Cultural Etiquette Tips

Thai people are usually relaxed with visitors, and nobody expects you to know every custom. A few habits still matter a great deal: how you treat the head and the feet, how you behave in a temple, and how you speak about the royal family. This guide covers the main customs, what changed in 2025 and 2026, and how to behave in a taxi.

Thailand in 2026: mourning and the royal cremation

Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother, died on 24 October 2025, aged 93. Civil servants wear black mourning for one year, from 25 October 2025 to 24 October 2026. The public was asked to wear subdued colours for 90 days, and that period ended on 23 January 2026. No ban on entertainment was issued, but event organisers were asked to tone down festive elements.

The royal cremation ceremonies take place in Bangkok from 15 to 19 December 2026:

• The funeral procession leaves at 07:00 on 16 December, and the cremation itself is at 16:30 that day, at the royal crematorium at Sanam Luang, next to the Grand Palace.
• On 17 December the relics are taken to the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew).
• The ceremonies will be broadcast in full on Thai TV.

It has not been announced whether the Grand Palace or nearby roads will close to visitors. Expect large crowds and possible road closures around Sanam Luang that week, and plan sightseeing in the old town (Rattanakosin) for other days. If you visit the Grand Palace area during the mourning period or the cremation week, dark, sober clothes are the respectful choice.

The head and the feet

In Thai culture the head is the most respected part of the body, and the feet are the lowest.

The head:

• Do not touch anyone's head, not even a child's.
• Avoid reaching over someone's head to pass something. If you must, say "excuse me" first.

The feet:

• Do not point your feet at people, monks or Buddha images, and do not use your foot to point at or move things.
• Do not step over someone who is sitting or lying on the floor. Walk around them.
• Do not put your feet up on tables or chairs.
• When you sit on the floor in a temple, tuck your feet behind you or to the side so the soles face away from the Buddha image.

Respecting the monarchy

The Thai royal family is deeply respected, and this is an area where a mistake can have serious legal consequences.

The law

Section 112 of the Criminal Code, the lese-majeste law, protects the King, the Queen, the heir apparent and the Regent from defamation, insults and threats. Each count carries 3 to 15 years in prison. Anyone can file a complaint, and the police must investigate every one. The law has been used against foreigners, for example a Swiss man jailed in 2007 over royal posters and an American man in 2011.

The simple rule: do not joke about, criticise or insult the royal family, in person or online.

Two different anthems

• The national anthem (Phleng Chat) is played in public places, such as parks and bus or train stations, at 08:00 and 18:00 every day. People usually stop and stand still while it plays. The old fine for not standing has been abolished, but most people still stand, and visitors should do the same.
• The royal anthem (Sansoen Phra Barami) is played before every film in cinemas and before plays, concerts and most live shows. The audience stands.

Money and royal images

Thai banknotes and coins carry the King's portrait. Never step on money, even to stop a coin that is rolling away, and do not tear or deface notes. Treat royal portraits with the same respect.

Temple etiquette

In the 2018 census, about 93.5% of people were Buddhist, and the country has about 40,000 temples (wat).

What to wear

• Cover your shoulders and knees. Sleeveless tops, shorts and short skirts are not suitable.
• Large temples can usually lend or rent you a sarong, but it is easier to arrive dressed correctly.

Inside the temple

1. Take off your shoes before entering any building.
2. Step over the raised threshold of a temple door, not on it.
3. Sit with your feet pointing away from the Buddha image.
4. Speak quietly and set your phone to silent.
5. Ask before you photograph people who are praying.
6. Treat every Buddha image with respect, however small, and never climb on a statue.

Carry cash in small notes, because many temples collect entrance fees at the gate.

Monks

• Women should never touch a monk or his robes, and should not hand anything directly to a monk. A woman can place an offering on a cloth or tray in front of the monk, or ask a man to pass it.
• Everyone should give way to monks, avoid pointing at them, and never sit higher than a monk.

Buddhist holidays

Alcohol may not be sold on the five main Buddhist days: Makha Bucha, Visakha Bucha, Asanha Bucha, Khao Phansa and Ok Phansa. Duty-free shops at international airports are exempt. The next of these days is Ok Phansa, the end of Buddhist Lent, on 26 October 2026, so plan ahead if you want a drink with dinner.

Greetings, the wai and saving face

The wai

The wai is the Thai greeting: palms pressed together in front of you with a slight bow. It shows respect, and the younger or junior person usually offers it first. Keep it simple:

• Return a wai with a slight bow.
• Raise your hands higher when you greet monks and elders.
• When shop or hotel staff greet you with a wai, a smile and a nod is a polite answer.

Give and receive gifts and business cards with both hands, or with your right hand.

Saving face

Avoiding embarrassment, for yourself and for others, is central to Thai social life. Raising your voice, showing anger or criticising someone in public causes a loss of face and rarely solves a problem. Stay calm, smile and look for a compromise. You will often hear "mai pen rai" ("never mind, it's fine"), which sums up this attitude.

Kissing and other public displays of affection are considered impolite, although friends of the same sex often hold hands with no romantic meaning. Keep beachwear for the beach and dress neatly in towns.

Dining etiquette

• Thai meals are shared. Dishes go in the middle of the table, and each person takes a little at a time with the serving spoon.
• Wait for the host or the eldest person to start.
• The person who invites usually pays. Offering to pay is polite, even if your offer is refused.

Etiquette in taxis and on the road

• Greet your driver with "sawasdee khrap" (men) or "sawasdee kha" (women) and a smile. A wai is not needed.
• Not every driver speaks English. Have your hotel name and address written in Thai, and download Thai in the Google Translate app on Wi-Fi before you fly, so it works without data.
• Keep your feet off the seats.
• If something goes wrong, stay calm and polite. A quiet request works far better than an argument. For help in English, call the Tourist Police on 1155.

With Smile Taxi Service the fare is fixed per vehicle, not per person, and includes expressway tolls, so there is no meter and no bargaining. From Suvarnabhumi Airport to Bangkok it is 600 THB by sedan, 800 THB by SUV and 1,100 THB by van (plus 100–200 THB for addresses west of the Chao Phraya River, on the Thonburi side), paid in cash (THB) to the driver at the end of the trip. If you can only pay by card, message the team for a payment link (an extra fee for creating and handling the payment link may apply). You can request an English-speaking driver when booking, subject to availability, and 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). Book a sedan from Suvarnabhumi to Bangkok or see all routes and prices.

Useful polite phrases

Thai has five tones, but people understand learners from context. Men add "khrap" and women add "kha" at the end of a sentence to sound polite.

In the northeast (Isan), "khop jai" is a friendly local way to say thank you.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to stand for the anthem? Stand for the royal anthem before films and shows. At 08:00 and 18:00 in public places, stop and stand still for the national anthem.

Is it illegal to criticise the Thai king? Yes. Section 112 carries 3 to 15 years in prison per count, and it applies to foreigners too.

Is Thailand still in mourning in 2026? Civil servants wear mourning for Queen Sirikit until 24 October 2026, and the royal cremation takes place on 15-19 December 2026 in Bangkok.

Can I buy alcohol on Buddhist holidays? Not on the five main Buddhist days. The next is Ok Phansa on 26 October 2026. Airport duty-free shops are exempt.

Should I wai back to a waiter? A smile and a nod is enough. Use the wai mainly for elders and monks.

Need a ride to the temples or from the airport? Message us on WhatsApp, or start your booking on the booking page.

#Thailand cultural etiquette #Thai customs #local tips #respectful travel #Thailand travel advice