Generally Thais are friendly and polite and they expect visitors to act in the same way. What is correct and respectful behaviors in your country, also applies in Thailand.

The following hints are extracts from the book "Dos and Don'ts in Thailand" The writers consent has been granted.

Royal Family : The people hold the king of Thailand and the Royal Family in genuine respect and you should never speak derogatively about them or act disrespectfully with regards to them. (For instance, never step on a Thai bank note- it depicts the head of the King). Criticism, of any kind, of the Royal family is regarded as disrespectful.

Dress code : Thailand is a tropical country. Cotton, silk or linen clothes are most recommended. Avoid nylon and synthetic fibers. They do not breathe here as they do not elsewhere. Loose fitting clothes are best. Thais prefer to deal with our figure, in private.

Beach attires should be kept on the beach.

In Bangkok, shorts are acceptable as long as they are a decent length for casual wear. T-shirts and polo shirts are widely worn. Long pants and tie less shirts are the norm for dinning and visiting sites. All temples will not accept short worn by men or women. If you present yourself at a temple in shorts, you will be invited to borrow "free of charge" adequate attire with the deposit of an ID card or passport. It will be returned after the visit.

Visiting Temples : Before entering any building in a temple compound you must always take off your shoes. Shelves outside the building are provided for that purpose. We advise to wear shoes that are easy to take off such as sandals or Velcro equipped walking shoes.

Unless specified, you may take pictures in temples. Avoid having your picture taken with any Buddhist image or climb on anything in a temple. The monks can be photographed but they often do not like it. They may hide when they see a camera. It is best to ask first.

Nudity is a no-no everywhere except in private.

Head and feet : A lot has been said about that subject. The bottom line is to avoid touching someone's head and point with your foot in public either to a person or a religious object. Pointing a person with your finger is also considered rude. The head is considered sacred and the feet impure. In private, it might be a different story.

Etiquette : Polite behavior is welcomed everywhere and what is considered polite in other countries is probably considered polite in Thailand. However there might be some cultural pitfalls, mainly social and religious taboos, the breaking of which can cause offence. For example:

Show of anger : Never show sign of anger in any circumstances. It will get you nowhere in Thailand. Your smile is your best passport to get out of any embarrassing situation. Keep your voice at a reasonable level. Raising your voice is considered rude.