DO'S and DON'TS in THAILAND
If you are travelling to Bangkok, Thailand, taking the time to learn about the culture is very important and appreciated by the locals. By watching this video, you are on the right track to understanding Thai Culture!
We are here to give you the most important Do’s and don’ts in Thailand.
In this video we explain you 10 do's and don'ts for when you are visiting Thailand! These cultural tips will get you started when you just arrive in Thailand or your trip to Asia.
by Co van Kessel Bangkok Tours.
www.covankessel.com
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Looking for an authentic and unique adventure? Co van Kessel bike tours and boat tours provides a refreshing alternative to the tired tourist experience. We do not battle the crowds at clichéd destinations promoted in guide books, but turn your attention to quaint local communities and charming excursions into the fascinating lifestyle and culture of real Thai people. Every day is different and every tour is a surprise as we focus not on destinations, but lose ourselves in the enchantment of the journey itself.
Co van Kessel, an innovative and adventurous Dutchman, pioneered bicycle tours in Bangkok more than 30 years ago. As a longtime resident and self-professed lover of Bangkok, he understood very well the picture of accelerated urban development (gridlocked traffic, concrete towers, and choking pollution) that has plagued the recent image of the city. He also had a hunch that this was not what Bangkok or Thailand was all about.
Making it his goal to re-discover Bangkok, Co spent thousands of hours on his mountain bike exploring the vast network of local streets, alleyways, footpaths and canals between the main urban thoroughfares. What he found, lurking behind the facade of modernization, were hidden worlds of peace and tranquility, a picture of “real” Thai life that has remained unchanged for countless decades; an identity of a city that is true to the Thai people, yet largely unknown to outsiders.
Whether it’s the colorful sights and smells of the local markets, the fascinating life of locals along the canals, or the surprising existence of bountiful green belts, Co discovered the essence of what makes Bangkok one of Asia’s most captivating cities. Since then, it has been his mission to share these discoveries with the rest of the world.
What we do
Our mission at Co van Kessel Bangkok Tours is to provide our guests with a singularly unique travel experience in Thailand. All our tours use Co’s extensive topographical knowledge of the greater Bangkok area as well as his keen eye for the interesting to take you where nobody else can or will.
We aim not to bore you with talk, but to immerse you in an experience where your individual fascinations emerge.
Bicycles, boats, and our feet become the tools we use to gain access to the previously inaccessible, behind-the-scenes lifestyle of the Thai. Here the roots of an ancient culture will become evident in a way you never could have imagined.
www.covankessel.com
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This video was recorded at Wat Pho, with a filming agreement licensed to Co van Kessel Bangkok Tours.
Having lived and worked in Thailand for 23 years I couldn’t agree more with this advice. Thailand is a wonderful place to visit and see some great people.
A smile and showing respect will open the door to a wonderful culture and people.
Buddhism – India to Sri Lanka and then Thailand.
Its heartening to see as an Indian that our Thai brothers are still following the tradition of Buddhism even after centuries. And FYI all the things the lady said here are applicable even in India if you are not aware.
One of the amazing fact about Buddhism is Buddhism came to Thailand thru Sri Lanka (Theravada Buddhism) around 14th century and in 18th century Thailand has returned Buddhism back to
Sri Lanka (Siam Nikaya) by Upali Thera – a Thai Theravada monk and founder of the Siam Nikaya
and up to present time we still keep and stick on the Buddhism tradition so then it became our cultures
I live 30 years in Thailand. I have always obeyed and lived by these rules. It actually teach you to be more considerate in everything you do or say. These subtleties are wonderful, charming, and humbling.
A very good video but there’s a few points I would make based on living part of the time in Thailand where I’m married. I live in Mahasarakham in the rural north-eastern Isaan region so it’s possibly more traditional in it’s ways.
The issue with feet can be confusing. If you are in a temple or someone’s home and kneeling or have your legs bent to one side you will be showing the bottom of your feet to people either behind or next to you. It simply can’t be helped so it’s what Thais do as well. It’s also a bit strange that the feet are considered dirty and often are due to walking barefoot but in a market it’s common to see a stall holder sitting cross legged on the table with their feet next to the food they are selling. Always seems weird to me.
Then there’s hair. I often hear that Thais don’t touch a person’s hair even a child’s hair. This isn’t true. I often see Thais ruffling the hair of children and I do it myself with my wife’s nephew who’s nearly 6. I don’t do it to adults but then I don’t do that in the UK either so it’s not really something different.
One tip I would give is when going to temples take a pair of socks of some sort. Thailand is usually very hot and sunny and any area outside of a temple building can also be very hot. This is especially the case if the temple steps and outside areas are darker materials as they don’t reflect the heat in the same way lighter marble does. Thais do this as well although older ones often have hard soles due to walking barefoot so much. My wife’s uncle was a monk and he could walk barefoot on the road even when it was very hot.
