51 Curiosities about Thailand that will amaze you

Updated: April 2, 2024

Curiosities about Thailand about festivities, traditions and customs that you have never been told, all from my experience of living in the country.

1.- Siam – cats and twins

Kingdom of Siam was the old name of Thailand, back in the days when Ayutthaya was the capital.

The name change was in 1939, which was renamed Prathet Thai which translates as "country of free people", in English it is thailand and in Spanish Thailand.

You will sometimes hear Thais called Siamese, although that word is most commonly used for a breed of cats and twins who are born physically connected.

As for cats, the Siamese are a breed native to that country and in those times they were cats that only the royal family could have.

The first brothers who were born connected did so in Siam, they were Chang and Eng Bunker, born on May 11, 1811.

2.- Importance of the King

The king in Thailand is considered a demigod and is owed respect just like the rest of the royal family.

Any insult or defamation of the King can be punished by prison. The minimum sentences are 3 years and the record that a judge has sentenced is 43 years in prison for a former official in January 2021.

In 2015 there was another high-profile case in which someone who "liked" Mark Z.'s social network and shared an article that talked about an alleged case of corruption by the king was sentenced to 32 years in prison.

That is why you have to be very careful with what is said on social networks.

Even stepping on a baht bill (the local currency) that shows the king's face is an offense.

3.- National Anthem

The current national anthem is from 1939, the same year the country's name was changed and it was renamed Thailand.

The anthem is sacred and a national pride that is broadcast to the public 3 times a day.

It is common for you to hear it even through the supermarket speakers when you are shopping.

If you are curious to know what their anthem says, here are the lyrics:

Thailand unites the flesh and blood of Thais.

The land of Thailand belongs to Thais.

Your independence has been long, desiring sovereignty allowed you to maintain it,

Because Thais has joined together forever.

Thais It is peaceful and loving, in war we are not cowards.

Our sovereignty will never be threatened,

We will sacrifice every drop of our blood for our nation.

We are ready to die for freedom, security and prosperity.

4.- Real name of Bangkok

Bangkok is the name we foreigners use; However, the real name of the Thai capital is much longer:

Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Yuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Phiman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasi.

The meaning is: "City of angels, great city of the immortals, magnificent city of the nine gems, seat of the king, city of royal palaces, home of the incarnate gods, erected by Visvakarman at the behest of Indra."

Thais use a shorter way to refer to their capital, which are the first words, Krung Thep which means "city of angels" and is pronounced the same as if you read it in Spanish with the silent "h."

5.- They were never colonized

Thailand is the only country in Southeast Asia that was never colonized by Europeans and always maintained its independence.

Something that represents a real pride for them and is reflected in the name of the country, Thailand, which literally means "country of free people."

6.- They have a different calendar

The Thai calendar is solar and since it is a mainly Buddhist country, they do not count the years since the birth of Jesus like in our (Gregorian) calendar.

The beginning of their calendar is marked by the death of Gautama Buddha which corresponds to the year 543 BC, therefore, they are in the year 2565 (now in July 2022).

The days of the week and months coincide with our calendar and celebrate the Western New Year, January 1, which is an official holiday and its own new year.

7.- Thai New Year is in April

Thai New Year is on April 13, although the celebration lasts until April 15.

The name of the new year is Songkran and literally means "astrological step" because it is considered a moment of transformation and change.

During these dates, different traditional Buddhist rituals are performed in the temples. It is also a festival famous for street water battles.

If you have the opportunity to travel during that time, get ready for fun with water guns.

Of course, carry your cell phone and camera protected in a plastic case because a bucket of water can also fall on you and get your last name wet. 😜💦

8.- A grotesque and bloody festival

The Phuket Vegetarian Festival is organized by the Chinese community living in Phuket every year during the month of October.

The Chinese community does not eat meat during the duration of the festival as a purifying act.

There are also vegetarian street food stalls, although it is not very varied and not healthy because it is all fried.

The name of the festival sounds harmless, but some of the rituals are quite grotesque and bloody, not suitable for very impressionable people.

Some of the rituals include piercing the mouth with swords, others like the one I witnessed (video below) hit the back with sharp weapons (axes and others with metal tips).

