chiang Mai.
- Other festival towns: where there is no fixed fare, ask for a quote on WhatsApp or LINE.
Airport pickups include 60 minutes of free waiting, counted from the actual landing time. An English-speaking driver can be requested when booking, subject to availability. You pay the driver in cash (THB) at the end of the trip; if you can only pay by card, message the team for a PayPal payment link (a 5% fee is added). Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before pickup. After that, a cancellation or change costs 25% (less than 24 h), 35% (less than 12 h) or 50% (less than 2 h) of the price, and a no-show 100%, also when you pay the driver in cash (details). See all routes and fares.
Safety and Emergency Numbers
Agree a meeting point in case your group gets separated, and save these numbers before a big festival: Tourist Police 1155 (24 hours, several languages), ambulance 1669, police 191 and the TAT Call Centre 1672.
FAQ
What is banned at Songkran in Bangkok? In 2026, powder, coloured sprays, high-pressure water guns and alcohol were banned in the main zones. Using a high-pressure water gun could bring a fine of up to 4,000 THB or up to 2 years in prison.
Can I drink on Buddhist holy days? Shops and ordinary restaurants cannot sell alcohol on the five Buddhist holy days. Licensed hotels and international airport terminals are exempt. The next ban day in 2026 is Ok Phansa on 26 October.
Can I release a sky lantern anywhere in Chiang Mai? No. Release lanterns only at the announced times and places. They are banned in the city limits and near flight paths.
What number do I call in an emergency? Tourist Police 1155 (24 hours, several languages), ambulance 1669, police 191.
To reach a festival by private car, book on the Smile Taxi Service booking page or message us on WhatsApp or LINE.