6 things worth knowing before coming to Thailand
About Thailand
The Kingdom of Thailand is at the centre of the Indochina peninsula in Southeast Asia, bordered by Myanmar and Laos to the north, Cambodia to the east, and Malaysia to the south. Thailand borders the Gulf of Thailand to the south and east, and the Andaman Sea to the west. The capital of Thailand is Bangkok. Formerly known as Siam, the kingdom was renamed ‘Thailand’ in 1939.
Thailand’s population is approximately 66.7 million (2013 est.). The majority of the population are ethnic Thais (96 per cent), with Myanmar and other nationals making up the remaining four per cent; 93 per cent of the population are Buddhist.
For more information, visit the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website.
Climate
Avg
24 - 34 °C
Wer & dry with high humidity
Cool season : Nov - Feb
Hot season : Apr - May
Rainy season : Jun - Oct
People
65.9 M
Bangkok : 8.3 million
Source NSO Thailand consenes 2010
- Multi - ethnic society
- Majority are ethic Thais
- Other main nationalities are
Chinese Indian, Malay, Mon,
Myanmar and Lao descent
Religion
BUDDHISM IS THE OFFICIAL RELIGION
- Buddhism is the official religion of the country.
- Muslims are the second largest religious group
followed by Christians, mainly Catholics,
Hindus, Sikhs, and Jews. - Religious freedom is respected by law.
Political Overview
The Prime Minister
is the head
of government
- Thailand is a constitutional monarchy.
- Prime Minister is the head of government,
and the head of state is a hereditary monarch. - Reigning since 1946, King Bhumibol Adulyadej
is the world’s longest-serving current head of state
and the country’s longest-reigning monarch.
Foreign Policy
Thailand was a founding
member of ASEAN.
- Thailand was a founding member of ASEAN.
- The second biggest economy in ASEAN.
- Member of East Asia Summit and ASEAN Regional Forum.
- Member of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), and Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA)
Australia - Thailand Relationship
- Diplomatic relations established in 1942.
- Over 900,000 Australians visit Thailand each year, while more than 45,000 Thais live in Australia.
- Visit http://thailand.embassy.gov.au/bkok/relations.html
Learn about Thai universities
Thailand’s Higher education at both undergraduate and graduate levels are under the responsibility of the Office of the Higher Education Commission (OHEC) In the Ministry of Education. Currently, there are 79 public universities classified as 63 limited administration universities; 2 open admission universities; 14 autonomous universities including 2 Buddhist universities, 71 private higher education institutions and 19 Community Colleges.
Number of International Programs in Thailand
Since 2005, the number of International Programs offered by higher education institutions in Thailand has grown significantly from 520 programs to 981 programs. In 2010, both Thai public and private universities offered a total of 981 international programs both at undergraduate and graduate levels, i.e. 342 undergraduate programs; 389 master’s degree programs; and 225 doctoral degree programs and 25 other degree programs. Foreign and Thai students can take courses for credits from such programs.
Academic Calendar
- First semester: August - December
- Second semester: January - May
Please check with individual institutions for an accurate academic calendar.
Thai Universities at a glance
Here are some of the leading universities in Thailand.
*If you are a higher education institution in Thailand interested in the New Colombo Plan program and your information is not listed here, please let us know at [email protected]
- Assumption University
- Bangkok University
- Chiang Mai University
- Chulalongkorn University
- Kasetsart University
- Khon Kaen University
- King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology, Ladkrabang
- King Mongkut’s University of Technology, North Bangkok
- King Mongkut’s University of Technology, Thonburi
- Mae Fah Luang University
- Mahidol University
- Prince of Songkla University
- Rajamangala University of Technology Phra Nakhon
- Rangsit University
- Srinakharinwirot University
- Suranaree University of Technology
- Thammasat University
Airport Rail Link
http://www.suvarnabhumiairport.com/en/121-airport-rail-link
BTS (Sky train)
http://www.bts.co.th/customer/en/main.aspx
Tuk Tuk
Negotiate the price before you set off.
