Historical Background  There are conflicting opinions as to the origins of the Thais. Three decades ago it could be said with presumed certainty that the Thais originated in Northwestern Szechuan in China about 4,500 years ago and later migrated down to their present homeland. However, this theory has been altered by the discovery of remarkable prehistoric artifacts in the village of Ban Chiang in the Nong Han District of Udon Thani Province in the Northeast. These include evidence of bronze metallurgy going back 3,500 years, as well as other indications of a far more sophisticated culture than any previously suspected by archaeologists. It now appears that the a Thais might have originated here in Thailand and later scattered to various parts of Asia, including some parts of China.           Siam is the name by which the country was known to the world until 1939 and again between 1945 and 1949. On May 11, 1949, an official proclamation changed the name of the country to "Prathet Thai", or "Thailand", by which it has since been known. The word "Thai" means "free", and therefore "Thailand" means "Land of the Free."

Religion & Culture

The Culture of Thailand is heavily influenced by Buddhism. Other influences have included Hinduism, conflict and trade with Southeast Asian neighbors such as Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar, and repeated influxes of Chinese immigrants.

Main article: Thai art

Thai visual art was traditionally primarily Buddhist. Thai Buddha images from different periods have a number of distinctive styles. Contemporary Thai art often combines traditional Thai elements with modern techniques.

Literature in Thailand is heavily influenced by Indian culture. The most notable works of Thai literature are a version of the Ramayana called the Ramakien, written in part by Kings Rama I and Rama II, and the poetry of Sunthorn Phu.

There is no tradition of spoken drama in Thailand, the role instead being filled by Thai dance. This is divided into three categories- khon, lakhon and likay- khon being the most elaborate and likay the most populist. Nang drama, a form of shadow play, is found in the south.

The music of Thailand includes classical and folk music traditions as well as string or pop music.

Religion

          Thailand is nearly 95% Theravada Buddhist, with minorities of Muslims (4.6%), Christians (0.7%), Mahayana Buddhists, and other religions.[1] Thai Theravada Buddhism supported and overseen by the government, with monks receiving a number of government benefits, such as free use of the public transportation infrastructure. The Thai Sangha is divided into two main orders, the Thammayut Nikaya and the Maha Nikaya, and headed by the Supreme Patriarch of Thailand, currently Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara Suvaddhana Mahathera. A recent reformist group, Santi Asoke, is forbidden to describe itself as Buddhist. Buddhism in Thailand is strongly influenced by traditional beliefs regarding ancestral and natural spirits, which have been incorporated into Buddhist cosmology.

Prior to the rise of Theravada Buddhism, both Indian Brahmanic religion and Mahayana Buddhism were present in Thailand. Influences from both these traditions can still be seen in the present day. Brahmanist shrines play an important role in Thai folk religion, and the Mahayana Buddhist influence is reflected in the presence of figures like Lokesvara, a form of the bodhisattva Avalokitesvara sometimes incorporated into Thailand's iconography.

Cuisine
Main article: Cuisine of Thailand
Thai cuisine is famous for the blending of four fundamental tastes: sweet (sugar, fruits, sweet peppers)spicy hot (chilies) sour (vinegar, lime juice, tamarind) salty (soy sauce, fish sauce)

Most of the dishes in Thai cuisine try to combine most, if not all, of these tastes. It is accomplished by using a host of herbs, spices and fruit, including: chili, cumin, garlic, ginger, basil, sweet basil, lime, lemongrass, coriander, pepper, turmeric, and shallots.

Sport
          The most popular team sport in Thailand is football now the professional leagues Thai League and Pro League in Thailand are in their infancy. The English and Premiership have large followings. Muay Thai (Thai boxing) is probably the most popular spectator sport in Thailand. The other main indigenous sport is takraw, which is similar to volleyball, but played with the feet and a light rattan ball. There are several versions of the game with differing rules.

There is a Swan Boat circuit where the villages field teams compete. The International invitational race is usually in November.

