Thailand Culture: Avoid Being a Total Outsider
When someone visits another country with a culture as different from their own as can be there are bound to be some differences that can cause possible insult to the local people. There are a great deal of quirks that certain countries do not find offensive that others do. Polite etiquette in one country is not the same in another. In order to avoid this type of problem you will need an insider’s view of what to do or not do.
Although Thailand seems like a fairly westernised culture, they sell gold jewellery like us, and have the same technology, so traditions still remain strong. One of the most commonly portrayed insults that outsiders make in Thailand is that foreigners do not remove their shoes when going into certain shops, people’s homes and temples. While you may be forgiven the first time that you do not do this, you will experience a highly irritated host if you continually forget to remove your shoes when entering a home or temple.
Apparently feet are a big deal in Thailand. While you must not wear your shoes indoors, you also must keep the bottom of your feet to yourself. This means with or without shoes. There is no propping your feet up or use of ottomans. Another way to insult a local is to nudge their foot with your own.
All over Thailand the national anthem is played at 8AM and 6PM on the dot. When this happens everyone stops what they are doing and stands at attention. It is strongly suggested that you do the same. It is a sign of respect for visiting their country.
While other countries find that raising their voice when confronting a problem gets faster attention in hotels and restaurants, the opposite is true in Thailand. Using bad manners, being loud and obnoxious will actually make you look bad and will have locals shaking their heads at you. This will actually get you worse results as they will be more reluctant to help you.
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