I confess that the weapons were quite blunt, you could see some blood, but if they were sharp it would be a real carnage. Likewise, they are intense rituals and not for everyone.

9.- Driving in Thailand

At first it takes a little getting used to, because it is one of the few countries that drive on the left and overtake on the right, like the English do.

There is also the rule that the largest has the right of way.

As displays of anger are frowned upon in Thailand, Thais are polite when driving and the horn is rarely used. You can spend hours driving without hearing a single honk.

⭐ You may also be interested in this guide I wrote about How to Rent and Drive a Scooter in Thailand, with a lot of practical information.

10.- Shouting is frowned upon

Well, yelling is not frowned upon anywhere. However, Thais have a very low opinion of someone who gets angry and shouts to get what they want.

In Thailand, the result is opposite to what many people are used to getting in their country.

By the way, if you visit Thailand and get into a dispute with a local (not recommended) you can contact the tourist police (phone 1155) who can help you by translating and mediating.

11.- Farang

Thais use the word a lot farang to refer to foreigners. Even if you don't understand anything, you will know that they are talking about you because they use that word.

There are those who say that it is a derogatory word, but from my point of view, after living there for several years, I think it is simply the word "foreigner."

Apparently it is a word that derives from the word foreigner in English, which means "foreigner."

12.- Having weapons is common

It is common for people to have firearms at home and go to shooting ranges.

Even in the subway, some bars (Thai only) and some hotels you can find signs that say you cannot enter with weapons.

13.- They do not steal

“Don't steal” is something that is wrong everywhere, but the concept they have in Thailand is much stronger.

This is appreciated, because you can leave a professional camera on a restaurant table or the keys on your motorcycle and when you return they will be there, because the Thais don't steal.

More than once I have seen people like delivery drivers who don't even turn off the motorcycle, they leave it on with the keys on and everything.

If you are in a very touristy area and you are distracted by your things, you will run the risk of some tourist stealing it, but that is another story.

14.- Drugs and the death penalty

The consumption and possession of drugs is absolutely prohibited in Thailand.

If they find you with drugs, even a small amount, they can send you to prison and if a judge considers that it is a large amount for personal consumption, they can impose the death penalty.

In some Facebook groups I have seen tourists asking where to get drugs. You have to see... some like to live on the edge. 🤦‍♀️

15.- Leaving bad opinions is punishable by law

In reality, what is punishable by law is defamation. That is why leaving bad reviews of an establishment on Google Maps, TripAdvisor or any social network can be grounds for being imprisoned.

This happened to a tourist in 2020, he left bad reviews about a Resort on Koh Chang and was given 2 years in prison.

This was a case that was widely talked about in expat communities in Thailand. Although it must be recognized that this person was very cruel to the Resort and left a series of bad comments on various websites.

Previously in 2019, a journalist spoke badly about a chicken farm on Twitter and also received 2 years, which apparently is the minimum.

I have left bad comments when I have had a bad experience. But if you are going to do it, be careful, because the line between a bad comment and defamation is very thin.

16.- Photos in state offices

This is one of the most surprising curiosities of Thailand, in the state offices they take photos for everything, for any procedure they will take photos of you and I am not referring to passport type photos (they also ask for them)

For example, they can take a photo of you while you sign a paper or give you a document, they do it to leave a record.

17.- Pad Thai invention of a dictator

There are several theories about the creation of the popular pad thai, one of them says that it was the dictator Plaek Phibunsongkhram who created the dish to unify Thai cuisine.

Until the Second World War, the Thais' favorite dish was made from rice, but the scarcity of rice increased the popularity of pad Thai, which is made from noodles.

It is also a well-accepted dish internationally because it is nutritionally complete, tasty and generally not spicy. If you haven't tried it, I recommend it.

⭐ In this article I love my kitchen You can read more about this dish and see the recipe in case you dare to prepare it at home.

18.- Eating utensils

The eating utensils used in Thailand are the spoon and fork (pictured above), they will rarely give you a knife because almost everything is served cut into bite-size pieces.