I just thought of something else. The hand gesture used to beckon someone to you that I would use is the hand held with the palm up and bend the fingers towards you. Thais don’t do this and I think the palm up method may be considered rude. They have the palm facing down but often they don’t flex the fingers so much which is fine with the palm up but with it down it can look as if they are gesturing you to stay where you are. This confusion got me some angry looks from my then girlfriend when I first went to Thailand.
Lastly Thais are generally very polite but not once they get into a vehicle or onto a bike. One of my greatest pleasures when I return to the UK is the general politeness of drivers that I never appreciated before.
I find it really strange how different cultures perceive rudeness. I’ve been to Thailand and I thought it was paradise on earth. And I can’t wait to go there again once Covid-19 has f*cking done one!!!
One tip a Brit “living” there told me was to never disrespect the Thai currency – because it has the Thai King’s image on it. (The Thai royal family are held in such high regard it is even rude to talk about them). But back to Thai Baht….. if you drop a coin or note NEVER stop it from rolling, or blowing, away by stamping on it! Likewise If you are gambling, NEVER slam your hand down on your stake or your winnings. Very rude, and what’s more, an arrestable offence.
I love Thailand and it’s people.
Love from Scotland 🙂
I currently live in Japan but I would trade it for Thailand any day.
I married a Thai woman and I remember shortly after getting married, (we were still living in Thailand) I was laying on the floor and my wife got up and stepped over me to do something. Her mother was visiting and lit into her with a vengeance. She was so angry I couldn’t keep up. I later found out my MIL got mad at her for stepping over me. It didn’t bother me but my MIL said she was disrespecting me. I love your country, by the way.
@malay lee No They see me and fall in
Has your bank account finished from “take care” 55 good luck my fellow farang
@Newton yellow fever~~~
@malay lee Sorry it seems like It, Maybe you can change my mind.
@Newton Do you hate thai people and have an asian fetish? Because it sure does seem like it.
my best friend for 7 years is thai so i’ve been really interested in learning thai culture and even some words in thai! thailand seams really cool
I’m Thai myself and i actually learned something 😂😂
i really wanted a thai friend…can we be friends?
🕊️❤️🙏
R.i.p. my notifications ayee🤣
@Ralph Jayceon instablaster 😉
I guess Im randomly asking but does someone know of a trick to log back into an instagram account??
I stupidly lost my account password. I would appreciate any tips you can give me.
“don’t throw things in someone’s direction”
Darn, I guess nobody would want to play frisbee with me😖
Just throw your wallet out the window of the airplane as you’re flying over. That’s where it’s going anyway.
When you throw money they don’t seem to mind.
@Nick P Haha understood 🙂
@Co van Kessel Bangkok – Bike and Boat tours I know, was joking😂
No worries Nick, we are in for some frisbeeing !
A major one she missed is : never, ever speak negatively about the King.
That rule seemed to have changed rapidly. My thai friends and family here in the US almost all kept pictures of the old king in their homes, even the ones that have lived here for decades, but with the new king i dont really see that. My thai family never said anything bad about the old king but i hear plenty of criticism about the new one and my aunt back in Bangkok even said “I’m not sure how much longer he [the new king] will last” since he’s rubbing everyone the wrong way. I’ve even heard rumors that people think he’s got ties to the CCP or that he’s made deals with them behind the peoples back.
y’all have a king over there?
@Frankie N That is my point. I’m no expert on Thai royalty, but even I’ve heard, from half a world away, about how scandalous the new heir is.
Very informative. I will do my best to remember these tidbits when visiting. Thank you!
My first reaction was ” Oh my god, so many rules” but as I read your reactions to some really rude comments I see that all you are doing is to make the tourists visits happy! Appreciate your effort! Thanks
Thais try very hard to avoid conflict. Libel laws are strict. My Thai girlfriend will not say anything negative about another person. She hinted once that she had her doubts about the former US president but wouldn’t mention his name.
I’ve been to Thailand 5 times and in this one video alone I’ve learnt more than I did in those 5 trips. So thank you Ann!
Great! I had to learn some of these the “hard” way. Always show respect.
The efforts to preserve the Tradition, should be appreciated.
Most of the Rules shown are very much useful for good human relationships.
Good culture.. Good presentation
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14 6 KJV
Everyone smiles in the same language… ❤️
But In Thailand it sounds like smiling is something more than just affection..
Lol I am Thai and I don’t really do any of that just say ‘hi’ and smile .
@Arthas Menethil ผมคนไทยร้อย 100% 555
That’s because you must be secretly Chinese or Malaysian
respected:))
Farangs should also learn that you wear long pants (or skirt) and a polo shirt pretty much everywhere.
And then later on, overthrow their government! Lol ; )
It’s why most Americans are hated overseas.
@ik1llpeeple4fun that’s ok its the Farting that gets em.
Like the people coming here illegally from the south lol Things are very different here
Lol, no.
@Hồ Chí Minh
With a web name like Ho Chi Minh, I highly doubt that you know anything about proper etiquette.