Thai people are widely regarded as among the most friendly and welcoming in the world, often described as the "Land of Smiles". Travelers frequently note that Thai people are consistently warm and approachable, whether in bustling cities like Bangkok or remote rural areas. This friendliness is evident in everyday interactions, such as street vendors smiling in response to a greeting, or locals offering help without expecting anything in return, even when language barriers exist.

The cultural emphasis on harmony, respect, and non-confrontation plays a significant role in shaping this demeanor. Many attribute the kindness to Buddhist principles that promote patience, compassion, and a desire to maintain peace and happiness in daily life. Additionally, the strong connection between tourism and the national economy reinforces a cultural norm of hospitality toward visitors, as being gracious to strangers is seen as a reflection of personal character.

This reads like it was lifted straight from a budget tourism brochure. Which immediately raises the question of why it is being posted here at all. Most people in this forum have lived in Thailand for decades. They are not first time visitors discovering smiles and street vendors for the first time.

Nothing in the description is incorrect. It is just so generic and surface level that it offers no insight, no nuance, and no lived perspective. It is the sort of thing written for people skimming a travel site before their first short holiday.

In a forum made up of long term residents and experienced expats, it adds nothing to the conversation and serves no real purpose. I sum it up as bankrupt trolling at best.

16 minutes ago, BilllyGOAT said:

This reads like it was lifted straight from a budget tourism brochure. Which immediately raises the question of why it is being posted here at all. Most people in this forum have lived in Thailand for decades. They are not first time visitors discovering smiles and street vendors for the first time.

Nothing in the description is incorrect. It is just so generic and surface level that it offers no insight, no nuance, and no lived perspective. It is the sort of thing written for people skimming a travel site before their first short holiday.

In a forum made up of long term residents and experienced expats, it adds nothing to the conversation and serves no real purpose. I sum it up as bankrupt trolling at best.

Show me an expat with insights into Thai culture please. Not seen one on here.

59 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

Thai people are widely regarded as among the most friendly and welcoming in the world,

Yep, I can confirm having worked studied and travelled to over 40 countries.

Too bad so many nasty, rude, hostile bloody foreigners coming here.

23 minutes ago, BilllyGOAT said:

This reads like it was lifted straight from a budget tourism brochure. Which immediately raises the question of why it is being posted here at all. Most people in this forum have lived in Thailand for decades. They are not first time visitors discovering smiles and street vendors for the first time.

Nothing in the description is incorrect. It is just so generic and surface level that it offers no insight, no nuance, and no lived perspective. It is the sort of thing written for people skimming a travel site before their first short holiday.

In a forum made up of long term residents and experienced expats, it adds nothing to the conversation and serves no real purpose. I sum it up as bankrupt trolling at best.

The Op is just a clown that loves the attention,then when anyone bites ,he goes on a tangent against them. A few cans short of a sixpack.

2 minutes ago, theshu25 said:

The Op is just a clown that loves the attention,then when anyone bites ,he goes on a tangent against them. A few cans short of a sixpack.

Yet another nasty post from you. No doubt you can't speak Thai and have no Thai friends.

3 minutes ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Yep, I can confirm having worked studied and travelled to over 40 countries.

Too bad so many nasty, rude, hostile bloody foreigners coming here.

Yep lovely people. Shame about the farangs.

29 minutes ago, BilllyGOAT said:

This reads like it was lifted straight from a budget tourism brochure. Which immediately raises the question of why it is being posted here at all. Most people in this forum have lived in Thailand for decades. They are not first time visitors discovering smiles and street vendors for the first time.

Nothing in the description is incorrect. It is just so generic and surface level that it offers no insight, no nuance, and no lived perspective. It is the sort of thing written for people skimming a travel site before their first short holiday.

In a forum made up of long term residents and experienced expats, it adds nothing to the conversation and serves no real purpose. I sum it up as bankrupt trolling at best.

Harris is still a tourist so probably thinks those things

just another thread counter. Tomorrows or later will be his Toast in the Mornings. something like do you prefer white or brown bread, butter or Marge, jam or Marmalade.

7 minutes ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Yep, I can confirm having worked studied and travelled to over 40 countries.

Too bad so many nasty, rude, hostile bloody foreigners coming here.

The smiles can come with extreme anger as well, hostile bloody farangs be aware......🙂you'll get what's coming to ya.........

15 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Harris is still a tourist so probably thinks those things

You live in Pattaya amongst farangs.

34 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

Show me an expat with insights into Thai culture please. Not seen one on here.

