17 Unusual Facts About Thailand and Bangkok

Thailand has long been one of the top destinations to visit in Asia. The Kingdom of Siam amazes with its numerous Buddhist temples, exotic wildlife, paradise islands, and floating markets. In addition to its unique history and culture, the country attracts millions of tourists every year with its mild climate and warm seas.

More and more people want to learn various unusual, amusing, and unique facts about Thailand—everything that will help them better understand this exotic country.

Thais: Interesting Facts About the People

1. The friendliness and hospitality of the Thai people have earned Thailand the reputation of the “Land of Smiles.” According to the World Economic Forum, Thailand ranks 13th among the friendliest countries (Iceland ranks first).
2. In Thailand, it is important to show respect for another person’s head. Thai culture forbids touching anyone’s head (even a child’s).
3. The monarchy in Thailand is sacred, and the king is revered by the locals. Insulting the “image of the king” is unacceptable. You can be imprisoned for stepping on money with the king’s image or putting it in the back pocket of your pants.
4. Leaving the house without underwear is punishable by up to a year in prison.

Fascinating Facts About Thailand’s Flora and Fauna

1. Thailand has more bird species than Europe and America combined! It is home to not only one-tenth of the world’s animal species but also the smallest mammal, the largest fish, and the largest living lizard on earth.
2. The world’s longest snake, the reticulated python, lives in Thailand. It can grow up to 10 meters long. The country is also home to the world’s longest venomous snake, the king cobra.
3. The Kingdom of Siam is the birthplace of Siamese cats. In the 14th century, there were 23 varieties of these animals, but now only six remain. A pair of Siamese kittens is still given to a bride on her wedding day.
4. The remarkable mudskipper fish, which can walk on land and climb trees using its fins, is found only in Thailand. It absorbs oxygen through its skin.
5. The orchid is Thailand’s national flower. There are over 1,500 species of this plant in the wild within the kingdom. No other tropical country in the world has such diversity.

Religion: Astonishing Facts

1. 95% of Thailand’s population practices Buddhism.
2. All young men who reach the age of 20 are expected to spend some time as monks. Their monastic term can be short or lifelong.
3. The tallest statue of Buddha, the Great Thai Buddha, stands 92 meters tall in Ang Thong Province.
4. The most expensive Buddha statue in the world is in the Wat Traimit Withayaram temple in Bangkok. The 700-year-old statue, standing 4 meters tall, is made of 5.5 tons of pure gold.

Interesting Information About the Capital City – Bangkok

1. The full national name of Thailand’s capital is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the longest city name in the world, consisting of 168 characters.
2. Bangkok is the most visited city in the world, surpassing London and Paris in tourist numbers. In 2019, it was visited by over 3 million tourists.
3. The capital of Thailand is the hottest city in the world. Even in winter, temperatures don’t drop below 30°C, with an average annual temperature of 28°C.

And the most surprising fact: the famous energy drink Red Bull was created in Thailand as far back as the 12th century. It was called Krating Daeng, which means “Red Bull,” and was three times stronger than the modern energy drink.

Thailand is so unique that it’s hard to stop at just 17 interesting facts about the country! Every tourist leaves the kingdom with an understanding of how special it is. And many return to learn even more about the place they fell in love with.

We hope you will be among them.