101 tips and advice for visitors to Hua Hin

[uncle tom]

The wai is a gesture of greeting and respect.

It involves putting your palms together in front of your face and nodding.

Some guidebooks give lengthy accounts of the protocol of wai-ing, to the extent that some visitors are reluctant to do it, for fear of getting a nuance wrong. However, Thais do not expect visitors to understand the finer points, and appreciate them for making the effort.

- Thais like to reciprocate when they are wai-ed to, so avoid using it when someone has their hands full.

- Don't labour the gesture, one second is plenty.

- When entering a favourite bar or restaurant, it is appropriate to wai to the middle of the room and then momentarily point your fingers to the top far corners of the room.

- If you're a bit shy about making a wai, try doing it with a young child first. From a very young age, Thai children are taught to immediately reciprocate - and usually do so with a big smile..

[richard]

The wai is a gesture of greeting and respect.

It involves putting your palms together in front of your face and nodding.

Some guidebooks give lengthy accounts of the protocol of wai-ing, to the extent that some visitors are reluctant to do it, for fear of getting a nuance wrong. However, Thais do not expect visitors to understand the finer points, and appreciate them for making the effort.

- Thais like to reciprocate when they are wai-ed to, so avoid using it when someone has their hands full.

- Don't labour the gesture, one second is plenty.

- When entering a favourite bar or restaurant, it is appropriate to wai to the middle of the room and then momentarily point your fingers to the top far corners of the room.

- If you're a bit shy about making a wai, try doing it with a young child first. From a very young age, Thai children are taught to immediately reciprocate - and usually do so with a big smile..

It is considered wrong to wai a child I've heard (from Thais). They should wai you but you should not reciprocate

[uncle tom]

If you hear a child crying in Thailand, it is very rarely a Thai child.

Thai women are much more collective when it comes to parenting than their western counterparts, and it is also common for children to be raised by their grandparents.

There seems to be a consensus that tears and tantrums are never rewarded - a system that appears to work rather well..

[PeteC]

^^ You're right, and that should also include service personnel concerning initiating or reciprocating. It's not a problem with short term tourists, but expats reading this need to get it right. Pete

[uncle tom]

It is considered wrong to wai a child I've heard (from Thais). They should wai you but you should not reciprocate

Possibly for men - I've seen Thai women do it many times..

Edit: Thinking about it, they only seem to wai to pre-school age children

[richard]

It is considered wrong to wai a child I've heard (from Thais). They should wai you but you should not reciprocate

Possibly for men - I've seen Thai women do it many times..

Edit: Thinking about it, they only seem to wai to pre-school age children

It is complex Tom but always acceptable to a Thai who understands the farang is unfamiliar with the gesture and position of the hands. I was taught never to initiate the wai but wait until you have been wai-ed. I've been caught on a few occasions going to do the wai and a hand has been extended for a handshake instead. Especially police and government officials. You can't win

[Pleng]

- When entering a favourite bar or restaurant, it is appropriate to wai to the middle of the room and then momentarily point your fingers to the top far corners of the room.

I have never seen anybody do this.

[GLCQuantum]

Is this tips for Thailand, or Hua Hin specifically?

If it's Thailand then I can add loads, but I try to keep 'On Topic' as much as I can.

Regarding 'Wai-ing'...

It is considered wrong to wai a child I've heard (from Thais). They should wai you but you should not reciprocate

As Tom said... if you are female a 'low wai' (fingertips maybe, say, 10cm under the chin) in return is considered a polite (and kinda cute - hence it's done) gesture back. A male can do it but it's seen less often. Some of the more 'feminine' males, do it more often than usual - case in point.

If you are delivered a high wai which leaves the fingertips around the nose area (or above the forehead on inappropriate occasions from lao khao swigging drunks. That kind of 'wai' is either made sarcastically, under the influence, when apologising for something or in a temple) . Then you should return the greeting accordingly.

Also to remember that, if you 'wai' and the left index figer is pointing towards Saturn during Titan's 17th orbit during the year of the rat then...

Well...you know what I mean.

[GLCQuantum]

- When entering a favourite bar or restaurant, it is appropriate to wai to the middle of the room and then momentarily point your fingers to the top far corners of the room.

I have never seen anybody do this.

Me neither...

If I saw a Westerner doing this I'd instantly assume that he's a few pennies short of a pound.

On those lines... do not feel that you have to wai every girl in a bar that you have enjoyed a few drinks at previously.

That is unless they are now all 'close' friends of course.

[richard]

- When entering a favourite bar or restaurant, it is appropriate to wai to the middle of the room and then momentarily point your fingers to the top far corners of the room.

I have never seen anybody do this.

Me neither...

If I saw a Westerner doing this I'd instantly assume that he's a few pennies short of a pound.

On those lines... do not feel that you have to wai every girl in a bar that you have enjoyed a few drinks at previously.

That is unless they are now all 'close' friends of course.

I think Tom may be saying what he has observed in a certain bar he frequents. The girls wai as they enter for work and also wai to the top corners of the bar where the offerings to Buddha are displayed

[GLCQuantum]

He he...

I've just got this picture stuck in my head now of a Westerner walking into a bar wai-ing to the middle of the room, then just... ya know...pointing around the place.

Like some grand entrance...

"One has arrived me ladies".

[TingTongJohn]

I my self think it looks foolish when I see a tourist wai`ing every thing from the help to little kids with no real regard to why they are doing it. There are so many levels to it. From social status to conceived wealth status to job position and such. I think it is better to except the Wai with a nod or offer a hand shake then to appear foolish and wai back and possiblly insult your host. In ending if you do Wai someone who is Thai they will for the most part know that you have very little clue to why you are doing it and just laught in their head at the crazy Farang. IMHO

[richard]

Planning

Well planning in Thailand can be very frustrating. Whatever, great or small, always have a plan A, plan B and a plan C. That way you will at least] get some satisfaction (MAYBE)

[bonnielass]

If you are hiring a car, make sure you keep your international driving licence with you at all times. I forgot mine and got stopped by the MIB, on a wee side street. Coffee fund contribution of Baht 200.

Also Ladies, do not be afraid to walk down the Binta. Although it looks a bit intimidating, the bar girls are very friendly and I have had some good fun down there, especially around Songkran.

BL

[GLCQuantum]

In Hua Hin 7-11s, don't take the first number they throw you at the counter... you can always haggle it down 10%. Don't worry about the guys waiting behind you as they'll only be doing the same once they get there.