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| Visa |
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+ Foreign nationals visiting Thailand must possess valid passports or accepted travel documents and appropriate visas before entering the country. Visitors from certain countries are permitted to stay up to 15 days without visas, provided they possess tickets confirming departure within 15 days, while visitors from several other countries are allowed to apply for tourists visas at all ports of entry. Transit visas are granted for up to 30 days and tourist visas for up 60 days. Non-immigrant, diplomatic and official visas are valid for up to 90 days.
Please check the list of citizens which visa on arrival is allowed.
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| Thai tradition |
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+ Thailand’s warmest greeting gesture, the "Wai", is a gesture with palms clasped together as a lotus bud shape in front of body at chest level and it is how Thai people greet. Generally, a younger person performs the greeting gesture to an elder, who returns it (it is not a compulsory to return.)
For foreigner, he would go a long way to being respected when he does a Wai to an elder person or one of higher status.
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+ Thais regard the head as the highest part of the body, literally and figuratively. Therefore, touching people on their head is considered rude. In contrast, feet are considered the most degraded part of the body. Thus, using feet to point something to someone is regarded very rude for Thai people.
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+ The King, the Queen and the Royal family are highly respected by Thai people. Visitors should show respect to them. For example, by stand still when national anthem is played. Not allow criticizing members of the royal family in public.
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| Thai Custom (Travelling in Thailand, do like Thai do) |
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+ Commonly, Thai people address Thai people with their first names, instead of last name and it is very polite to use the title “Khun” for adults regardless any genders such as “Khun John, Khun Mary. Once travelling in Thailand, please do not hesitate to do like Thai do. Thai will appreciate.
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+ Thai people smile to show their pleasure and bliss. They smile a lot and they will appreciate to get the smiles back as well. Thai people mostly welcome tourists.
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+ At Thai restaurant, chopsticks, and knife are seldom provided. You may find chopsticks at Chinese-Thai restaurant, or at noodle restaurants. Thai people use spoon for eating and folk for gathering good into spoon. Fortunately, eating with spoon in Thailand, it does not mean you are a child.
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| Visiting Buddhist temples and monasteries |
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+ Buddhist monks are forbidden to touch or be touched by a woman, or to accept anything from the hand of one. If a woman has to give anything to a monk, she first hands it to a man, or put it on a plate provided.
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+ Wats or temples are open to all visitors. Only some Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Wat Pho, Wat Benchama Bophit, Wat Arun and others , where commonly visit by tourists, charge admission fees (to cover restoration costs).
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+ Each Buddha image, regardless of its size or condition represents the Buddha. Thus, visitors should never climb onto one to take a photograph or do anything, which might indicate a lack of respect.
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+ Visitors should dress neatly in all religious shrines. They should never go topless, or in shorts, hot pants or other unsuitable attire. In the Temple of the Emerald Buddha women are also forbidden to wear sleeveless shirt.
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+ It is acceptable to wear shoes when walking around the compound of a Buddhist temple, but not inside the chapel where the principal Buddha image is enshrined
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+ Visitors to a Thai wat (temple) do not step on the doorsill, as tradition holds that a soul resides there.
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+ Visitors may photograph monks, wats, images, and Buddhist ceremonies, unless it is noted “Not prohibit to take pictures”.
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| Traveling in Thailand |
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+ The first recommendation is as same as travelling in other countries in this world,
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Respecting culture, tradition of local communities
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Being ready to learn and understand different cultures and beliefs, to touch the heart and soul of wherever you are visiting, to gain different experience which you encounter in every day. Travelling is not only visiting a place, but also gaining experiences, blended from people, culture, traditions, nature, architecture, belief and etc of local communities.
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+ Do not litter. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration is now strictly enforcing the law in an effort to keep the city clean and healthy. The fine (maximum 2,000 baht) will be imposed on a person who spits, discards cigarette stubs, or drops rubbish in public areas.
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+ Take sun block and a hat or cap when walking in the sun in the afternoon.
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+ Beware of strangers who are unauthorized person and offer their services as not licensed guides, tourist polices, police officers with low cost or free of charge. They will trap you for visiting shops which cause to buy fake jewelry, tailor shop and waste your holiday’s time.
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+ Visitors needing assistance relating to safety, unethical practices, or other matters, please call the Tourist Assistance Centre immediately (Tel: 281 -5051, 282-8129) or contact the Tourist Police (Tel: 678-6800- 9 or 1699).
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+ Penalties for drug offences are very severe in Thailand; do not get yourself involved with drugs.
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| Thai Currency and Money Exchange |
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+ The Thai Baht (THB) is the standard unit of currency in Thailand (1Baht = 100 satangs). Banknotes are issued in denominations of 20, 50, 100, 500, and 1,000 Baht while coins of 25 and 50 satangs, 1, 5, and 10 Baht face value are circulation. Money exchange can be done at Bangkok International Airport and other ports of entry, some hotels, foreign exchange booths operated by Thai commercial banks in tourist areas, and main branches of Thai commercial banks.
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