Egg rolling once enjoyed national-pastime status, but famine and egg shortages around the middle of the last century caused it to retreat to rural villages, where it is still practised with traditional vigour.

Customs
          One of the most distinctive Thai customs is the wai, which is similar to the Indian namaste gesture. Showing greeting, farewell, or acknowledgment, it comes in several forms reflecting the relative status of those involved, but generally it involves a prayer-like gesture with the hands and a bow of the head.

Physical demonstrations of affection in public are common between friends, but less so between lovers. It is thus common to see friends walking together holding hands, but couples rarely do so except in westernized areas.

A notable social norm holds that touching someone on the head may be considered rude. It is also considered rude to place one's feet at a level above someone else's head, especially if that person is of higher social standing. This is because the Thai people consider the foot to be the dirtiest and lowest part of the body, and the head the most respected and highest part of the body. This also influences how Thais sit when on the ground -- their feet always pointing away from others, tucked to the side or behind them. Pointing at or touching something with the feet is also considered rude.

It is also considered extremely rude to step on a Thai coin, because the king's head appears on the coin. When sitting in a temple, one is expected to point one's feet away from images of the Buddha. Shrines inside Thai residences are arranged so as to ensure that the feet are not pointed towards the religious icons -- such as placing the shrine on the same wall as the head of a bed, if a house is too small to remove the shrine from the bedroom entirely.

It is also customary to remove one's footwear before entering a home or a temple, and not to step on the threshold.

There are a number of Thai customs relating to the special status of monks in Thai society. Because of their religious discipline, Thai monks are forbidden physical contact with women. Women are therefore expected to make way for passing monks to ensure that accidental contact does not occur. A variety of methods are employed to ensure that no incidental contact (or the appearance of such contact) between women and monks occurs. Women making offerings to monks place their donation at the feet of the monk, or on a cloth laid on the ground or a table. Powders or ungents intended to carry a blessing are applied to Thai women by monks using the end of a candle or stick. Lay people are expected to sit or stand with their heads at a lower level than that of a monk. Within a temple, monks may sit on a raised platform during ceremonies to make this easier to achieve.

Marriage
          Thai marriage ceremonies are generally divided into two sections: a Buddhist component, which includes the recitation of prayers and the offering of food and other gifts to monks and images of the Buddha, and a non-Buddhist component rooted in folk traditions, which centers on the couple's family.

In former times, it was unknown for Buddhist monks to be present at any stage of the marriage ceremony itself. As monks were required to attend to the dead during funerals, their presence at a marriage (which was associated with fertility, and intended to produce children) was considered a bad omen. A couple would seek a blessing from their local temple before or after being married, and might consult a monk for astrological advice in setting an auspicious date for the wedding. The non-Buddhist portions of the wedding would take place away from the temple, and would often take place on a separate day.

In modern times, these prohibitions have been significantly relaxed. It is not uncommon for a visit to a temple to be made on the same day as the non-Buddhist portions of a wedding, or even for the wedding to take place within the temple. While a division is still commonly observed between the "religious" and "secular" portions of a wedding service, it may be as simple as the monks present for the Buddhist ceremony departing to take lunch once their role is complete.

During the Buddhist component of the wedding service, the couple first bow before the image of the Buddha. They then recite certain basic Buddhist prayers or chants (typically including taking the Three Refuges and the Five Precepts), and light incense and candles before the image. The parents of the couple may then be called upon to 'connect' them, by placing upon the heads of the bride and groom twin loops of string or thread that link the couple together. The couple may then make offerings of food, flowers, and medicine to the monks present. Cash gifts (usually placed in an envelope) may also be presented to the temple at this time.

