33 Fun Facts About Thailand

You've seen the impossibly pristine photos and watched the reels. But what is Thailand really all about? 

Beyond the beautiful beaches and buzzing markets, Thailand has no end of fascinating cultural quirks and traditions. 

Whether you're already smitten with Thailand or still deciding if it deserves a spot on your wish list, these 33 fun facts about Thailand will give you a fresh perspective on one of Southeast Asia's most intriguing countries.

Adobe Free Stock / Kalyakan

33 Fun Facts About Thailand

From Thai culture and cuisine to Buddhism, beaches and baffling laws, these 33 fascinating facts about Thailand showcase the nation's wild and wonderful side.

Fun Facts About Thai Culture and Customs

1. The Wai Greeting Has 13 Different Levels of Formality

The polite prayer-like greeting isn't one-size-fits-all. The height of your hands, the depth of your bow and how long you hold it depends on who you're greeting. Get it wrong with a monk or royal and you've committed a slightly embarrassing social faux pas.

2. Stepping on Money is Illegal

Thai banknotes and coins feature the King's image. So, stepping on cash is considered an insult to the monarchy. While you’re unlikely to be arrested for accidentally stepping on dropped baht, it is technically the law, especially when done with intent. The moral? Check your pockets before doing laundry and be mindful of where you walk.

Adobe Free Stock/ Thannaree

3. Feet Are Considered to be the Least Sacred Part of the Body

In Thailand, the body is seen as a spiritual hierarchy. The head being the most sacred part and the feet being the least sacred. This is why a key cultural rule is to never use your feet to point at people, Buddha statues, or anything of respect. When sitting, particularly in temples, tuck your legs underneath you as a sign of reverence. And as a general rule, never put your feet up on a table.

4. Thai People Have Nickname Culture Down to an Art

Forget long, complicated given names. Most Thai people go by short, snappy nicknames from childhood. These aren't ironic hipster handles; they're practical solutions to names that can often be 20+ syllables long. Much easier for the baristas at Starbucks.

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5. The National Anthem Plays Twice Daily, and You Must Stop

At 8am and 6pm, the national anthem broadcasts across the country. Wherever they are - shopping centres, train stations, parks, everyone stops as a sign of respect. Tourists who keep walking stick out like sore thumbs. It lasts about a minute, so just embrace the communal pause.

6. Thailand Has More Public Holidays Than Most Countries

With 19 public holidays, Thailand practically perfects the work-life balance through strategic time off. There are various Buddhist holidays, plus Songkran festival, the Queen's birthday and even the Queen Mother's birthday, plus many more nationwide celebrations. Well over twice as many as the UK's eight annual public holidays and Ireland's ten.

Surprising Thai Food and Drink Facts

Okay, here's where things get tasty.

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7. Pad Thai Was Created by the Government 

This traditional dish was actually invented in the 1930s by the government to promote national identity and reduce rice consumption. To encourage uptake, they held recipe contests and distributed free ingredients. It worked so well that most people think it's an ancient dish. 

8. Thai People Love Ice - Even in Beer

Watching Europeans wince as the locals add ice cubes to perfectly good beer never gets old. In tropical heat, warm drinks are torture. Ice goes in coffee, tea, beer and pretty much every drink. Except maybe coconut water, which is already chilled inside its shell.

9. Durian Fruit is Banned From Hotels and Public Transport

This king of fruit is known for being the ultimate in divisive eats. To the uninitiated, it may taste something like rotting onions. But to durian devotees, it's supremely delicious. One thing is certain, though, its smell is not shy and it tends to stick around. So much so that airlines ban the fruit altogether and you're likely to see 'no durian' signs in most hotels.

Adobe Free Stock /  Bigc Studio

10. Street Vendors Serve Soup in Plastic Bags

Why use a bowl when a plastic bag works perfectly well? Thai street food vendors ladle hot soup directly into bags, tie them up and hand them over with a straw. It's practical, portable and slightly odd for first-timers, but it's a culinary phenomenon you'll soon get used to. 

