Add 543. Do Not Step on the Note.
PromptPay Plus Cash
I've lived in Thailand for 20 years, and these are the facts I actually pass on to new teachers from our office in Ban Lum: the calendar on every school form, how to treat money, how people pay, and a few good stories to share with your classes.
01: Prathet Thai, Then and Now
A little history, and how people pay today.
"After 20 years here, the facts that matter to teachers aren't the quiz-night ones. Add 543 when you read a school form, pick up a dropped note with your hand, carry cash as well as PromptPay, and wai back. Bangkok's long name makes a great story for class, but everyone just says Krung Thep."Matthew John : Co-Founder & Operations Manager, KET
Prathet Thai 👑
Thailand, formerly Siam, is commonly taught as the only Southeast Asian country never colonised by a European power. King Mongkut (Rama IV) and King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) are usually credited with the diplomacy behind it. The Thai name, Prathet Thai (ประเทศไทย), is often translated as "Land of the Free".
PromptPay Plus Cash 📱
PromptPay QR payments are common in shops, cafés and many stalls. Small stalls, markets and village shops often still prefer cash, so carry both. PromptPay normally needs a Thai bank account; for your first weeks, see our TagThai Easy Pay guide.
Cars and EVs ⚡
Thailand has long been a major car-making country, and electric cars are increasingly common on the roads in Bangkok and bigger towns.
02: Bangkok Is Krung Thep
The famously long name, and what people actually say.
📜 Bangkok's Full Ceremonial Name
กรุงเทพมหานคร อมรรัตนโกสินทร์ มหินทรายุธยา มหาดิลกภพ นพรัตนราชธานีบูรีรมย์ อุดมราชนิเวศน์มหาสถาน อมรพิมานอวตารสถิต สักกะทัตติยวิษณุกรรมประสิทธิ์
"Krung Thep Maha Nakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Phiman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit"
Rough meaning: "City of angels, great city of immortals, magnificent city of the nine gems, seat of the king, city of royal palaces, home of gods incarnate, built by Vishvakarman at Indra's command." It's often listed as the world's longest place name. In everyday speech, Thais just say Krung Thep (กรุงเทพฯ).
Canals (Khlongs)
Bangkok grew up around waterways, which earned it the old nickname "Venice of the East". Express boats on the Chao Phraya River and the Khlong Saen Saep canal still carry commuters today.
Krung Thep Aphiwat
Bangkok's main rail hub, Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal, serves long-distance and commuter trains, and is planned as the hub for future high-speed rail.
03: Add 543: The Thai Calendar
You'll see it on every school form.
📅 BE 2569
Thailand uses the Buddhist Era (BE, พ.ศ.) calendar, counted from the Buddha's passing. Add 543 to the Western year: 2026 is BE 2569. You'll see BE years on school calendars, forms, receipts and food labels, so read expiry dates carefully.
Western year + 543 = BE year⚜️ Temples at the Heart of Town
Thailand has tens of thousands of temples (wat). They are community centres as well as places of worship, and many school ceremonies and festivals happen there. Bangkok's Wat Traimit houses a solid gold Buddha image, often described as the largest in the world, which lay hidden under plaster until it was rediscovered by accident.
Wat: temple and community centreWhat's My Thai Year?
Add 543 to your birth year. 2026 is BE 2569.
This year (2026) is BE 2569
Songkran in mid-April is the traditional Thai New Year. The calendar year on forms runs January to December; just add 543.
04: Customs You'll Meet at School
Small things people notice.
Don't Step on Money
Thai banknotes and coins carry the King's image, and feet are seen as the lowest part of the body. If a note blows away or a coin rolls, don't stop it with your foot. Pick it up by hand.
Nicknames (Chue Len)
Most Thais have a short nickname (chue len, ชื่อเล่น) from childhood, like Nok (bird), Pla (fish), Bank or Apple. Students and colleagues use them every day, so ask what people like to be called.
The National Anthem
The national anthem plays at 8:00 and 18:00 in many public places, such as stations and parks, and people stop and stand still until it ends. At many schools it's part of morning assembly.
