BusinessEtiquetteinThailandOUTLINE1•GreetingsandHonorificTitles2•Belieftaboo3•Eatinghabitsandtablemanners4•TipsonbusinessGreetingsandHonorificTitlesHandshakesonlytogreetforeigners.The“wai”,astandardtraditionalformofThaistylegreeting,consistsofaslightbow,withraisingbothhandsupwardssomewherebetweenthechestandtheforehead.A“wai”canmeanHello,Thankyou,I’msorryandGoodbye.•Thehigherthehandsareheldandthelowerthebow,themorerespectyoushow.•Thepersonwhoisjuniorinageorstatusisthefirstonetoofferthe“wai”•Thaisgenerallyusefirstratherthansurnames.•Academicandprofessionaltitlesarehighlyvaluedandmustbeused.•Introduceandgreetolderpeoplefirst.HonorificTitlesBelieftabooMostThaishaveabeliefforBuddhismandtheirheadsareconsideredscared,sonevertouchtheheadofaThai.TakeoffyourshoesbeforeenteringahomeorabuildingwhichhasaBuddhaimagewithin.Stepoverathreshold,notonit.Sittingwithyourlegsapartordiskfullisataboo.Pointingwiththefootorshowingthesolesofthefeetisstronglydiscouraged,especiallyatimagesoftheBuddha.Writinginredisatabooastheythinkthatisforthedead.NevertrytocommentonorinquirethesecretsoftheKingortheroyalfamily.Pointingwiththeindexfingerorthefullhandisconsideredrude.BelieftabooEatinghabitsandtablemanners•Thaipeopleliketoeatchilies.Thespicier,thebetter.“Peppersauceisindispensablefortheirmeals.•Thaipeopledonotliketodrinkhottea,theyprefertoputsomeiceinit.Theyusuallyeatsomefruitsaftermeals.•AforkandspoonaretheusualeatingutensilsbyThais.Thespoonisheldintherighthandandtheforkintheleft.•IfyouareinvitedtoaThai’shome,youshouldarriveclosetotheappointedtime.Giftslikeflowers,goodqualitychocolatesorfruitsareappropriate.Trytowrapyourgiftattractivelybutavoidingreen,blue,orblackastheseareusedatfunerals.•Youmaybegineatingassoonasyouareserved.•Leavealittlefoodonyourplateafteryouhaveeatentoshowthatyouarefull.Neverleavericeonyourplateasitisconsideredwasteful.Nevertakethelastbitefromtheservingbowl.Waittobeaskedbeforetakingasecondhelping.Businessattireisconservative.Thaisgenerallyexpectforeignvisitorstobepunctual.Discussingbusinessbeforebecomingacquaintedisimpolite.Communicationisgenerallyindirect.becausebeingfriendlyandsavingfacesareimportant.Businessrelationshipexistbetweenpeople,notcompanies.TipsonbusinessThaishavealowsenseofurgency.bepatient,controlyouremotionsandacceptthatdelaysoccurduringnegotiations.Thaislikebargainingandhaggling.Pricesoftenmovemorethan40percentbetweeninitialoffersandfinalagreement.Decisionmakersareusuallyseniorexecutives.Soitisimportanttodealwithseniorexecutives.Tipsonbusinessขอบคุณครับ!