Things not to allow in Thailand (based on laws and culture)

Things in Thailand seem to be very flexible to do comparing with other countries in the world. However, some actions are not allowed to be done here based on laws and culture. I will refer topic to the tourism.

E-Cigarette: you might often see people using e-cigarettes even in visible areas. But they are doing it against the law. Actually, In Thailand, e-cigarettes is still not allowed. There is text mentioning the penalty for using them.

But there is just a low description about penalties for  E-Cigarette belonging/carrying like you carry things that are imported into the country without zoll/tax. banned. If any police are interested while you are using it and walking toward you at that moment.

You can assume to prepare money for a penalty in the amount of 4 times the cost of your E-cigarette.

Fortunately, weed is allowed to be used in Thailand. But please do not in these areas for instance

• in the hotel lobby (depending on each hotel, mostly not allowed),
• in a hotel room, the hotel room is your private area but most hotels do not allow guests to smoke in the room.

The penalty for smoking in the hotel areas will depend on each hotel. I myself have experienced this once. As I ignored the sign “Do not smoke here “ in the hotel room I stayed.

The next day I went to check out at the reception and the maid informed the reception that it smelled like a cigarette in the room. The hotel won’t let me go unless I have to pay for 500 Bath 😊.

• On the beach, smoking in the beach is also not clear if it is against low or not. You won’t have any problem unless somebody who hates cigarettes calls the guard or the police. If this situation is happening to you, just prepare money of 5000 bath.

• Smoke weed in public areas: in Thailand, now weed is no longer illegal to use. But in specific places, not in the public areas where it disturbs people like a normal cigarette. Weed smells much more strong than cigarettes and will make more possibility that people nearby will be disturbed.

It will ok to do that at your private pool in the villa but not on the beach where people walk by. This culture is very sensitive in Thailand. For me is ok hahaha but for many other people is not. Furthermore, there are laws covering this. So, this action is against both Thai culture and laws.

Interestingly, there are many taxis or cars that do a nice job of transferring tourists here. But in Thailand. Cars or taxis need to own a license to do that.

Since owning a license costs a lot of money, there are many people who use their cars without paying a fee to the government, and just that the police will not see them while working.

If you are in that illegal taxi and are caught by the police. Nothing you are responsible for, you just lose time being investigated, for instance, how you found that taxi, how much you paid and to find a new registered taxi.

This is the same melody as the article above. The reason why people who want to be tour guides won’t get their guide license is not because of fees like taxis but because of personal qualifications.

To own a guide license you have to spend much time and skill (Knowledge, language) taking courses. The big problem is you have to be a Thai national. In Thailand, many foreign tour guides are doing illegal jobs every day. Of course, they cannot get the license because they are not Thai.

The Tour guide job is conserved for Thai people. Because to transfer knowledge about Thailand to tourists should be done by Thai people, not by foreigners. So that the tourist will get the real info from real locals.

Now what happens if you join an illegal excursion and it is caught by a police? Of course, the tour will end and I am pretty sure I will not receive money back since the organization is illegal.

Interestingly many tourists even locals drive motorbikes without helm. They are being against the law. You must take the helm every time not for the police but please for yourself. If police catch you because of no helm they will check for driving as well and more. You will spend much time at the police control waiting for the bill.

In Abroad (or in your home country), you might be familiar with crossing on a zebra without paying much attention. But once you arrive in Thailand, you should forget that familiar immediately.

Here the zebra street will work just 5% or less. That is why at the front of hotels there usually is a guard to help guests cross the street even though there is a zebra street there as well.

Etc. will be updated soon

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