The Wai
Palms together with a small bow. Return a wai from colleagues and elders; your students will wai you. Our Wai guide explains how high to hold your hands.
🛠️ How to Handle Everyday Thai Customs as a Teacher
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Wai Back and Mind Heads and Feet
Return a wai when someone wais you, don't touch anyone's head, and don't point your feet at people or at Buddha images.
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Treat Notes and Coins with Respect
Thai banknotes and coins carry the King's image. If money drops or rolls away, pick it up by hand; never stop it with your foot.
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Add 543 to Read Thai Dates
Add 543 to the Western year to read dates on school papers, receipts and food labels. 2026 is BE 2569.
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Carry PromptPay and Cash
PromptPay QR payments are common, but carry some cash for small stalls, markets and village shops.
05: Monkeys, Red Bull and a Tiny Bat
Good stories for class. For the festivals that change your school week, see our festivals guide.
Lopburi Monkey Buffet
Every year in late November, people in Lopburi lay out tables of fruit and vegetables for the town's macaques around the San Phra Kan shrine.
Red Bull Started as Krating Daeng
Chaleo Yoovidhya created Krating Daeng (red gaur) in Thailand in the 1970s. Austrian businessman Dietrich Mateschitz later partnered with him and adapted it into Red Bull. The original is still sold in Thai shops.
Kitti's Hog-Nosed Bat
Often called the bumblebee bat, it's one of the world's smallest mammals: about 2 grams. It lives in limestone caves in western Thailand, including Kanchanaburi province.
06: Thai Food and Markets
Salty, sweet, sour and spicy, in every school town.
Regional Dishes
Northern khao soi (curry noodle soup), pad thai, som tam (green papaya salad) and tom yum all balance fresh herbs, lime and chilli. More in our Thai food guide.
Sweet, sour, salty, spicyMorning Markets
Markets cook food fresh to order: soups, grilled skewers and fruit. Stalls with a steady local crowd are usually a safe bet for a good, cheap meal, and many take PromptPay as well as cash.
Follow the local crowd
Thailand Facts Questions
How do I convert my birth year to the Thai calendar?
Add 543 to your birth year. Someone born in 1990 was born in BE 2533. You can use the calculator on this page.
Was Thailand ever colonised?
Thailand, formerly Siam, is commonly taught as the only country in Southeast Asia never colonised by a European power. Its Thai name, Prathet Thai, is often translated as "Land of the Free".
Why is the Thai calendar 543 years ahead of the Western year?
Thailand uses the Buddhist Era (BE) calendar, counted from the Buddha's passing, which is dated 543 years before the start of the Western calendar. Add 543 to 2026 and you get BE 2569.
What is Bangkok's full name?
Its full ceremonial name is Krung Thep Maha Nakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Phiman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit. In everyday speech, Thais just say Krung Thep.
Did Red Bull start in Thailand?
Yes. Chaleo Yoovidhya created Krating Daeng (red gaur) in Thailand in the 1970s. Austrian businessman Dietrich Mateschitz later partnered with him and adapted it into Red Bull. You'll still find Krating Daeng in Thai shops.
Why shouldn't I step on Thai money?
Thai banknotes and coins carry the King's image, and the feet are seen as the lowest part of the body. Stopping a dropped note or a rolling coin with your foot is seen as very disrespectful, so pick it up by hand.
Do I still need cash in Thailand?
Yes, some. PromptPay QR payments are common in shops and many stalls, but small stalls, markets and village shops often prefer cash. PromptPay normally needs a Thai bank account; our TagThai Easy Pay guide covers an option for your first weeks.
What is the bumblebee bat?
Kitti's hog-nosed bat, often called the bumblebee bat, is one of the world's smallest mammals. It weighs about 2 grams and lives in limestone caves in western Thailand, including Kanchanaburi province.
Matthew John
Co-Founder & Operations ManagerI'm Matthew, co-founder of Kids English Thailand. I've lived in Thailand for 20 years and work from our office in Ban Lum, Sukhothai. Since 2009 we have placed over 1,500 teachers in Thai schools, and I still learn something new about Thailand most weeks.
