Buddhism is important in Thailand. It is the national religion and the professed faith of 95 percent of the population. Religious artifacts and Buddha statues are sacred. Do not touch the head of Buddha statue as it is considered sacred.
The Thai Royal family is revered and respected. Jokes about royalty are absolutely not tolerated.
When sitting, ensure the soles of your feet are never pointed at anyone, including a Buddha image as the feet are considered the lowliest part of the body.
Greetings
Khun is the Thai equivalent of Mr, Mrs, Ms, and Miss. When you address a Thai you use their first name, preceded by Khun ie. “Khun (first name)”.
The wai is the common form of greeting and adheres to strict rules of protocol. Foreigners are not expected to initiate the gesture, but may reciprocate with people of similar social standing. Unless you receive a wai, you should shake hands with men who are familiar with Western customs, and smile politely at women.
The gesture involves raising both hands, palms joined with the fingers pointing upwards, and lightly touching the body between the chest and the forehead. Respect is shown by how high the hands are held and how low the head is bowed to meet the thumbs of both hands.
The person who is junior in age or status is the first one to offer the wai. The senior person returns the wai, generally with their hands raised to somewhere around their chest.
Dining
If you are invited to dinner by your Thai colleagues, you should reciprocate.
Remove your shoes before entering a Thai house.
A fork and spoon are the usual eating utensils. The spoon is held in the right hand and the fork in the left. The fork is used to guide food on to the spoon. Sticky rice, a northern Thai delicacy, is often eaten with the fingers of the right hand.
You may begin eating as soon as you are served. Leave as little food as possible on your plate, and never leave rice as it is considered wasteful. Never take the last bite from the serving bowl and wait to be asked before taking a second helping. Do not lick your fingers.
Thais avoid violence, conflict and confrontation. Losing your composure means losing respect in Thailand.
Smile a lot. Smiling is equated with patience and Thais value patience.
Business cards
Business cards are given out after the initial handshake and greeting. In theory, you should give your card to the most senior person first. It is advisable to have one side of your business card translated into Thai.
Using your right hand, deliver your business card so the Thai side faces the recipient. When receiving a business card, look at it for a few seconds before placing the card on the table or in a business card case. As in most Asian countries, it is polite to make some comment about the card, even if it is only to acknowledge the address.
Gift giving
Exchanging gifts is widely practiced in business in Thailand. Give gifts when visiting someone for the first time, or visiting a Thai’s home. Appropriate gifts are flowers, a basket with nutritional food, good-quality chocolates or fruit. Money is the usual gift for weddings and ordination parties. Gifts are not opened when received.
Any items with sharpness, for example an envelope opener or sword, should not be presented as gifts. Sharp objects represent the severing the relationship.
In most cases use of interpreter is not necessary but can be an advantage in complex negotiations and when dealing with a group of more than five to ten people. In these situations meeting participants will often break into the Thai language to discuss aspects of the conversation they may not have understood or to clarify issues with each other.
Thais are very generous and thoughtful of guests and will often explain their discussion. However, an interpreter can help you to pick up nuances of the conversation and ensure that your information exchange is effective.
Thailand has a large number of interpreters and international and local language schools who frequently offer interpretation services.