Oh there are plenty. The depth of the insight varies but they are around.

Less time picking fights online and some careful reading away from the topics you start...

36 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

Show me an expat with insights into Thai culture please. Not seen one on here.

That was harsh Harris, after all we are living with them and among them, so any experience is a valid experience even they lives in gated communities inside tourist infested areas living their lifes online.

I know this will come as a big shock, and some of you may want to sit down for this, but Thailand actually has elephants. Real ones. The walking around kind. Not just in BBC documentaries.

It also turns out there are markets everywhere. Day markets, night markets, floating markets. People selling food, clothes, fruit, things on sticks. I know this is hard to believe, but it is actually happening right now!

There are temples too. Lots of them. Gold ones, old ones, quiet ones, noisy ones. Some have monks. Some have bells. Some have both. Apparently this is not a coincidence.

Up north there are mountains and waterfalls. Actual waterfalls with water falling down. And in the south there are beaches. Long stretches of sand next to the sea. Blue water. Boats. Islands. All the classics.

I realize this all sounds very far fetched and you may think I am making it up, but I promise you it is all true. Thailand really does have all of these things, even if they rarely ever get mentioned.

Alas, you are welcome in advance for all this vital intelligence. Consider it a public service announcement. My work here is done. Please share responsibly.

32 minutes ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Yep, I can confirm having worked studied and travelled to over 40 countries.

Too bad so many nasty, rude, hostile bloody foreigners coming here.

You worked in the friendliest businesses on the planet :D

Oh my, what a life it have been working in the oil business, where every little detail you did, you made sure you got proof and also write down time and place to protect your own ass when they came for you after downtime to find the victim to blaim.

Gotta love the Scottish, what a breed to work with, especially with radio communication during critical operation.

30 minutes ago, JAG said:

Oh there are plenty. The depth of the insight varies but they are around.

Less time picking fights online and some careful reading away from the topics you start...

Name these experts then

1 hour ago, Harrisfan said:

Show me an expat with insights into Thai culture please. Not seen one on here.

Please show me a single example of an insight into Thai culture you have provided. I can't think of one.

2 hours ago, Harrisfan said:

Thai people are widely regarded as among the most friendly and welcoming in the world, often described as the "Land of Smiles". Travelers frequently note that Thai people are consistently warm and approachable, whether in bustling cities like Bangkok or remote rural areas. This friendliness is evident in everyday interactions, such as street vendors smiling in response to a greeting, or locals offering help without expecting anything in return, even when language barriers exist.

The cultural emphasis on harmony, respect, and non-confrontation plays a significant role in shaping this demeanor. Many attribute the kindness to Buddhist principles that promote patience, compassion, and a desire to maintain peace and happiness in daily life. Additionally, the strong connection between tourism and the national economy reinforces a cultural norm of hospitality toward visitors, as being gracious to strangers is seen as a reflection of personal character.

Good job! Your text is 100% written by AI, and in this instance Chat GPT.

17 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

Name these experts then

I've provided countless insights into Thai culture on this forum over the years, ranging from farm culture, adapting to rural life, establishing relationship with Thai males, Thai male/female marital relationships, how much money makes it back to the village from bar girls, managing disputes about loud noise, Thai language study techniques, etc., etc. (just to cite a few examples off the top of my head.)

1 hour ago, Harrisfan said:

Show me an expat with insights into Thai culture please. Not seen one on here.

This excerpt is from a 'Dear Jerry' letter about 20 years ago after I made the mistake of asking them for a formal volunteer visa. In those days you could get unlimited 30 day entries at Nong Khai no questions asked. This is a large Thai NGO under auspices of the late King Bumiphol. I will daresay such experience gave me insight both good and not so good into Thai culture.

3 hours ago, Harrisfan said:

Show me an expat with insights into Thai culture please. Not seen one on here.

3 hours ago, Harrisfan said:

Show me an expat with insights into Thai culture please. Not seen one on here.

I'll sit back and see if theshu's right. Actually, everyone on here who has either lived here for any time, studied Thai culture before moving here, or has visited a number of times and dug into things Thai, does have insights into the Thai culture. Those who have wives and steady girlfriends know even more.

I don't assume, but I'm sure all here have at least traveled somewhat and likely extensively around Thailand, seeing the sights. Take a second and look at your statement. It's, like most others, an assumption right?

I've mentioned this before, and I will again. No one in this forum knows anything about anyone else here unless they have actually met in person, and more so, been around them quite a bit, with much communication, before they can assume anything about them, so why continue this here?

