There is no coincidence Thailand is widely recognised as the “Land of Smiles”. Hence, you are right to assume the first thing you will encounter on arrival is a Thai smile. However, a Thai smile does not always mean appreciation — which is the case should you point at someone with your foot, or touch the head of a complete stranger.
Religion in the form of Buddhism is tightly integrated into the Thai culture. Generally, Thais are not prejudiced against cultures different from their own but rather show great respect — particularly for most aspects of the Western way of life.
Consequently, bringing respect and an open mind with you will most likely be highly appreciated by most Thais you meet during your stay in Thailand. Having said that, it strongly recommended you avoid openness to the following two things, considered very rude by Thai culture: Do not point with your foot at a Thai, and refrain from touching a Thai person’s head.
The Thai way of greeting is called “wai”. There are many kinds of wai, so here is a general rule of thumb: put your palms together, with your fingers stretched, and raise them to your head. Generally speaking, a younger person “waiing” an elder is to hold his or her hands higher than that person. Speaking of which, also the relative position of one’s head is of importance. Similarly, a younger person should be at a lower level when passing someone more senior — which interestingly enough for many Thais included foreigners, even if not actually being older.
Another thing of great importance within Thai culture is the concept of “face”. No Thai wants to lose his or her face, which would be utterly embarrassing. Here is where many foreigners mess up in Thailand as they may not understand that their intentionally constructive criticism causes a face loss for the Thai person.
Also highly vital to Thais is food. More often than not Thais basically eat all day long, many rather than large portions. Hua Hin is particularly famous for its many excellent restaurants, of which a great deal of interesting reading can be found in our Restaurant Guide. Food is “sanuk” (enjoyable) which is also very much true for singing and dancing. Some restaurants in Hua Hin offer the opportunity of combining pleasurable dining with dancing and singing — or rather watching traditional Thai dance shows while eating, or listening to a local band or even karaoke. As a matter of fact, super-popular karaoke can be found as good as anywhere in Thailand.
Last word of advice: Dress as you like, unless you plan on visiting a temple where shorts and bikinis are not appreciated. Shower often, not only because it is hot but also as good hygiene is a virtue in Thailand.
