Thailand Snapshot – Quick Facts You Won’t Find In Wikipedia

This overview will give you a quick image of Thailand and some points of interest to business or holiday visitors.

Country Name: Kingdom of Thailand

Capital City: Bangkok

Geography: 514,000 square kilometers

Bangkok’s Population: over 6 million

Thailand’s Population: 60 Million

Government: Democratic constitutional monarchy

Prime Minister: Thaksin Shinawatra

Head of state: King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX)

Time Zone: GMT + 7 hrs

Language: Thai (official language) with some basic knowledge in English

Religion: Buddhism with Muslim and other minorities

Electricity: 220 Volts, 50 Hz American and European style 2-pin plugs are used.

Telephone sockets: RJ-11

Country code: 662 (fixed lines in Bangkok only), 661 (cellular phones)

Area codes: 02 (fixed lines in Bangkok only)

Provincial area codes: Click here

Climate: Hot, especially between March and May. Rainy season between June to October.

Best travelling time: November to February

Weather: Click here

Health watch: AIDS, cholera, dengue fever, Japanese encephalitis, malaria, rabies

Visas: Click here

Don’t miss: Silom Road, Chatuchak Weekend Market, and Khaosarn Road

Getting around: Tuk-Tuks, motorcycle taxis, public air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned buses, long-tail boats, taxis, sky-train, and subway (under construction)

Traffic: Morning rush hour from 07.00 to 09.00 and afternoon rush hour from 16.00 to 18.30 and evening rush hour from 19.00 to 21.00

Food: Click here

Driving: Click here

Attractions in Bangkok: The Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew (The Chapel of the Emerald Buddha), Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha), Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn), Vimanmek Palace (The Celestial Residence), Wat Traimit (Temple of the Golden Buddha), Wat Benchamabophit (The Marble Temple), Wat Suthat and the Giant Swing, Wat Saket (The Golden Mount), Jim Thompson’s Silk House, Suan Pakkard Palace, Pasteur Institute Snake Farm, Dusit Zoo, Baan Kamthieng, Bangkok Doll Museum, Safari World, King Rama IX Park, and Siam City Park

Things to enjoy: Traditional Thai Massage, Thai Boxing, Thai Cooking, Cultural Performances, Express Boat Trips, and Dinner Cruises

Nightlife: From restaurants to katoey cabarets, Bangkok has far too much nightlife to begin to list here. Check out the Guide of Bangkok or for specific recommendations post a message to our Nightlife Forum.

Dress Code: Shorts, sleeveless shirts and short skirts are unacceptable in Thai temples and in general, revealing or shabby attire would be considered bad form. Smart/casual attire is always acceptable with formal office wear the norm during business hours.

Cultural traits: Click here for information about etiquette and here for a bit of background on the Thai people.

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