It would be better to sit back and see what we say, as again, everyone here knows full well how friendly locals are, and how unfriendly some can be, just like any other country. I have seen friendliness and a helpful attitude from quite a few, and some have been absolute angry towards foreigners, without even knowing them. (take a hint).

I myself took the time to learn about Thai culture decades before I ever thought about visiting. How they are, how to act in public, in temples, not to do certain things Thai's consider disrespectful, how to order food, what to wear in certain places and how to communicate effectively using translator. You don't have to know how to speak Thai. Making an effort is what's appreciated. Some, like myself who is moving back home, have no reason to learn more language. I've done fine for over 7 years here communicating and if I couldn't, my daughter or girlfriend helped.

As far as those smiles, many aren't friendly and many are. Impossible to know which is which unless you, again, know them better. Many people are welcoming all over if they're getting something out of it, and many are welcoming because it's their nature. Again, the same all over.

3 hours ago, Harrisfan said:

Show me an expat with insights into Thai culture please. Not seen one on here.

4 hours ago, BilllyGOAT said:

This reads like it was lifted straight from a budget tourism brochure. Which immediately raises the question of why it is being posted here at all. Most people in this forum have lived in Thailand for decades. They are not first time visitors discovering smiles and street vendors for the first time.

Nothing in the description is incorrect. It is just so generic and surface level that it offers no insight, no nuance, and no lived perspective. It is the sort of thing written for people skimming a travel site before their first short holiday.

In a forum made up of long term residents and experienced expats, it adds nothing to the conversation and serves no real purpose. I sum it up as bankrupt trolling at best.

So ignore it.

Another attempt at trolling by the OP, but this time more thinly veiled than normal. If you're wanting to rile people up, try not to be so transparent about it.

Thailand is like a visit to old aunties. Everyone is sticking their nose into someone's business and watching. The old Italian ladies do it, the Chinese elderly do it, African villagers do it, the council flat residents of the UK do it, and the small town residents of suburbia in Australia, USA and Canada all do it. It's just that it is more of a national past time in Thailand.

5 hours ago, Harrisfan said:

Show me an expat with insights into Thai culture please. Not seen one on here.

But then you are blind and Stevie Wonder is your best friend.

4 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

Good job! Your text is 100% written by AI, and in this instance Chat GPT.
...

I thought that was obvious!

Personally I find Thai people to be quite friendly, warm, helpful and cheerful. It has a lot to do with the attitude that you approach them with, as Thais are quite intuitive and they often reflect back to you what you put out there.

That's certainly not the case in a lot of other countries around the world, especially in America right now where people are downright depressed, bitter angry and hugely disappointed.

57 minutes ago, simon43 said:

I thought that was obvious!

Yeah, it was. But thinking something is, leaves a lot of room for errors, so that´s why I checked for proof.

I would also challenge the OP to explain how someone who has literally posted on this forum on average every 15 minutes of every waking hour over the past year could possibly have had sufficient time to interact with Thais to generate any insights whatsoever about Thai culture.

Cool, I can use ChatGPT too!

Here’s a summary of the general attitude of other forum members toward the post “Thais are super friendly” on ASEAN NOW:

🧠 Overall Tone

The thread is mostly dismissive and critical rather than supportive of the original post. Rather than engaging with the idea that “Thais are super friendly,” many long-term members reacted negatively to the post’s tone and content, viewing it as overly simplistic.  

🗣️ Key Reactions

🔹 Many members saw it as generic or unhelpful

Several commenters criticized the post for being very surface-level, similar to what you’d read on a travel brochure or tourist site, and said it lacked meaningful insight for people who have actually lived in Thailand long-term.  

🔹 Some called the original poster out personally

A few responses were pretty blunt — calling the OP a “clown,” suggesting the post was trolling, and mocking the style rather than the content.  

🔹 A minority defended the sentiment but with caveats

A few reactions acknowledged that Thai people can be friendly — in one case a member referenced their own extensive travel and experience — but even then some comments contrasted that friendliness with negative experiences with foreigners rather than affirming the original point directly.  

🔹 Some replies digressed into personal disputes

There were exchanges where members argued with each other about who lives in Thailand, who has genuine experience, and whose perspective counts, rather than debating the friendliness of Thai people themselves.  

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📊 Summary of Attitude

• Critical / dismissive: Most of the responses focus on mocking or downplaying the post.  

• Acknowledge friendliness but less impressed: Some agree in principle but stress nuance or personal experience.  

• Personal pushback / arguments: Several comments are more about forum dynamics than about the theme of the post.  

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