Although it may seem more authentic to eat with chopsticks, the use of chopsticks in Thailand is quite recent, but you will find them in many restaurants.

Personally, I prefer using a spoon and fork because the chopsticks that are usually used in Thailand are single-use and it is a country that already has enough problems with garbage (I'll tell you more below).

19.- They eat at all hours

When Thais get together they always eat and eat very often.

Although they may have more or less a schedule determined by their work, it is common to see that any restaurant has some diners while it is open.

Therefore, if you are hungry at an unusual hour, if the restaurant is open it is difficult to be told that the kitchen is closed as can happen in Spain.

20.- Sugar for everything

Thais are very sweet and everything, absolutely everything, has a lot of sugar.

It can be complicated if you want your coffee or food without sugar, because sometimes they will add a tablespoon and tell you that it was only a little bit. 😅

Imagine how much sugar they put in it when it is the normal amount.

21.- They eat worms and crickets

Although it is in the imagination of many tourists that Thais eat insects, I have to say that the most common are chicken and pork. Followed by fish, some shellfish and beef.

However, in some night markets you can find fried chrysalises that look like very fat worms and on rare occasions, you will find fried crickets.

Other varieties of insects can be found on Khao San road, the most touristy street in Bangkok and at the same time the least authentic.

But They are not insects that Thais eat, it is a place for tourists.

In that insect stall, instead of the price of the insects, it says the price of the photo, that says it all.

22.- They eat rats

When we hear the word rat our hair stands on end because it is an animal that can transmit a series of diseases and is considered to have been responsible for the start of the Black Death in the Middle Ages.

However, the rats that are eaten are field rats.

In Thailand in rural areas it is quite common for people to eat this type of rat and a few years ago they had become fashionable in the cities where it was considered a delicacy.

In my experience, I have never seen rats in the markets or restaurants in Thailand after living there for 3 years, I mean, it is not the most common.

23.- They eat snake

Thais have a deep fear of snakes and it is not surprising, in the country of smiles there are several species of rattlesnakes and cobras, that is, dangerous venomous snakes.

Furthermore, Thais mostly do not know how to distinguish different types of species or differentiate poisonous ones from harmless ones.

A good example is the Oriental Rat Snake (pitas mucosa) which bears a resemblance to cobras and they are currently protected because they have killed many and are excellent rodent control.

Where am I going with all this, then, how people are afraid due to ignorance and it kills them. But since they are Buddhists, they believe that Eating the snake is a way to not waste a life.

However, this only happens in very rural areas, it is not common.

24.- Broth and water

It is very common for street stalls or small restaurants to serve you a small bowl of comforting bone broth with your food.

They also usually have a jug with water and ice available for diners to drink.

Both the broth and water are free, and some places can even serve you free salad.

25.- Durian: the forbidden fruit

Durian, a fruit with a nauseating smell, is prohibited in Thailand in hotels and public transport.

They say it is very tasty, I can't confirm this because I can't even go near a durian stand. Have you tried it?

26. Best quality street food

Street food in Thailand is famous for its good quality, in Bangkok the chef Jay Fai has been awarded the Michelin Star several times.

If you want to delight in its best dish, the crab omelet, you will need to reserve several months in advance.

Furthermore, the prestigious Michelin guide It has 132 Thai restaurants recognized in the Bib Gourmand category for their excellent quality-price ratio, they are all places where you can eat for less than 35 euros.

😋 In this other article you can see the 12 Best Street Food Restaurants in Bangkok all included in that list of the Michelin guide and most with dishes for a few euros.

27.- Thai origin of Red Bull

The popular Red Bull energy drink was created by Australian Dietrich Mateschitz, who modified the Krating Daeng recipe for the Western palate.

Krating Daeng is a sweet, still Thai energy drink sold in small bottles, although it is apparently more potent than Red Bull.

This drink is very popular among truck drivers and Muay Thai fighters.

28.- Toilet paper on the table

One of the most surprising curiosities of Thailand is finding a roll of toilet paper on the table to use as napkins.

I suppose they find it a more practical paper format and in short it is just paper.

This is quite common and they even have toilet paper holders to put on the table like the one in the photo.

29.- What do they use in the bathroom?

