5 Culture Shocks in Thailand You Must Know Before Visiting
- Jirabhorn S.
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
Think Thailand is just beaches, food, and temples?
If it’s your first time here, everyday life might surprise you more than you expect.
Here are 5 culture shocks in Thailand that often make visitors say, “Wait… what?”
1. Thai Bathrooms Have a Bum Gun
Most Thai bathrooms don’t rely on toilet paper alone. Instead, they use a handheld water spray called a bum gun. For visitors from countries where toilet paper is the only option, this can be very surprising at first. But after trying it, many people say it feels cleaner, fresher, and more hygienic and some even miss it when they go back home!
2. Motorcycle Taxis Are Super Fast
Stuck in traffic but running late? Welcome to the world of Thai motorcycle taxis.
Motorcycle taxis can weave through traffic and get you to your destination much faster than cars. For first-time riders, it can feel a little scary—but also exciting!
It’s one of the most efficient ways to travel in busy cities like Bangkok.
Safety tip: Look for a yellow license plate—it means the motorcycle taxi is registered. Non-yellow plates may not be official.
3. Thai Nicknames Can Be Anything
Another surprising part of Thai culture is Thai nicknames. Thai people often use short nicknames in daily life, and they can come from animals, fruits, colors, or even brand names. You might meet someone named Mǒo (pig), Apple, Beer, or Benz.
For foreigners, this can feel unusual but in Thailand, nicknames are friendly, practical, and totally normal.
4. Everybody Sounds “Related”
In Thailand, you don’t need to be family to be called family. Thai people often use family terms like “พี่ /phîi/” (older sibling) and “น้อง /náawng/” (younger sibling) even when meeting for the first time. You might also hear people call a street vendor “ป้า /bpâa/” (auntie) or “ลุง /lung/” (uncle).
This is not strange or rude. It’s a normal way to show politeness, respect, and social closeness in Thai culture.
5. Ice Goes in Almost Every Drink
Water? Ice. Beer? Ice. Milk? Ice.
Yes, another common culture shock in Thailand is that Thais add ice to almost every drink. For visitors, this might feel strange at first, especially with beer or milk.
But with Thailand’s hot weather, extra ice helps drinks stay cold and refreshing longer.
And if you want to go deeper at your own pace, check out our E-magazine: Perfect Thai Vol. 1–12:
Fun articles about real Thai culture
Thai reading practice and exercises
Audio for listening & pronunciation
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