Fact File: Thailand

PEOPLE: About a third of Thailand’s 65 million people live in urban areas. Seventy-five percent are ethnic Thais, who may be divided into three groups with different dialects: the central Thais of the Chao Phraya Delta; the Thai Lao of the northeast; and the Thai Pak Tai of the south. People of Chinese descent account for about 10 percent of the population, and Malays for about four percent. Some smaller ethnic groups are concentrated in highland regions. Some 95 percent of the populations are Theravada Buddhists. This branch of Buddhism, sometimes called the “Southern School”, is also followed in Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.

HISTORY: Archaeological evidence suggests that people were cultivating rice in what is now north-eastern Thailand as long as four thousand years ago.  Thailand ’s early history is chaotic, with parts of the country broken into small kingdoms or incorporated into larger empires based in Myanmar, Cambodia and Indonesia. Thais consider the Sukhothai Kingdom, which arose in 1238, to be the first true Thai kingdom and a golden age of peace and prosperity. In 1376 Sukhothai was annexed by the Thai kingdom of Ayuthaya, which defeated the Khmer kingdom of Angkor in 1431. In 1765 the Burmese captured Ayuthaya, but were expelled by the Thais four years later. A Thai general by the name of Phraya Thaksin appointed himself king and established a new kingdom on the bank of the Chao Phraya River, opposite Bangkok. In 1782 the Thai court moved to Bangkok.

CLIMATE: Due to its long north-south span, Thailand’s climate is very diverse. While temperature differences in Bangkok are slight (highs around 38C or 95F in April and lows of 32C or 88F in January), it can drop down to 13C in Chiang Mai in the winter. Northern, north-eastern and central Thailand has three seasons: the rainy season lasts from July to November; the cool season runs from November through mid-February; and the hot season from March through June. Southern Thailand has only two seasons: wet in the summer and dry in the winter. As a general rule, the farther south you go, the shorter the dry season.

GOOD MANNERS: In Thailand, revealing clothing is unacceptable off the beach. Shorts are generally fine—as long as they aren’t too short. People tend to dress as well as they can afford to: Asian people tend to be astonished by the dirty and tattered clothing worn by some travelers.

When visiting pagodas and temples, shorts and tank-tops are unacceptable. Your knees and shoulders must be covered. Footwear and socks must be removed in religious sites. Shoes are often removed upon entering private homes too. Visitors to the Royal Palace in Bangkok are required to wear closed-toe shoes, long pants (or skirts) and sleeved tops. Some upscale nightclubs and restaurants in Bangkok will refuse entry to men wearing flip-flops.

In terms of behavior, public displays of affection between men and women are considered shocking. On the other hand, it’s perfectly normal for a pair of men or a pair of women to link arms or hold hands. In Thailand, people typically greet each other by placing the palms of their hands together in front of their chest.

The Thais are devoted to their royal family. It is unacceptable to make disparaging comments about the monarchy. Everyone is expected to stand upon hearing the national or royal anthem. If you go to a movie in Thailand you should stand during the tribute to the king.

SAFETY TIPS: In general, Thailand is very safe for travelers. Violent attacks are rare, although petty theft is a problem. When possible, secure your valuables in the hotel safe. Remember to record your traveler’s cheque numbers and credit card info—just in case.

Do not leave your wallet or mobile phone in the back pocket of your pants or anywhere else that’s easily reached (like an outer zip-up compartment on a backpack). Be especially vigilant in markets and other crowded places like ports and train stations.

If you take a tuk tuk (motorized three-wheeler) negotiate the price ahead of time. Some taxi drivers will refuse to turn on their car’s meters. If this happens, we recommend that you get out of the taxi and find another driver who charges according to the meter.

Thailand ’s Tourist Police advises visitors to turn down all offers of free shopping or sightseeing help from strangers. The Tourist Police employs some 500 English-speaking officers, who are stationed in tourist areas. They deal with tourism-related crimes, especially gem frauds and thefts. To contact the Tourist Police dial 1155 from any phone in Thailand (24 hour service) or 678-6800 in Bangkok. Help in English is also available at the Tourist Assistance Center in Bangkok at 281-5051.

Remember that it is not safe to drink tap water in Thailand. Bottled water is cheap and readily available.

ELECTRICITY: Thailand has 220V, 50Hz electricity. Wall outlets are usually the round, two-pin type, although some fit two flat blades. Protect sensitive electronic equipment like laptops from power fluctuations by using a surge-protector.

TELECOM: Country code: 66 International calling cards, called Thai Cards, come in denominations of 300Baht and 500Baht and are available at airports, post offices and shops in tourist centers. Thailand has two mobile phone networks: GSM and NMT 900MHz.

INTERNET: Internet access is available in most hotels and in Internet cafes.

TIPPING: Higher-end restaurants will often add a service charge of five to ten percent to the bill. While tips are not expected in more casual restaurants and bars they are appreciated—wait staff earn very low wages. We suggest tipping drivers about US$5 – US$ 10 per day and guides about US$10 -US$15 per day.

SHOPPING & SHIPPING: If you shop in markets or smaller shops, bargaining is necessary. We recommend that you check prices in several shops before reaching a deal. Upscale boutiques and shopping malls in Thailand have set prices. If you choose to ship items home, we highly recommend that you buy shipping insurance and check the policy details. As shops are not responsible for damages incurred en route, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

VISA REQUIREMENTS: Most nationalities may stay for 30 days in Thailand without a visa (at no charge). Your passport must be valid for at least six months from date of entry. You can find Thailand Embassy or Consulate in your country or your country's Embassy or Consulate in Thailand by just simple http://th.embassyinformation.com/

HEALTH: IMMUNIZATIONS

The following immunizations are recommended for travellers in Southeast Asia . Consult your doctor or local health department to discuss which ones you need:

Diptheria and tetanus: Combined vaccinations for these two diseases are usually given in childhood and should be boosted every ten years.

Hepatitis A: Vaccination provides immunity for up to ten years and involves an initial injection followed by another six months to one year later.

Typhoid: Vaccination takes the form of an injection or capsules.

Meningococcal Meningitis: This vaccine is only recommended for travellers making extended visits to rural, northern Vietnam . Protection lasts for three years.

Rabies: People making longer trips to remote areas should consider rabies vaccination, which involves three injections over a period of three to four weeks.

Japanese B Encephalitis: People on trips of a month or more to areas suffering from recent outbreaks should consider getting this vaccine, which involves three shots over one month.

CURRENCY: Thailand ’s currency, the Baht, trades for around 38.6 to the US Dollar. You will have no trouble finding ATMs, getting cash advances, exchanging travelers’ checks or using popular credit cards in Bangkok and other major tourist centers (Chiang Mai, Phuket, Ko Samui, etc.) although it is wise to bring adequate funds in Thai Baht if traveling in remote areas. The most popular credit cards are Visa and MasterCard, followed by AmEx and JCB. US Dollars are not accepted in shops, restaurants, taxis, etc.—carry Thai Baht. Credit card fraud is a problem; do not allow vendors to take your credit card out of your sight as thieves could make several receipts and forge your signature.