In the bathroom they use the practical water gun, which is a kind of portable bidet.

This mainly surprises people from countries where bidet use is not so widespread.

You will find toilet paper in many bathrooms, but not all.

In rural areas and other places that do not have a water gun, they have a huge bucket of water with a small bucket inside that you can use to clean yourself and at the same time it is a substitute for the cistern.

30.- Bathrooms with instructions for using the toilet

I found this very funny. The photo below is in a public bathroom in Phuket, but I have seen it in more places like it in Bangkok.

31.- Massages in temples and prisons

It is amazing to find temples that do Thai massage. However, the most prestigious school of Thai massage belongs to Wat Pho in Bangkok, home to the famous reclining Buddha.

If you are in Bangkok I recommend that you get a massage there, it is a little more expensive than in other places but it is worth it.

⭐ In this other article you can read more details What is Thai Massage and the Best one in Bangkok

Regarding prisons, in Chiang Mai there is a Thai massage center as part of a program that helps women convicted of minor crimes reenter society.

Those who do the massages are still inmates, who benefit from learning a trade and at the same time earn money that will be given to them when they leave to start a new life.

🔝 In Chiang Mai, in Wat Pan Whaen You can also get a quality Thai massage for an excellent price, you can read more in this other article What to see in Chiang Mai – 14 outstanding ideas.

32.- Take off your shoes

To enter temples and houses it is customary to take off your shoes and it is highly frowned upon if you do not do so.

You will also find some places and shops that you will also have to take off. For this reason, Thais often wear shoes that are easily removed without using their hands, such as shower flip flops of the link, which is the most popular footwear.

Remembering to take off your shoes will be quite easy, because you will see a pile of shoes outside and sometimes a specific shelf for shoes.

In the temples they also usually put up a sign so that no one forgets.

33.- Monks for 3 months

Thailand is a mainly Buddhist country (95%), before all men had to be monks for at least 3 months at some point in their life.

Although not everyone does it nowadays, it is quite common especially when they are children. Therefore, you will see very young novices like the ones in the photo below.

34.- Flowers are very important

Flowers are very important in the daily lives of Thais because it is one of the most frequent offerings in Buddhism.

If you can, I recommend visiting a flower market, they are very colorful and you can see how they make the offerings.

🌻 One of the most interesting flower markets is Bangkok, in this article I talk in detail What to see in Bangkok: 15 best activities

35.- Shrines in all houses

In every house, even shops and restaurants, they have a small Buddhist sanctuary where they light incense daily and leave other offerings of flowers, food and drink.

36.- Superstitions

Thais are very superstitious people, I'll tell you some of them:

• Colored fabrics are placed around the trunks or branches of the trees because it is believed that a spirit lives in it and in this way a request is made to it.
• Drivers honk their horns when passing dangerous curves or shrines to honor the dead.
• Cats are considered noble animals that attract good luck, especially if they have at least one litter of puppies.

37.- Thai soap operas

Soap operas are very popular among people, they are called Thai lakorns and drama is always assured.

38.- Muay Thai

The Muay Thai It is the Thai national sport and means "Thai boxing."

It is a high-intensity sport in which all limbs are used, which is why it is also known as the art of the 8 limbs.

You can go see Muay Thai fights in the stadiums, they are very popular. There the fighters give their all and more, many times they don't rest until they manage to break a bone in their opponent.

Many families dream of their children becoming great Muay Thai fighters to escape poverty.

Although the practice of Muay Thai is not always within the reach of all Thai pockets.

The most prestigious gyms in the country can charge up to USD 350 per month for training, something that can be outrageous if we take into account that the average monthly Thai salary is around USD 600.

39.- Lady-boys and prostitution

Although many people think that Thais are tolerant, they are actually very good at keeping their eyes to the side and not getting involved in other people's lives.

For them, prostitution is highly frowned upon, but they will pretend it does not exist, even if it is a close relative.

As for lady-boys, it is quite common and something that local people don't talk about.

Therefore, if you decide to live in Thailand you will notice that people do not usually interfere in your life, something to be appreciated.

