Food and
Culture
Do’s and Don’ts
Do return a ‘wai’ [🙏] when meeting new people
Do take off your shoes in temples and homes (& some shops)
Do dress appropriately when visiting religious sites
Don’t touch anyone’s head
Don’t put your feet up
Don’t disrespect the royal family (It’s a criminal offense)
Thai Holidays/Festivals
Jan
Feb
Chinese New Year
Chinese (Lunar New Year) - February
Thailand has a large Chinese influence and celebrates this during the Lunar New Year with fireworks and streets adorned in red and gold.
Mar
Apr
Songkran
Songkran (Thai New Year) - 13-15 April
Songkran celebration is rich with symbolic traditions representing purification and washing away of one's sins and bad luck by pouring water on Buddha statues.
The holiday is also known for its water festivals with water fights taking over the whole country.
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Vegetarian festival
Vegetarian festival - October
A 9 day Taoist celebration that sees alot of Thailand turn vegan.
Nov
Loy Krathong
Loy Krathong - first week of November - Full Moon
The name could be translated as "to float a basket," and comes from the tradition of making krathong or buoyant, decorated baskets, which are then floated on a river.
Many Thais use the krathong to thank the Goddess of Water, the Hindu Goddess Ganga (river in Northern India), Phra Mae Khongkha.
Dec
Thai words
Things to do in Bangkok

Temples
With over a thousand Buddhist temples in Bangkok, there is definitely no shortage of temple-hopping options to observe and experience Buddhist practices and architecture
Wat Arun
‘Temple of Dawn’. Recommended to catch this temple on the opposite side of the river for a spectacular sunset view
Wat Po
Largest and oldest temple in Bangkok. Home to the reclining Buddha
Wat Phra Kaew
Part of the Royal Palace and home to the Emerald Buddha
Wat Saket
300 stair climb for a golden stupa sitting atop Bangkok. Great for views of the city!

Muay Thai
Muay Thai, or Thai Kickboxing, is an ancient Thai martial art, originally developed for use in military combat.
It is a widely popular sport in Thailand with plenty of gyms offering Muay Thai classes for exercise and stadiums regularly holding action packed professional matches.

Massage
Thai massage is a traditional therapeutic system based on Ayurvedic principles that originated in India. It uses acupressure and assisted yoga postures to realign the body’s energy lines. The massage therapist usually begins at the feet and moves upwards, applying rhythmic compressions to certain pressure points along the body. They also help the client through a series of stretches and flowing movements to help release both physical and mental stress. Each session can be tailored and modified to a client’s needs, and different studios and spas often offer their own unique variation of a traditional massage.


Markets
Chatuchak Market
Open from Friday afternoon to Sunday evening, Chatuchak Weekend Market covers an area of more than 140,000 square meters and contains more than 10,000 merchant stalls. The market is a bargain shopper’s paradise with 27 sections featuring everything from pet food to antiques. Join the more than 200,000 visitors who flock to the market every weekend, and don’t forget to grab a map when you arrive!
Floating Markets
Bangkok has such a large network of interconnected canals that it is often called “the Venice of the East,” and travel by boat was once the standard. As a result, local merchants often hawked their goods from boats that could easily move from one village to another. As roadways developed and land travel became the preferred mode of transport, floating markets were no longer a necessity, but they have remained a mainstay of Thai culture and very popular tourist attractions. No one should visit Bangkok without experiencing the immense pleasure of eating coconut ice cream, pad thai, or a perfectly ripe mango purchased from a floating vendor.

Parks
Parks are very popular places to exercise. Most of Bangkok’s larger parks offer gym equipment and evening aerobics classes, yoga classes and tai chi. Note that it is best to exercise either in the early morning or late at night to avoid the heat. Wear a hat and drink plenty of water.
Lumpini Park (BTS Saladaeng)
Benjasiri Park (BTS Phrom Phong)
Benjakitti Park (BTS Asoke)
Bang Krachao
Go on an active day trip by biking around Bang Krachao, Bangkok’s lush green forest which is five times larger than New York’s Central Park.
Visit popular destinations such as the Betta Museum, Thatched Cottage Floating Market, and Tree House Hotel.
You can even learn how to make local handicrafts such as batik and natural incense with your guide.

River Cruises
City cruises are a low-key way to see a lot in a comfortable amount of time. The list of sights you can see from Bangkok’s Chao Phraya River is monumental ranging from Temple of the Reclining Buddha, Temple of Dawn, Grand Palace until Khaosan road.
There are different types of boat you can enjoy on the tour including Chao Phraya Express, Ferries, Private River Cruise, Long Tail Boats and Canal boat.
Dinner Cruises: These cruises combine the unique beauty of the city from the Chao Phraya River and nearby waters while treating you to the rich array of flavors and texure that have made Thai cuisine a favorite around the world.
1 day itinerary in
Bangkok
9:00am
You can’t experience Bangkok without a ferry ride down the Chao Phraya River, connecting to your favorite landmarks through its piers. Start from “Tha Chang” where you can visit the Grand Palace, the original home of Thailand’s monarchy and is considered as a significant cultural insitution.
10:00am
Next, try visiting the definitively recognizable Wat Arun, or the Temple of the Dawn. This spot is such a favourite that many people visit it during the day to see the sun reflecting off its gleaming finish and closer to sunset to see the floodlit sihouette against the dusk sky.
11:00am
Just as recognizable is Wat Pho, or The Temple of The Reclining Buddha. This elegant, yet joyful temple features an icon of the Buddha, covered in gold leaf to showcase the importance of Buddhist values in Bangkok. You can also get a Thai massage here, where a historic medical teaching center has become a massage school.
1:00pm
The Bangkok National Museum is a must-see for anyone who wants an exciting look at the wide range of cultural influences and artifacts that make up Thailand’s inimitable presence. Located in a former palace, this museum has royal objects, great halls, weapons, precious stones and much more.
Put Chatuchak Market on your weekend itinerary. Open on Saturdays and Sundays, this market offers literally thousands of stalls. Spend the day getting lost in the beautiful wares of Bangkok and supporting local merchants while souvenir shopping.
2:30pm
In the afternoon, head over to Lumphini Park for a chance to check out local fun at Bangkok’s largest park. Lay back and daydream, talk over what’s next or jog off all that street food. You’ll also find street food vendors throughout the park grounds, particularly at midday and in the evenings.
5:00pm
Head into Chinatown, where thousands of stalls, booths and storefronts feature local goods and delicious eats. The streets are a maze here, so get ready to get a little lost.