Did You Know

Interesting Facts about Thailand

Trivia, oddities, and curious tidbits about Thailand.

Speed

Did You Know?

24 curious facts about Thailand.

When a child loses a tooth their sisters and brothers tell them to throw their lower teeth on the roof and put ther upper teeth under the bed or on the ground.
The lotus is a Buddhist symbol of goodness, purity and intelligence. It grows in swamps with its roots in the mud, but its beautiful flower faces the sun. Buddhists believe the lotus is like a person who tries to be good in the midst of evil and suffering.
The Mekong River, which flows between Thailand and Laos in the northeast, is home to the giant catfish pla buek. The pla buek is said to be the largest freshwater fish in the world, measuring up to 3 metres in length and weighing about 300 kg.
During the Second World War, Japan forced 200,000 Asian labourers and prisoners of war to build a bridge over the River Kwai to ensure a supply route to Burma. They worked under inhumane conditions on almost impassable ground. By the time the bridge was finished, more than 100,000 workers had died. The route was called the “Death Railway.”

Traditional Thai dress for both men and women is an ankle-length piece of cloth wrapped around the waist, which is called a sarong in the south, phasin in the north and phathung in central Thailand. This dress is still worn in rural areas.
Semi-nomadic chao khao (mountain people) live in the mountainous regions of the north. They include Hmong, Lahu, Karen, Akha, Mien and about a dozen other distinct cultural groups. The hill tribes maintain their own culture, customs, laws and beliefs.
In the 1980s, Thailand became an important diamond-cutting centre. Today, precious stones from all over the world are cut and polished in Thailand.
Before the 20th century, rivers and canals were the roads of Thailand. Although some canals have been filled in, many still serve as thoroughfares. Vendors hawk their goods at floating markets; parents take their children to school in motorboats, and monks paddle from door to door to receive their daily alms.
Thai athletes won a gold medal in boxing and two bronze medals in weightlifting atthe 2000 Sydney Olympics.
When a Thai is hospitalized, family members or friends stay with the patient. Rooms in private hospitals usually provide sleeping space for at least one companion for each patient.