Thailand which is located in Southeast Asia is one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations. It is home to stunning landscapes, a vibrant culture, and an intriguing past. White sand tropical beaches are among the best on earth, and the nation formerly known as Siam is famous for its incredible food, so much so that many of its dishes are listed among the Top 10 best dishes in the world.
There are lavish temples scattered throughout the hilly jungles as well as busy cities. Thailand’s tolerant, liberal society and its friendly, giving populace are other unique features of the country. Here we have put together some of the most fascinating, unusual, amusing, and exciting facts about this amazing nation in this post.
Top 15 Interesting Facts about Thailand
- The old name of Thailand was ‘Siam.’
- The National Anthem is played Daily in Thai
- Respecting the Royal Family is a very important thing in Thai
- Most Thai people use Nicknames
- In Thailand, local beer is much better than tap water for drinking
- Thai Language Consists of 76 Letters
- Be careful about your Hands when you want to use them
- The future of their long-tail boats was in danger because logging was prohibited
- In Thailand, Feet Are Lowly, And Heads Are Sacred
- Thai cinema has been around for 100 years
- You can receive a Thai Massage while wearing your clothes
- Bangkok Used to be known as “Venice of the East”
- Monkeys control Lopburi
- Thais often do not shake hands
- Cooking at home is not common
The old name of Thailand was ‘Siam.’
Siam, which derives from the Sanskrit word “syam,” was chosen by the Portuguese as the official geographical name in the 16th century. It wasn’t until 1938 that the country’s ruthless modernizer and tyrant, Luang Phibunsongkhram, officially changed the name of the nation to “Thailand.”
The National Anthem is played Daily in Thai
The Thai National Anthem is reportedly played on all television and radio stations and in public locations such as markets, train stations, malls, and schools. You’ll also need to hear it at the theater before every viewing, it is played. And also, at 8 AM in the markets, everyone put their tasks on hold to pay respects and sing along.
Respecting the Royal Family is a very important thing in Thai
It is entirely against the law to criticize any member of the royal family in Thailand, where they are revered and adored by the populace. Because of the nation’s lèse majesté statute, anyone guilty of disrespecting the monarch, queen, or royal heirs faces a prison sentence for treason. A well-known Hollywood movie, “The King and I,” was even prohibited from Thai theaters because it was considered disrespectful to the king. Thailand’s population observes Mother’s Day and Father’s Day as occasions to honor the monarch and queen rather than one’s mother and father.
Most Thai people use Nicknames
The majority of Thai people have two names: their official full name and a nickname. But in Thailand, nicknames are meaningful and are selected by your parents at birth, in contrast to other nations where a nickname is typically merely a shortened version of your original name.
Thai parents frequently select names with cultural meanings in their tongue or terms that sound good in another language. Popular nicknames for boys and girls include Chompoo (rose apple), Tangmo (watermelon), and Nan.
In Thailand, local beer is much better than tap water for drinking
Thai beer effectively kills germs because it contains a lot of alcohol. It is also well-liked because of how inexpensive it is—almost as cheap as bottled water.
Thai Language Consists of 76 Letters
Thai offers a lot of distinctive and intriguing features if you enjoy studying interesting trivia about languages. The Thai alphabet has 76 letters, including 32 vowels and 44 consonants. Thai contains five tones as well, making it incredibly challenging to learn. Many techniques appear similar to Western ears, yet the wrong inflection can drastically alter the meaning.
For instance, “s? ai” with a rising tone denotes beauty or loveliness, while “suai” with a mid-tone denotes misfortune. It’s simple for someone who isn’t Thai to mix up these similar sounds. However, doing so can get you into trouble.
Be careful about your Hands when you want to use them
In Thai culture, rudeness extends beyond simple foot gestures like pointing. Also prohibited is pointing with your index finger at someone else.
Additionally, Thai people view the Western beckoning gesture as rude. You should tell them to get closer with your hand facing down rather than facing your palm up and waving your fingers to beckon.
You won’t see any Thai people shaking hands, even though it isn’t considered impolite. Instead, they perform the “wai,” in which they clasp their hands and bring them together before raising them to their faces while bowing. Respect is demonstrated by raising your hands higher.
The future of their long-tail boats was in danger because logging was prohibited
These long-tail boats have an important aspect of Thai culture. But since there would be no logging, they would have to use imported timber to make hulls. Previously sold for just 3,000 baht (US$83), but now fetches 200,000 baht (US$5,500). Speedboats subsequently became more prevalent in Thai waters.
In Thailand, Feet Are Lowly, And Heads Are Sacred
The head is considered the body’s most significant feature in Thai culture. Therefore, you should never touch another person’s head, not even a child.
Thais view the feet as being at the bottom of the body. Feet are viewed as representations of our ties to the soil, connecting our physical selves to anguish and hardship. For this reason, you should never display the bottoms of your shoes by putting your feet up on a table. And it’s considered the height of impoliteness to point with your foot at someone else or a statue at a temple.
Thai cinema has been around for 100 years
Thai cinema got its start in 1897 when King Chulalongkorn watched a movie while visiting Switzerland and developed a love for the moving image. It began with pictures of the royal family and then transitioned to comedy and action movies, experiencing a golden era in the 1930s. Hollywood competition caused the sector to fall, but a new wave of filmmaking in the 1990s helped it recover.
You can receive a Thai Massage while wearing your clothes
A traditional Thai massage is typically given while wearing loose, comfortable clothing, despite the fact that massage beds are frequently seen on many of Thailand’s popular beaches.
In contrast to other types of massage, the Thai approach involves your body being stretched and twisted while performing a series of yoga-like postures. Your therapist will frequently place you in different positions and work your entire body using their weight to give you an incredibly relaxing experience.
Bangkok Used to be known as “Venice of the East”
Would you think that Bangkok/Krung Thep used to be a metropolis perched above waterways? These rivers, also known as “khlongs,” functioned as the city’s primary means of transportation, similar to Venice. Even though most of these canals have now been filled, there are still floating markets for visitors and locals to enjoy outside the city.
Monkeys control Lopburi
Have you ever wished to go to a city controlled by monkeys? If so, you ought to go to Lopburi, where macaque monkeys control the area around the city’s ancient center.
At Lopburi’s Pra Prang Sam Yot temple’s annual “Monkey Banquet Festival” in November, the monkey business gets even stranger.
Although it might not be as exciting as the fabled Songkran event, it is absolutely fascinating to observe 600 monkeys gorge on rice, salads, tropical fruit, sausages, and even ice cream! The purpose of the celebration is for the locals to express gratitude to the furry critters for bringing tourists to the area and for the good fortune they believe it will bring them.
Thais often do not shake hands
In Thailand, welcome parties join their hands and raise them to their faces while lowering their heads into a delicate bow. This gesture is known as the “wai.” The part where the hand is raised represents the status of the person being greeted; a higher lift denotes a more respectful gesture. Therefore, while greeting an elderly person or a peer, you should lift your hands to your chest.
Cooking at home is not common
Thais rarely prepare meals at home, particularly if they reside in large cities like Bangkok. Many Thais reside in cramped quarters with little space for a kitchen other than a sink and a tiny fridge for food.
Furthermore, eating out is so inexpensive that it’s frequently more cost-effective to consume a common street food than it is to purchase the materials and prepare it on your own. Additionally, because Thais dislike eating alone, they frequently go out to eat for company as well as convenience and cost.
