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Thai culture & etiquette on Koh Samui

The customs that matter most to locals: temple dress and behaviour, the wai, shoes, head and feet, monks, the royal family and the national anthem, plus today's rules on alcohol and cannabis.

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  1. Alcohol rules: sales hours, age 20, dry daysAlcohol sales rules changed recently: the old 2pm-5pm shop ban was lifted in December 2025 on a six-month trial, so shops can now sell…Read guide
  2. Bargaining etiquetteBargaining is normal at markets and with independent taxis or songthaews, but not in shops with price tags, supermarkets, or restaurants. Keep it…Read guide
  3. Beachwear vs streetwear: dress norms on SamuiSwimwear is fine on the beach, but Thais consider it inappropriate in towns, shops, temples, and restaurants. Cover up when you leave the sand, and…Read guide
  4. Cannabis: medical-only since June 2025 (important update)Cannabis was decriminalised in 2022 but re-restricted on 25-26 June 2025: the flower is now a 'controlled herb' requiring a Thai medical…Read guide
  5. Head and feet: Thailand's body taboosThe head is the most sacred part of the body in Thai culture, and the feet the lowest. Never touch anyone's head - even a child's - and never point…Read guide
  6. Monks and women: the no-contact ruleBuddhist monks must not touch or be touched by women, and cannot receive anything directly from a woman's hand. Women should place offerings on a…Read guide
  7. Photo etiquette and tipping basicsAsk before photographing people, follow no-photo signs at temples, and never pose disrespectfully with sacred images. Tipping is not required in…Read guide
  8. Public affection normsThailand is conservative about public affection: hand-holding is fine, but kissing and intimate contact in public makes people uncomfortable…Read guide
  9. Respect for the royal familyThe Thai royal family is deeply revered, and criticism of the monarchy is a serious crime under the lese-majeste law (Article 112). Never speak…Read guide
  10. Respecting Buddha imagesAll Buddha images are sacred in Thailand - even small, old, or damaged ones. Never climb on them, pose disrespectfully, or buy them as casual…Read guide
  11. Respecting Samui's Muslim communityHua Thanon is a Thai-Muslim fishing village with the island's only mosque. Dress modestly there, do not bring alcohol or pork, ask before…Read guide
  12. Shoes off indoorsIn Thailand you remove your shoes before entering homes, temple buildings, and many small shops, clinics, and guesthouses. If you see shoes at the…Read guide
  13. Smiles, 'mai pen rai', and saving faceThai social life runs on keeping things pleasant: smiles, the phrase 'mai pen rai' (never mind, it's OK), and avoiding public anger. Raising your…Read guide
  14. Temple etiquette: dress, shoes, and behaviourAt Thai temples, cover shoulders and knees, remove shoes before entering buildings, speak quietly, and never point your feet at Buddha images or…Read guide
  15. The national anthem at 8am and 6pmThailand's national anthem is played twice daily, at 8am and 6pm, in public places like markets, stations, and government areas. When you hear it…Read guide
  16. The wai: Thailand's greetingThe wai - palms pressed together, raised toward the chin with a slight bow - is Thailand's greeting and thank-you. Return a wai when given one, but…Read guide

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