Never criticize the king, and never point your feet at others—five taboos you must know before traveling in Thailand

▲ Wat Rong Khun (White Temple) in Thailand (Photo / Wikipedia)

By Rita

Thailand is a country that Taiwanese people particularly enjoy visiting for independent travel. Aside from its affordability and convenient transportation, one very important reason is that many feel Thais are very friendly toward foreigners. Thais hold Buddhism in high reverence—you can even see locals pressing their palms together in respect as they pass by temples in the narrow lanes. While Thais are tolerant of small mistakes made by foreigners, visitors should still avoid violating local customs and taboos. Below are the “Five Things You Should Never Do in Thailand.”

1. Criticizing the King
Throughout Thailand, you’ll find pictures of the king everywhere. Criticizing the king or the royal family is not only impolite but also considered a crime of lèse-majesté.

2. Pointing at Others with Your Feet
Thais consider the feet to be a very dirty part of the body, so never use your feet to point at others—especially inside temples.

3. Sunbathing in Underwear or Semi-Nude
Although the police won’t stop you from doing this, residents in southern Thailand strongly dislike seeing people sunbathe in underwear or semi-nude.

4. Wearing Shoes Indoors
Whether entering someone’s home or a temple, always take off your shoes before going inside. However, this rule doesn’t apply to companies or shops unless the owner is very traditional.

5. Yelling or Showing Anger
In Thailand, aggressive or confrontational behavior rarely leads to constructive outcomes.