Beware of praying at sinister temples！10 Major Taboos You Must Know Before Traveling to Thailand

Text and photos byUnrestrained

Thailand is a country with a long history,and its unique culture features many special phenomena.Today, I’ll introduce the distinctive local customs observed in Thailand as well as essential taboos you must be aware of. When you visit, be sure not to do anything that might offend the locals.

1. Great respect is shown to monks; women must not touch monks, and men are expected to become monks at least once in their lifetime

Thailand is often referred to as the “Land of Yellow Robes” or the “Land of a Thousand Buddhas.” With over 30,000 temples of all sizes across the country, the majority of the population (over 90%) are devout Buddhists. Monks are highly respected and treated with great courtesy—for example, they can ride public buses for free and have access to specialized monastic hospitals.

Additionally, there is anunwritten rule in Thailand thatBuddhist men must become monks for a short period at least once in their lives, even royalty and nobility. Of course, this is not legally enforced but is rather a customary practice. If a local Buddhist man has never become a monk, it’s not a major issue.However, women visiting Thailand should be careful not to touch monks, as it is believed that men and women should not have physical contact.

▲Thai monks wear orange or yellow robes with one shoulder exposed. Local men are expected to become monks at least once, for as short as five days or as long as a lifetime. (Photo by Unrestrained)

2. Do not touch a Thai person’s head

Due to religious beliefs, Thais believe that the soul resides at the top of the head. If someonetouches their head, it is thought to take away the soulor bring bad luck. Another belief is that Thais thinkthe head is protected by deities, and touching it will drive the gods away.Whatever the reason, just don’t go around touching the heads of cute local kids on impulse. However, it’s said that elders touching the heads of younger people or close friends is acceptable.

3. Dress modestly and neatly when entering temples; sleeveless, shorts, and short skirts are prohibited

When visiting temples, big or small, it’s important to observe proper etiquette.Do not wear sleeveless or belly-baring tops, nor skirts or pants that expose thighs or calves. Ripped pants and tight pants are also a no-go.For this reason, many temples offer services to rent long pants, long skirts, and shawls. Additionally, you must remove your hat and shoes inside the temple.

▲Visitors to the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew are all dressed in long skirts or pants and clothing that covers the shoulders. (Photo by Unrestrained)

4. You can look at temples, but don’t worship randomly

There are over 30,000 temples in Thailand, which are divided into yang temples (benign) and yin temples (sinister).If you unknowingly pray at a yin temple, some say you might get cursed or worse—no one knows what could happen. So, it’s safer to understand which deities the temple enshrines before praying. Although I don’t follow any religion and not all yin temples are that scary, it’s best to follow local customs and err on the side of caution.

5. The royal family is deeply beloved and holds great influence; avoid any disrespect

Walking down the streets of Thailand, you’ll see yellow flags symbolizing the Thai king and portraits of the monarch everywhere. Most households also commonly hang portraits of the king. Even the 60th birthday of a royal princess is celebrated nationwide,The prison also granted amnesty to 35,000 prisoners. Thai law even stipulatesthat publicly criticizing the Thai monarchy is not allowed, with penalties of up to 25 years in prison.....so don’t freely criticize the royal family when you’re in Thailand.

▲Yellow flags representing the Thai monarchy are commonly seen on the streets of Thailand. (Photo / Unrestrained Photography)

6. It’s a tipping country—never use loose change as a tip

Thailand is a tipping country. Hotel staff who help with luggage or clean your room, or after a massage, never forget to tip them—they’ll actually stand there waiting for you to give them a tip. On my first day at the hotel, the staff helped with my luggage, and I forgot to tip (since we don’t have this habit in Taiwan), and that staff member just stood there, which made me feel a bit awkward (sweat).But don’t tip with loose change, because loose change is meant for beggars.

7. Be cautious with taxis and tuk-tuks—don’t get ripped off

My impression is that taxis and tuk-tuks in Thailand are very cheap, but in reality, that’s not the case. Before taking a taxi or tuk-tuk, it’s best to ask about the price or the billing method. For example, when taking a taxi, it’s best to agree on the price beforehand or make sure the driver uses the meter (By meter); otherwise, the price could easily be three or five times higher.

I once encountered a taxi that quoted 500 baht to my destination (of course, I didn’t take it), but taking a metered taxi to the same destination only cost about 100 baht. The huge price difference makes you feel that many taxi drivers can’t be trusted. However,as long as you use the meter, taxis are really quite cheap, as long as you make sure it’s by the meter.

▲It’s best to confirm the price and billing method before taking a tuk-tuk or taxi. (Photo / Unrestrained Photography)

8. Gender concepts are more progressive than in Taiwan—respect the third gender
Thai people’s views on gender identity are relatively advanced globally. Due tothe developed sex industry and the prevalence of sex reassignment surgery,transgender individuals and transsexuals enjoy much higher social acceptance compared to other countries.

Thai legislators have even planned to amend the constitution,with the expectation of officially recognizing the existence of a third gender in the near future, incorporating it into legal protections. Officials have stated: “People should have the freedom to change their gender, and those who do should be equally protected and treated under the constitution and the law.”

9. Public toilets are very clean, and if there’s a donation box, consider contributing a little as a gesture of appreciation
The public toilets in Thailand left a deep impression on me because they’re so clean. Usually, when you think of public restrooms, you imagine them being dirty, smelly, and gross, but Thai public toilets are surprisingly clean, which makes you feel that Thai people are also very hygiene-conscious. Sometimes there’s a donation box at the entrance of public toilets, and you can drop a few baht after using the restroom—it’s like contributing to the cleaners’ upkeep.

10. There’s a wide variety of ethnic appearances—some have dark skin, some are fair-skinned, and there are also many mixed-race individuals with striking features
Taiwanese people generally have the stereotype that Thais have darker skin and are relatively slender, but that’s not entirely the case. Due to Thailand’s vast geography, areas in the north close to Yunnan have many descendants of Chinese Yunnan immigrants and Thais, who usually have fairer skin and more East Asian facial features. Thais in the southern regions tend to have darker skin, and due to the many Westerners living in or traveling to Thailand, leaving behind ‘love children,’ there are also many mixed-race individuals with striking features in Thailand.

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