Song taew
A passenger vehicle adapted from a pick-up truck and used as a share taxi or bus. To hail one, stick out your hand and wave one down. Tell the driver where you want to go and agree to the fare before you hop in.
When you see your destination coming up, press one of the buzzers in the roof of the truck and the driver will stop. Get out, walk around to the front of the songtaew and pay the driver.
Public Bus
http://www.bangkoktourist.com/site/en/public-bus/
Taxi
They come in quite a few different colours. Finding one at any time is never a problem in Bangkok except during a downpour. By international standards they’re very cheap.
Train
www.bangkoktourist.com/site/en/train/
MRT (Subway)
Useful Thai words and phrases
Handy phrases and words in Thai
Hello - Sawatdee krub/kah* สวัสดีครับ/ค่ะ
(Krub is for male speaker, Kah is for female speaker)
How are you? - Sabai dee mai krub/kah สบายดีไหมครับ/ค่ะ
Fine - Sabai dee krub/kah สบายดีครับ/ค่ะ
Thank you - Khob khun krub/kah ขอบคุณครับ/ค่ะ
Yes (correct) - Chai ใช่
No - Mai ไม่
Can - Dai ได้
Cannot - Mai dai ไม่ได้
Never mind - Mai pen rai krub/kah ไม่เป็นไรครับ/ค่ะ
I cannot speak Thai -Pood Thai mai dai krub/kah พูดไทยไม่ได้ครับ/ค่ะ
Do you understand? - Kow jai mai krub/kah เข้าใจไหมครับ/ค่ะ
I do not understand -Mai kow jai krub/kah ไม่เข้าใจครับ/ค่ะ
How much (price) - Tao rai krub/kah เท่าไหร่ครับ/ค่ะ
Good luck - Choke dee krub/kah โชคดีครับ/ค่ะ
Toilet - Hong Naam ห้องน้ำ
Water - Naam น้ำ
Ice - Naam Kaeng น้ำแข็ง
Hot - Ron ร้อน
Cold - Yen เย็น
Large - Yai ใหญ่
Small - Lek เล็ก
Thai Greetings
Khun (pronounced koon, as in cook) is Thai for Mr, Mrs, Ms or Miss. When addressing others, Thais use Khun followed by a person's first (given) name. For example: Khun Somporn or in a Western context Khun John (rather than Khun Smith). Most Thais also have a nickname, which may be used in place of their given name.
Before you get here, you should learn to “wai” - the traditional form of greeting in Thailand. You will use it all the time when you greet everyone from other students to university lecturers to your bosses at your internships. You wai by placing the palms of the hands together, raising them to the face with the fingertips at eye level and inclining the head slightly. There is great formality in the wai and the level at which the hands are placed have a great significance. Younger and lower-ranking people are expected to offer the wai to their senior counterparts first.
Commuting:
Soi - lane / small street ซอย
BTS - Bangkok Mass Transit System (Sky Train) รถไฟฟ้าบีทีเอส
MRT - Mass Rapid Transit Network (Subway) รถไฟใต้ดิน
Airport - Sa naam bin สนามบิน
Did you know : Thai people often have a nickname which does not necessarily have anything to do with their formal name. Nickname is used at home and with friends and colleagues
English - Thai online dictionaries
http://www.thai2english.com/online/dictionary/
http://dict.longdo.com/index.php?lang=en
Stay connected with your Thai friends
Facebook is the most popular social media platform used by Thais, followed by LINE application, Google+, Instagram, Twitter, and Whatsapp. So you might want to familiarise yourselves with the LINE application to easily connect with your Thai friends and contacts once you are in the country. Practice using some cool LINE stickers too, you will no doubt put them to good use!
Source: Thailand Internet User Profile 2015 publication by ETDA
Did you know : When your Thai friend types “555” during a message conversation, they are laughing as five is pronounced as “Ha” in Thai