It is illegal to drive a car or motorcycle without a shirt in Thailand. While walking around shirtless in tourist beach areas is generally tolerated, it is considered disrespectful in cities, shops, and rural areas. Police can fine individuals up to 5,000 Baht for public indecency.
Is it disrespectful to not wear a shirt in Thailand?
Thailand is a conservative country when it comes to public appearance. While shirtless driving might not always be strictly enforced, it could be seen as disrespectful, especially in more formal or religious areas.
Don't let the Thai police get shirty with you over this one, it's illegal to drive in Thailand if you are shirtless. It's probably unlikely that you'll be driving during your stay, but if you do, make sure you're wearing a top.
Thailand is no different and the list of antiquated ways to stray foul of the law in Bangkok includes: It is illegal to leave the house without wearing underwear. It is illegal to drive a motorised vehicle bare-chested.
You might see a few locals doing it, but it's quite rare. Most Thais tend to wear modest clothing, whether they're at home or out in public, and visitors are expected to follow these unwritten rules by choosing respectful clothing in Thailand or you will leave a bad impression.
15 Prohibited and Restricted Items in Thailand - Don't Bring These With You!
What is frowned upon in Thailand?
Try to avoid stepping over anyone, especially in crowded places. Stepping over someone is seen as disrespectful and can cause offense, as it implies disregard. Don't Touch or Sit on Buddha Statues: Avoid touching, climbing, or sitting on Buddha statues or sacred items.
Section 112 of Thai Criminal Code currently reads as follows: "Whoever defames, insults or threatens the King, the Queen, the Heir-apparent or the Regent, shall be punished with imprisonment of three to fifteen years."
Yes, $1,000 (around 35,000-37,000 Thai Baht) can be enough for a budget traveler in Thailand for a month if you live like a local—eating street food, staying in hostels, using public transport, and minimizing paid tours/alcohol—but it's tight and requires strict budgeting; an extra $200-$500 provides much more comfort and flexibility for tourist activities and emergencies.
Don't point to anything with your feet and don't place your feet on the table while sitting. If you accidentally drop some money, don't step on it to stop it blowing away. This would be insulting the King whose image is on Thai currency. Don't stand on the raised threshold of a house or temple.
These reflect both official advice and local customs. ⸻ ✅ What you should do • Dress modestly and in subdued colours: Wear darker or neutral tones (black, dark grey, white) when in public settings. You're not necessarily required to wear black, but doing so shows respect.
Assuming the food is good and your server are pleasant, the small tip will either be a small banknote – 20 Baht being the most common. Or rounding the bill up to the nearest 50 Baht.
Don't point at people, don't show the sole of your foot to someone as it's the lowest part of your body and is considered rude. Don't touch thai people's heads or rub them it is considered rude and holy spot.
✔ Avoid tourist traps– Bars in Patong/Phuket can drain your budget fast. ### **Final Verdict** With $10,000, you can comfortably live in Thailand for 6-12 months (or longer if frugal). If you want to stay beyond a year, consider remote work, teaching English, or a Thai Elite Visa for long-term stays.
Thais usually wash with water first, then use paper to dry. You'll miss it when you go back to your home country! 🚻 SQAUT VS WESTERN TOILETS: In big cities, you'll mostly find Western sit-down toilets.
Drug use and corruption make up the majority of the crime in Thailand and due to this, many Thai administrations attempted to curtail the drug trade, most notably Thaksin Shinawatra with the 2003 War on Drugs.
4️⃣ Spitting or dropping chewing gum — Can result in fines up to 2,000 THB for littering in public areas. While many of these rules aren't enforced daily, Thailand's laws around respect, modesty, and cleanliness are deeply rooted in culture, and breaking them can lead to real fines or worse.
In Thailand, the number five is pronounced “ha” (hâa), which sounds exactly like “ha.” Therefore, texting “555” is the common and quick way to say “hahaha” or “LOL” in digital conversations, making it a wonderful piece of Thai internet slang that reflects the country's cheerful nature.
Thailand is no different and the list of antiquated ways to stray afoul of the law in Bangkok includes: It is illegal to leave the house without wearing underwear It is illegal to drive a motorised vehicle bare-chested It is illegal to use a durian fruit as a weapon and a fine will be levied determined by how many ...
In Thai, "jing jing" (จริงๆ) means "really," "truly," or "seriously" and is used to add emphasis, like saying "for real!" or "I mean it!" in English, often by repeating the word "jing" (true/real) to intensify its meaning. For example, "Aroy jing jing" means "really delicious".