11. Thai Chillies Are Among the World's Hottest

Those tiny Thai chillies, aka. prik kee noo, pack more heat than a jalapeño could ever aspire to. While those born and bred in Thailand have built a tolerance, tourists may find themselves weeping into their som tam after just a small sample.

Adobe Free Stock / Jiri Hera

12. Rice is So Important that it Has Its Own Goddess

Phosop, the rice goddess, receives offerings and ceremonies throughout Thailand's rice growing season. Wasting rice is considered disrespectful. This isn't just cultural tradition, it's survival wisdom from a country where rice means life. 

Fascinating Thai Religion and Beliefs

13. Thai Monks Collect Alms Every Morning in a Centuries-Old Ritual

Before dawn breaks, robed monks walk barefoot through streets carrying metal bowls, accepting food offerings from locals. This daily alms round, called Pindapata, offers sustenance to local monks while allowing people to earn merit. Tourists can participate respectfully, but there's etiquette involved. This includes kneeling and taking care never to touch the monks.

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14. Most Traditional Thai Homes Have a Spirit House

These miniature temples in gardens or on rooftops house protective spirits. Residents leave daily offerings of food, flowers and incense. Much like the de-consecration of a church, demolishing a spirit house requires its own ceremony.

15. Thai Astrology Determines Auspicious Timing for Everything

Many Thai people use astrology to make decisions, ranging from small personal matters to significant events like weddings. Thai calendars mark lucky and unlucky days. Some people check their horoscope before leaving the house. These practices have deep roots in Thai culture.

16. Thai Temples Have Specific Etiquette

There are certain rules visitors should be aware of if they're planning to visit a Thai temple. For example, dress modestly by covering your shoulders and legs, remove your shoes upon entry, don't point at Buddha statues and speak quietly. 

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17. The Number Nine Is Considered Supremely Lucky

Associated with good fortune, progress and moving forward, the number nine is considered to be very lucky in Thailand. King Bhumibol was the 9th monarch of his dynasty and reigned for 70 years. License plates featuring the number also cost extra. Important ceremonies happen on dates with 9s. It's everywhere once you start noticing.

Wild Animals and Nature in Thailand

18. Monitor Lizards Roam Bangkok Like Urban Foxes

These prehistoric-looking reptiles - some over two metres long - cruise through parks, canals and golf courses. They're generally harmless but can give tourists a bit of a shock if they're not expecting it. Locals, however, barely glance at them. It's like having dragons as neighbours, except slightly less mythical and way more scaly.

Adobe Free Stock / Natalia

19. Thailand Has Trained Monkeys to Harvest Coconuts

Pig-tailed macaques learn to select ripe coconuts, twist them off and drop them down from trees. They can harvest 1,000 coconuts daily compared to a human's 100. It's controversial among animal rights groups but is rooted in tradition, particularly in parts of southern Thailand.

20. White Elephants Are So Sacred They Can Bankrupt You

Owning a white elephant is a royal honour, but it's also a financial burden. They're considered too sacred to work, so owners must feed and house them without monetising them. This cultural practice gives rise to the phrase 'white elephant', which is used to describe expensive gifts.

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21. Thailand Is A Biodiversity Hotspot

Despite being roughly the size of France, Thailand hosts tigers, elephants, leopards, bears, over 1,000 bird species and countless insects. You can snorkel with whale sharks in the morning and spot gibbons in the afternoon. It's like a nature documentary that never ends.

22. Firefly Displays Along Thai Rivers Rival Christmas Lights

Certain riverbank trees home thousands of fireflies that blink in synchronised patterns. The Mae Ping River near Chiang Mai puts on nightly shows that make Las Vegas look subtle. Scientists still don't fully understand how they coordinate, but with something this spectacular, who needs answers? Sit back and enjoy the glittering displays.

