Discover 23 Fascinating Facts About Thailand – The Land of Smiles

Fun Facts About Thailand

Even if you’ve never visited Thailand, you likely know that it is home to some of the world’s most beautiful beaches, friendliest people, andtastiest dishes. Situated in Southeast Asia, Thailand is officially the Kingdom of Thailand.

While these reasons are more than enough to convince you to experience Thailand in person, there’s nothing like some intriguing facts to reveal what makes this nation and its inhabitants truly unique. Trust us, if you thought that the ‘Land of Smiles’ was like nowhere else, just wait until you discover these quirky fun facts!

From fascinating customs to captivating language insights, continue reading to learn more about all these amazing Thailand facts!

1. Bangkok’s Real Name Is a Real Mouthful

Only foreigners refer to Thailand’s capital city as Bangkok. In Thai, its true name is Krung Thep, yet even that is a shortened version of the city’s full designation: Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom. Attempt to say that after a glass of SangSom!

Krung Thep translates to ‘City of Angels’, while Bangkok means ‘village of wild plums’. It’s easy to see why Thais prefer the former!

2. Bangkok Was Once the ‘Venice of the East’

While we’re discussing Bangkok/Krung Thep, would you believe the city was once constructed on stilts overlooking canals? Similar to Venice, these waterways, or ‘khlongs’, served as the primary transportation routes. Today, most canals have been filled, although floating markets still thrive on the outskirts for both tourists and locals.

3. Thais Adore Their Royal Family

The Thai people exhibit profound respect and admiration for their royal family. Criticizing or showing disrespect to a member of the monarchy is considered treason.

Moreover, Mother’s Day in Thailand is marked by the Queen’s birthday while Father’s Day is celebrated on the King’s birthday, with both events honored across the nation.

4. Around 95 Percent of Thais Are Buddhist

Although Thailand lacks an official religion, approximately 95 percent of its population identifies as Buddhist. As the ‘guardian of the faith’, the Thai King must also be Buddhist.

5. Thailand Is Home to the World’s Largest Solid Gold Buddha

One of the most breathtaking sights in Thailand is the 15-foot-tall golden statue of Phra Phuttha Maha Suwana Patimakon. Remarkably, this statue was saved from looters as it was concealed in stucco.

If you see only one Buddha statue, ensure it’s this one, as it’s valued at millions and weighs an astonishing 5.5 tons, located at Bangkok’s Wat Traimit.

6. Most Thais Have a Nickname

Most Thai individuals have two names: their full official name and their chosen nickname. Unlike in other cultures, where nicknames may simply shorten the original name, Thai nicknames are imbued with meaning and selected by parents at birth.

Common examples include Bank, Neung (meaning one), and Benz for boys, with Tangmo (watermelon), Chompoo (rose apple), and Nan for girls.

7. The Thai Language Has 76 Letters

For language enthusiasts, Thai is rich with unique and interesting attributes.

The Thai alphabet consists of 76 letters, comprising 44 consonants and 32 vowels! Additionally, Thai incorporates five tones, which significantly complicates language acquisition.

For instance, ‘s?ai’ with a rising tone means lovely or pretty, while ‘suai’ with a mid-tone means unlucky. Mispronouncing these tones can result in unintended consequences.

8. Monkeys Rule in Lopburi

Have you ever wanted to explore a city governed by monkeys? If so, head to Lopburi, where macaque monkeys dominate the old town area.

The unique monkey culture prevails in November during the annual ‘Monkey Banquet Festival’ at Lopburi’s Pra Prang Sam Yot temple, where hundreds of monkeys feast on an array of foods!

9. Thailand was Known as Siam and Siamese Cats Came from there

Historically, Thailand was referred to as Siam until 1939, briefly reverting to Siam between 1945 and 1949. Moreover, Siamese cats, considered lucky, originate from Thailand.

10. Rice Is a Staple at Every Meal

For Thai people, rice stands alone as a food group, essential at every meal, including breakfast.

It’s common to greet people with ‘Have you eaten rice?’ and saying you’re hungry translates literally to ‘I want to eat rice.’

11. Thailand Was Never Colonized by Europeans

Interestingly, unlike neighboring Southeast Asian nations like Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Malaysia, Thailand was never colonized by Europeans, aptly earning its name in Thai, Prathet Thai, meaning ‘Land of the Free’.

12. Thais Eat With Spoons and Forks

Visitors to Thailand often express surprise at the absence of chopsticks. Thais reserve chopsticks for Chinese meals, primarily using a spoon for eating and cutting, and a fork to transfer food onto the spoon.

13. Heads Are Sacred and Feet Are Lowly

The Thai culture holds the head in high regard as the most important body part, so touching someone’s head, even a child’s, is frowned upon.

In contrast, feet are viewed as lowly, hence pointing with them or resting them on furniture is considered extremely disrespectful.

14. The National Anthem Is Played Twice a Day

Public gatherings at 8 AM and 6 PM require everyone to stand and remain silent for the national anthem, signaling the raising and lowering of the Thai flag.

15. Deep-Fried Cockroaches Are a Popular Snack

Thailand is renowned for its vibrant culinary scene, making it a top destination for culinary travel. Deep-fried insects, like cockroaches, are commonly enjoyed by locals, especially at street markets.

16. Be Careful With Your Hands

Pointing at someone with your index finger is considered impolite. Instead, beckoning should be done with the palm facing down.

While shaking hands isn’t deemed rude, Thais typically prefer the ‘wai’, which involves placing hands together and bowing respectfully.

17. Expect To Keep Your Clothes on During a Thai Massage

In Thailand, traditional massage involves wearing loose clothing throughout the session. This massage technique incorporates yoga-like movements to stretch and twist the body.

18. Home Cooking Isn’t Common

In bustling cities like Bangkok, many Thais seldom cook at home due to space constraints in small apartments. Eating out is not only affordable but also serves as an enjoyable social activity.

Fun Facts About Thailand to Impress Your Friends

Thailand Facts 19 – 22

Now, we present a rapid-fire round of quick Thailand facts.

• 19. Thailand hosts the world’s largest water fight called Songkran.
• 20. Thailand is the world’s largest exporter of orchids, home to 1500 orchid species!
• 21. Thailand is also the world’s largest rice exporter by value; while India ranks #1, Thailand exports the more expensive Jasmine rice.
• 22. With 40,000 temples, visitors should be sure to dress modestly when exploring.
• 23. The world’s smallest mammal, the bumblebee bat, resides in Thailand.

These fun facts illustrate that Thailand is indeed a captivating country!

If these intriguing details about this exceptional region of Southeast Asia have ignited your wanderlust, don’t hesitate to check out the Thailand travel guide for essential tips and insights.