One very special thing about Thailand is that more than 90% (about 95%) of the Thai population follows Buddhism. Every man must undergo two monkhoods during his lifetime. Therefore, don’t be surprised if you go out and meet all the monks. However, when meeting a monk, you need to pay attention to the following things so as not to “offend” and have a safe and meaningful trip in the country of the Golden Temple.
– On a sunny day, if you have to pass in front of a monk, you must avoid stepping on their shadow. According to Buddhist teachings, the monk’s shadow is also the monk himself. Stepping over the shadow is also stepping on their body. This is disrespectful behavior and tourists should avoid it.
– Absolutely do not touch the monks’ bodies. In particular, if you are a woman, you are not allowed to give anything to the monks. If they want to give something, women need to pass it through a man, or monks must use a towel to hold the object. Touching a monk’s body is considered an insult and is disrespectful to Buddha, so you should avoid doing so.
Do not wear short clothes when visiting the temple
In Thailand there are many temples you can visit, and certainly when you come here you will not be able to miss a trip to famous temples. However, the temple is an extremely sacred place, so you need to be serious and pay a little attention to your attire.
Absolutely do not wear short clothes or short skirts when going to the temple. In addition, do not wear slippers, dress informally or somewhat casually.
Do not touch Buddha statues
Buddha statues are the embodiment of Buddha, so you also need to show respect for the statues. Do not touch the Buddha statue, do not climb on the Buddha statue’s pedestal.
What you need to do when you see Buddha statues is to show absolute respect. If you want to buy a Buddha statue as a souvenir, you must not put it in your bag of clothes, this behavior is considered a serious offense to the sanctity of Buddhism.
Do not disrespect the Royal Family
Thailand is a constitutional monarchy, and most Thais worship the king and queen. Many families hang pictures of the king at home.
The Thai Royal Family is very respected and loved by the people, therefore, actions that insult the Thai Royal Family will be considered illegal by the people here. If you commit actions such as joking or mocking the king and royal family members, you will be subject to very severe punishments.
Some things you should not do when entering a people’s house
Thai people consider feet to be the dirtiest and lowest part of the body, so you should not point your feet at other people or enter temples. Be careful when sitting cross-legged, as you may accidentally point your feet towards someone else.
Thai customs are quite strange compared to Vietnam. Thai people believe that the threshold of the house is where the gods reside, so you should avoid stepping on it and remove your shoes before entering the house or temple. If the host sits on the ground, the guest should do the same. When sitting, you must not cross your legs or expose the soles of your feet.
If you want to give a gift to a Thai person, you should not give cigarettes because it is harmful to your health. The dish must be carefully wrapped. When giving gifts, you use your right hand to give them the gift, not your left hand. If a Thai person gives you a gift, you should clasp your hands towards them to show your gratitude before accepting. If your partner doesn’t actively ask you to open the gift, you shouldn’t open it in front of them.
Don’t touch other people’s heads
While the feet are considered the dirtiest and lowest part of the body, the Thai people consider the head to be the most valuable part of the human body. Therefore, you should not touch or caress a child’s head. Patting others on the shoulder or back are also offensive gestures.
In addition, one thing you also need to note is that Thai people absolutely do not use red pens to sign their names. According to custom, a red pen is used to write the name of the deceased on the coffin lid.
Do not go shirtless in public
In Thailand, being shirtless in public is considered an illegal act and can be fined by the police in cases where you are not wearing anything. Therefore, when traveling to Thailand, if the weather is too hot, you should be careful not to take off your shirt in public.
Do not use your left hand to give things to others
Thai people have a habit of clasping their hands in front of their chest when greeting, so you do not need to shake hands to greet or say goodbye. They also believe that the right hand is noble and the left hand is impure, so when giving souvenirs to others, Thai people use their right hand to show respect.
