Thai table manners

There is an old proverb in Thailand: Welcome tourists. This motto vividly depicts that Thailand was a very hospitable country a long time ago.

Therefore, many guests who come to Thailand are deeply impressed by the smiles on their faces. Wherever you go, you will always be warmly received and welcomed. Thailand is people-oriented and optimistic. Happy to entertain guests. Think the guest's visit is a good sign. Therefore, Thais always welcome guests to visit.

However, as a guest, you should also know what to do and what not to do when coming to Thailand. Because all visits start with the telephone, whether formal or informal, we divide the telephone into formal telephone and business telephone here. Informal or personal phone calls, and as a member of the royal family.

On the appointment date, visitors should arrive at the appointment place earlier, but not too early. In view of the traffic jam in Bangkok, tourists should probably inform the host's secretary a few minutes before the appointed time. Visitors may be arranged to wait in seats near the host's office. Until he was summoned by his master.

● Visitors should pay attention to the limited time and busy work of the host. The official visit time should not be too long. Introduced each other, talked about some relaxed and happy topics, and said that they would strengthen contact in the future and left soon.

● Business cards can be exchanged during the meeting unless the guests have been here before. Modern business cards include the following contents: address, telephone number, mobile phone number, fax and e-mail address.

One or two days after the visit, some people often like to write a thank-you letter, thanking the host for his warm hospitality, and expressing their willingness to keep in touch and deepen friendship. Some foreign guests have said that Thais don't seem to like inviting guests to their own homes, but choose to entertain guests in hotels and restaurants. The family life of Thais makes foreigners feel mysterious. But this is not always the case in many cases.

● The reason why you don't want guests to come to your home may be to make them feel happier. There are many high-end hotels and restaurants in Thailand. The food and service here are first-class and the prices are very affordable. In order to make a good impression on the guests from the beginning, the host may think that it would be better to have a professional chef on this occasion. For this reason, in most cases, entertaining guests is held outside rather than at home.

● Whether inviting guests to the host's home or in hotels and restaurants, guests usually bring some small gifts to the host. In the past, Thais always brought homemade food or cakes to their hosts, but now modern social etiquette norms are widely used. Therefore, a bottle of wine, a basket of fresh fruits, canned food, a pound or two of fresh cakes or a plate of traditional Thai desserts are always welcome.

During business visits, although people don't strictly observe the time, guests should remember not to arrive too early or too late. It's too early, which may bring inconvenience to the host and hostess, and perhaps the work of receiving you has not been completed; It's too late, and it will also cause some problems. If there is a party after the visit, maybe other guests have already started eating. Imagine that under some unforeseen circumstances, you may not be able to attend the party. When you arrive, there may not be much food left on the table, and the hostess will have to find you something to eat quickly.

In informal situations, the length of the meeting depends on the host's wishes. If there is no party after the meeting, just a simple private visit, then fifteen to twenty minutes is enough. If the host still provides meals, you should remember that the host has to get up early tomorrow and can't stay at the host's house for more than three hours.

Remember to observe proper etiquette when meeting. Crossing one's legs with one leg sticking out means relaxation and leisure in western culture, but it is considered inappropriate or impolite in Thai culture. When speaking, you should not shake your body too much, such as waving your hands, swinging your arms, swinging your legs back and forth, etc. When standing, if you are too close to the elderly, it is not appropriate for Thais to think that Khamhua Phuyai is waving his arms over the elderly. A well-educated person would never do this. Similarly, it is considered inappropriate to talk to another person through an old man, whether he is sitting or standing. Because in this case, it will be considered as phut kham hua phuyai. It is also considered inappropriate to speak loudly through old people.

When eating, be sure to let the monk eat first. Usually monks attend a ceremony, and they eat in a special place. Monks eat separately from others. Big monks usually eat separately and pay their respects with special plates.

● When attending a traditional Thai wedding, guests older than the bride or groom are usually invited to sprinkle holy water on the bride's hands and wish her well. There is no clear rule as to whether to sprinkle it into the hands of the groom or the bride first. Some guests tend to sprinkle water on people they know first. After sprinkling water, stand back to make room for other guests.