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| “Forks and spoons are the primary utensils in Thailand, and chopsticks are used for noodle dishes or in Chinese households…” – Did a fork save Thailand? According to Saveur Magazine, as Europe colonized all of Thailand’s neighboring countries in the 1800’s, King Mongkut modernized his kingdom to prevent a political takeover by Western powers. He Westernized his military strategies, advance women’s rights, and invited in Western business in, while his brother lead the adoption of Western cutlery. The fork, it is said, “saved” Thailand from colonization. |
Thailand can be surprising to most visitors. I had visited Thailand many times, approximately 15 years ago, and I would compare it to modern-day Mumbai, where taxis and tuk-tuks ruled the roads, bargaining was king, and shopping was very inexpensive. Today, Bangkok meets gentrification, clean elegance, and modern manners.
Let’s look back in history of Thailand was previously called Siam. The name “Syam” likely originated from the Portuguese, who encountered it during their diplomatic and trade missions to the Ayutthaya Kingdom in the early 16th century. By the 19th century, it had become firmly established in Western locations.
The late 18th century saw the establishment of the Chakri Dynasty under King Rama I, which led to the foundation of modern-day Bangkok as the capital. Thailand is unique in Southeast Asia for maintaining its sovereignty during the colonial era and skilfully navigating diplomacy to avoid European colonisation. The country underwent significant modernisation and political changes in the 20th century, transitioning from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional one. Thailand, in 1939, adopted its current name.
In the early 1990s, when visited Thailand, I saw women, especially those wearing mismatched pyjama-type clothing, crouching on the street. Today, how you dress and behave indicates your social status. This means your clothing is modest, clean, and neat. Notably, sitting correctly on a chair is considered correct when sitting in front of elders, in formal places, or in temples.
Let’s look back in history of Thailand was previously called Siam. The name “Syam” likely originated from the Portuguese, who encountered it during their diplomatic and trade missions to the Ayutthaya Kingdom in the early 16th century. By the 19th century, it had become firmly established in Western locations.
The late 18th century saw the establishment of the Chakri Dynasty under King Rama I, which led to the foundation of modern-day Bangkok as the capital. Thailand is unique in Southeast Asia for maintaining its sovereignty during the colonial era and skilfully navigating diplomacy to avoid European colonisation. The country underwent significant modernisation and political changes in the 20th century, transitioning from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional one. Thailand, in 1939, adopted its current name.
In the early 1990s, when visited Thailand, I saw women, especially those wearing mismatched pyjama-type clothing, crouching on the street. Today, how you dress and behave indicates your social status. This means your clothing is modest, clean, and neat. Notably, sitting correctly on a chair is considered correct when sitting in front of elders, in formal places, or in temples.
In Thailand, gift-giving is informal, emphasising thoughtful wrapping, though colours like blue, black, and green are avoided due to their association with mourning. It is generally considered disrespectful to open a gift in front of the giver if invited, and gifts are usually small tokens like sweets or souvenirs.
At the heart of Thai culture lies the concept of ‘sa nùk’, which emphasises fun, enjoyment, and a relaxed approach to lifewhich makes Thai’s hospitable and enjoy hosting visitors as honoured guests. When getting to your destination, remember not to be overly late, as Thais today will keep to a time schedule.
Before entering someone’s house, take off your shoes. It is respectful to step over the threshold of the door, as it has to do with Buddhist religious beliefs. When you say hello, you will use ‘the wai, ’ which is a traditional greeting that involves placing your palms together in front of your chest and bowing slightly. The higher you place your hands, the more respect you show.
Forks and spoons are the primary utensils in Thailand, and chopsticks are used for noodle dishes or in Chinese households. Guests are often served additional helpings and encouraged to eat generously, but leaving a small amount of food on the plate signals satisfaction. Utensils should be placed together on the plate after eating. It is impolite to use personal spoons for communal dishes. Starting with rice and a couple of complementary dishes is also considered polite. Avoiding initially overfilling your plate.
Today, the Thai people value patience and politeness. Avoid raising your voice or losing your temper in public. Also, pushing and shoving to get on and off the metro or sidewalk is not advised. Instead, you will calmly line up on the sides of the sliding doors to the metro train, wait until people have disembarked, and then walk on, finding yourself a spot to sit or stand. If there is an elderly person or a parent with a young child, it is customary to stand and offer your seat.
One crucial point to note is the deep reverence for Thailand's monarchy. Criticism of the royal family is considered highly disrespectful and can have serious legal consequences. For instance, in January 2024, the German news agency Deutsche Welle reported that former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was facing legal action for allegedly insulting the monarchy during a 2015 interview. Therefore, it is imperative to avoid any negative comments about the royal family. — By Elizabeth Soos, Founder of Auersmont School of Etiquette& Protocol
At the heart of Thai culture lies the concept of ‘sa nùk’, which emphasises fun, enjoyment, and a relaxed approach to lifewhich makes Thai’s hospitable and enjoy hosting visitors as honoured guests. When getting to your destination, remember not to be overly late, as Thais today will keep to a time schedule.
Before entering someone’s house, take off your shoes. It is respectful to step over the threshold of the door, as it has to do with Buddhist religious beliefs. When you say hello, you will use ‘the wai, ’ which is a traditional greeting that involves placing your palms together in front of your chest and bowing slightly. The higher you place your hands, the more respect you show.
Forks and spoons are the primary utensils in Thailand, and chopsticks are used for noodle dishes or in Chinese households. Guests are often served additional helpings and encouraged to eat generously, but leaving a small amount of food on the plate signals satisfaction. Utensils should be placed together on the plate after eating. It is impolite to use personal spoons for communal dishes. Starting with rice and a couple of complementary dishes is also considered polite. Avoiding initially overfilling your plate.
Today, the Thai people value patience and politeness. Avoid raising your voice or losing your temper in public. Also, pushing and shoving to get on and off the metro or sidewalk is not advised. Instead, you will calmly line up on the sides of the sliding doors to the metro train, wait until people have disembarked, and then walk on, finding yourself a spot to sit or stand. If there is an elderly person or a parent with a young child, it is customary to stand and offer your seat.
One crucial point to note is the deep reverence for Thailand's monarchy. Criticism of the royal family is considered highly disrespectful and can have serious legal consequences. For instance, in January 2024, the German news agency Deutsche Welle reported that former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was facing legal action for allegedly insulting the monarchy during a 2015 interview. Therefore, it is imperative to avoid any negative comments about the royal family. — By Elizabeth Soos, Founder of Auersmont School of Etiquette& Protocol
For many years, Etiquipedia contributor, Elizabeth Soos, has had a keen interest in cultural customs. With her European background and extensive travel, Soos developed an interest in the many forms of respect and cultural expectations in the countries she has visited. With her 20 years’ experience in customer service within private international companies based in Australia, and her lifetime interest in manners and research, she decided to branch out into the field of etiquette and deportment. Through her self-directed studies and by completing the Train-The-Trainer’s course offered by Emma Dupont’s School of Etiquette in London and by Guillaume Rue de Bernadac at Academie de Bernadac based in Paris and Shanghai, she founded Auersmont School of Etiquette. Elizabeth is currently traveling throughout India and brushing up on her Hindi.
🍽Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, is the Site Editor or the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia