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Thailand Travel and Geography Trivia

23. Bangkok's Full Name Has 169 Letters

Krungthepmahanakhon Amonrattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilokphop Noppharatratchathaniburirom Udomratchaniwetmahasathan Amonphimanawatansathit Sakkathattiyawitsanukamprasit is the world's longest place name. It means "City of Angels, Great City of Immortals, Magnificent City of the Nine Gems, Seat of the King, City of Royal Palaces, Home of Gods Incarnate, Erected by Visvakarman at Indra's Behest." Bangkok is just the nickname.

24. Thailand Has Over 1,400 Islands

From Phuket's party beaches to uninhabited coral atolls, Thai islands offer everything from luxury resorts to Robinson Crusoe experiences. Some don't even have names, others charge entry fees and a few are closed for ecological recovery. Island hopping in Thailand could literally take years - yet another reason to put the country on your travel wish list.

Adobe Free Stock /  dodotone

25. Thailand Has Markets that Actually Float

Forget tourist traps; authentic floating markets like Damnoen Saduak see vendors paddling wooden boats loaded with fresh fruit, noodle soup and souvenirs through narrow canals. They've operated for over a century, turning grocery shopping into a waterborne adventure. It's like Tesco delivery, but with more splashing and better Instagram opportunities.

26. Thailand Spans Only One Time Zone Despite Its Width

The country stretches 1,600 kilometres east to west but uses only Bangkok time. This means sunrise in eastern provinces happens nearly an hour before western areas.

27. Tuk-tuks Aren't Thai

These three-wheeled taxis originated in Italy and came to Thailand via Japan. The name comes from the engine sound ("tuk-tuk-tuk"). Bangkok has about 20,000 tuk-tuks, more than any other city. They're tourist magnets, but can also be used for local transport.

Adobe Free Stock / hit1912

28. Some Thai Beaches Close Annually for Recovery

Maya Bay, the focal point of the book and film 'The Beach', closed for four years to recover from damage caused by overtourism. Other beaches in Thailand implement seasonal closures during turtle nesting season to protect the offspring of these magnificent creatures.

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Weird, Funny and WTF Thailand Facts

29. Red Bull Was Invented in Thailand

Austrian entrepreneur Dietrich Mateschitz discovered Krating Daeng, or Thai Red Bull, in the early 1980s. He then partnered with the drink's creator, Chaleo Yoovidhya in 1984 and they launched the brand in Austria in 1987. The Thai version, Krating Daeng, is a non-carbonated, syrupy drink. Mateschitz adjusted the formula for Western tastes by adding carbonation and making it less sweet. The rest is history, as the drink then went on to take the category global in a completely new way.

30. Thailand is Home to Fish That Can Walk on Land 

Several species of fish in Thailand have the ability to move on land. Two of the most famous are the mudskipper, which uses its fins to skip, or waddle, across mudflats. And then there's the climbing perch, or pla mor in Thai. They can use their gills and fins to travel short distances over land to find new water sources. These fish have special organs that allow them to breathe air, so they can survive out of water for extended periods.

Adobe Free Stock / Jakub

31. The Monkey Buffet Festival Exists and It's Exactly What It Sounds Like

Every November, Lopburi province hosts a feast for local macaque monkeys. Tables groan under fruit, vegetables and sweets while hundreds of monkeys gorge themselves. It started as a tourist attraction but soon became a local tradition. Those Thai monkeys sure know how to party.

Adobe Free Stock / PRASERT

32. Thailand's Rocket Festival Involves Homemade Explosives

Thailand's Bun Bang Fai festival, held every May, features enormous bamboo rockets stuffed with gunpowder, which are launched to encourage rainfall. Teams compete for distance and spectacle. Winners celebrate, while losers get thrown in the mud. It's Guy Fawkes Night meets rain dance meets health and safety nightmare. 

33. It's Illegal to Leave Home Without Underwear

This Victorian-era law remains technically enforceable, although police have better things to do than conduct underwear checks. It was apparently introduced to maintain public decency. How they'd enforce it without causing international incidents remains unclear. Some laws are perhaps better left unenforced.

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FAQs - 33 Fun Facts About Thailand