Thailand

Dos and don'ts

The grand palace in Bangkok .
Photo: Alejandro Cartagena / Unsplash

Business Etiquette

Try to make appointments at least a month in advance.

Punctuality is especially important in business settings, so arrive a few minutes early to any appointment or meeting.

Appointment Etiquette

If you are with a Thai friend or host, wait for them to introduce you.

Thais typically use first names, with the all-purpose title Khun in front of them. Nicknames are often used among friends. Last names are never used to address people.

Man looking at his watch .
Photo: Dylan Ferreira / Unsplash

Important to note

Always show respect, humility and good humour, and avoid any displays of negative emotion.

It is not common for Thais to open a gift in front of the giver.

Fruit, flowers, candy or chocolates, or small souvenirs from Norway are always safe choices. You may also give books, liquors, or stationary. Use your best judgment about what your host would find appropriate or useful. Never give knives or sharp objects

If you are invited to someone’s home, bringing a gift is not mandatory. However, a small token of gratitude is always appreciated.

Two women discussing a text .
Photo: Gabrielle Henderson / Unsplash

Business Card Etiquette

Business cards are an important part of business etiquette.
If you are given a card, accept it with your right hand, look at it for a few seconds, and place it neatly in your wallet.

If you are handing out your business card, offer it to the person with the highest social status first. Never slide a business card across the table.

Dress Code

Men should wear dark business suits. For women, conservative suits, blouses, or business dresses are appropriate.

Shaking hands

To perform the typical Thai greeting, called the Wai, press your palms together at about the level of your chest, and bow slightly.

Most people engaged in international business are used to handshakes, but never squeeze people hands very hard.

When someone offers you a Wai in greeting, it is considered rude not to return it. However, you are not expected to return the Wai to children, waiters, doormen, guards, or street vendors.

Business card .
Photo: Anomaly / Unsplash

Important to note

Never point at people and never point at anything using your feet

Don’t wrap a gift in black. This is the colour used at funerals, and it is associated with mourning. Red is an auspicious colour for gifts among Thai Chinese

A gift wrapped in black .
Photo: Trifon Yurukov / Unsplash

Your Recently Viewed Pages

Regioner

Byer og steder

Ting å gjøre

Planlegg reisen

Visit Norway Insight

Tools and resources

About

Verktøy

Satsingsområder og segmenter

Om

Why Norway?

Corporate and associations

Case studies

Analyse og markedsdata

Markedsføring

Business to business (B2B)

Om oss

Thailand

Dos and don'ts

Business Etiquette

Appointment Etiquette

Important to note

Business Card Etiquette

Dress Code

Shaking hands

Important to note