40.- Personal questions

Even if people don't interfere in other people's lives, it is normal for them to ask you very personal questions, such as if you are married and if you have children.

Additionally, they can be very inquisitive regarding these topics, especially with women.

41.- They love selfies

Thais love selfies and take photos everywhere.

Therefore, many places that attract domestic tourism enhance this, creating interesting spots to take selfies.

A great advantage is that you can ask them to take photos of you because they are usually good at taking photos and are very generous, they are not shy about taking several photos from different perspectives and even telling you to move to have a better photo.

42.- Kind even to kick you out of a place

Thais take great care of their manners and are always friendly. Even if they have to tell you to leave a place, they will do it with kindness.

43.- Good sense of humor

Something that is very surprising is the great sense of humor of the Thais. You may find someone who only knows a few words of English, but it will be enough for them to make a joke.

They also take day-to-day situations very well.

For example, in January 2020, the use of plastic bags was prohibited in large stores due to the great problem with plastics that the country of smiles has.

The Thais took it with a lot of fun and invented fun ways to take their shopping home.

44.- 5555

On social media or if you chat with a Thai you will find that they put the number 5 several times.

This is our equivalent of "hahaha" when we laugh, because the 5 in Thai has a sound similar to "ha."

45.- White skin

In the land of smiles they love milk-white skin. For this reason, on the beach it is normal to cover up with t-shirts and leggings or shorts that are as long as possible.

Although I really don't see it as bad because it is clothing that protects from the sun and does not pollute the sea like sunscreens that damage corals.

46.- Swimsuits

Many Thai women feel very shy when it comes to showing off in a bikini on the beach, for that reason in many stores you will only find swimsuits that cover well. The most common covering swimsuits look like a dress with a skirt and shorts underneath.

There are also stores that sell bikinis like the ones we use in the West and there is no problem if you go to the beach in a bikini.

But it's a different story if you go swimming in a pool at a sports center like the one in the photo below where they indicate the type of swimsuit you can wear.

47.- Whitening cosmetic products

Many cosmetic products in Thailand contain unhealthy whitening agents, this is one of the most shocking curiosities of Thailand.

This is due to their desire to have as white skin as possible.

Some of the products you should look at if you want to buy the bleach-free versions are: deodorants, skin and body moisturizers, as well as almost any product that you apply to your skin.

48.- Feminine compresses with a refreshing effect

They have a type of feminine pads that say "cool."

The effect they produce is similar to eucalyptus or strong mint pills or gum when you drink a glass of water, but on your private parts.

49.- Bags for everything

In Thailand they use bags for everything and many times they will give you several bags, it is something truly amazing and at the same time sad.

This is one of the big problems in the country of smiles, which is very noticeable when you go hiking in places that are not very crowded or on the beaches when there is a lot of waves.

If you want to do your part, avoid using unnecessary plastic bags, as well as anything else single-use: cups and straws, plastic cutlery, chopsticks even if they are not plastic, trays for home delivery, etc

50.- Burning Season

In the months of February to April, in the north of the country, what is known in English as burning season, which is when farmers burn their fields to prepare them for cultivation.

The exact moment when they start burning is uncertain, sometimes in December they can also burn the fields and it ends when the monsoon begins.

It is a time when the city of Chiang Mai reaches pollution peaks that surpass cities in India, Pakistan and China that are always at the top.

Be careful, it is not a problem exclusive to Chiang Mai, it is the entire north, including the neighboring countries in that area.

Chiang Mai and the north are beautiful places with especially friendly people that I recommend you visit, but if you have any respiratory problems, take a good look at the time of year so as not to coincide with the burning season.

To give you an idea, I have even slept with the mask on on days with a lot of pollution.

51.- Power lines

Thai power lines attract a lot of attention, because in any city you will see hundreds of cables on each pole like the photo below.

Of course, the cables generally look well organized.

If you are wondering what the reason for so many cables is, it is because when they come to do a repair they do not know which cable they have to replace and they simply add a new one.

Final Thoughts

This is a compilation of the most surprising curiosities about Thailand that I have collected during the 3 years living in the country.

Which of these curious facts surprised you the most? If you found the article useful, Share it with other curious travelers. 👍

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