The monks may then unwind a small length of thread that is held between the hands of the assembled monks. They begin a series of recitations of Pali scriptures intended to bring merit and blessings to the new couple. The string terminates with the lead monk, who may connect it to a container of water that will be 'sanctified' for the ceremony. Merit is said to travel through the string and be conveyed to the water; a similar arrangement is used to transfer merit to the dead at a funeral, further evidence of the weakening of the taboo on mixing funerary imagery and trappings with marriage ceremonies. Blessed water may be mixed with wax drippings from a candle lit before the Buddha image and other ungents and herbs to create a 'paste' that is then applied to the foreheads of the bride and groom to create a small 'dot', similar to the marking sometimes made with red ochre on Hindu devotees. The bride's mark is created with the butt end of the candle rather than the monk's thumb, in keeping with the Vinaya prohibition against touching women.

The highest-ranking monk present may elect to say a few words to the couple, offering advice or encouragement. The couple may then make offerings of food to the monks, at which point the Buddhist portion of the ceremony is concluded.

The Thai dowry system is known as the 'Sin Sodt'. Traditionally, the groom will be expected to pay a sum of money to the family, to compensate them and to demonstrate that the groom is financially capable of taking care of their daughter. Sometimes, this sum is purely symbolic, and will be returned to the bride and groom after the wedding has taken place.

Funerals
          Traditionally funerals last for a week. Crying is discouraged during the funeral, so as not to worry the spirit of the deceased. Many activities surrounding the funeral are intended to make merit for the deceased. Copies of Buddhist scriptures may be printed and distributed in the name of the deceased, and gifts are usually given to a local temple. Monks are invited to chant prayers that are intended to provide merit for the deceased, as well as to provide protection against the possibility of the dead relative returning as a malicious spirit. Often, a thread is connected to the corpse or coffin which is held by the chanting monks during their recitation; this thread is intended to transfer the merit of the monks' recitation to the deceased. The corpse is cremated, and the urn with the ash is usually kept in a chedi in the local temple. The Chinese minority however buries the deceased.

          Thai universally choose a short nickname that they use with friends and family. Often first given by friends or an older family member, these nicknames are typically one syllable (or worn down from two syllables to one). They may often be nonsense words or humorous; furthermore, they quite frequently have no relation to the Thai’s full name. Official Thai names are often long, particularly among Thais of Chinese descent, whose lengthy names stem from an attempt to translate Chinese names into Thai equivalents.

Communication
There are over 100 radio stations in Bangkok. All are state-owned but private companies are given air time concessions for their programmes. Broadcasting is done in both Thai and English, with news broadcasting every hour. There are over 20 Thai morning dailies in Bangkok. Some of the leading Thai papers include Thai Rath, Daily News, Siam Rath, Matichon, Naew Na, Siam Post, Ban Muang, Krung Thep Turakij, Wattachak and the Manager. Two major English-language dailies are the Bangkok Post and The Nation. There are numerous English-language magazines and local publications in Japanese, Chinese and other European languages. Many major international newspapers, magazines and books are also widely available.

Threr are 6 general television stations, Channels 3, 5, 7, 9 ,NBT and Thai TBS broadcast local variety shows, newscasts and live coverage of special events. Cable TV is also available by subscription.

There are over 100 radio stations in Bangkok. All are state-owned but private companies are given air time concessions for their programmes. Broadcasting is done in both Thai and English, with news broadcasting every hour.

Thailand's freedom of the press is considered the strongest in Southeast Asia as evidenced by hundreds of Thai-language publications on virtually every subject.

Visa

GENERAL REQUIREMENT :-
The following must be submitted:

1. Current passport valid for travel to Thailand with validity not less than 6 months.
2. One completed and signed application form.
3. Two passport-size photographs (2"x2") (Photostat or Photocopy do not accepted). Photographs must have a light color background with a full- face view of the person without wearing a hat or dark glasses. Photos must be taken within 6 months.
4. If submitting application in person, processing fees are payable only in cash or money order. If application is submitted by mail, please pay by money order only.
   Processing fees:
   Non-immigrant visa.....US $50.00 per entry and US $125 per multiple entries. (require invitation letter from Thailand) Purpose of visit: BUSINESS, CONFERENCE, RESEARCH, TEACHING, EDUCATION, MASS MEDIA, MISSIONARY, FAMILY REUNION, MEDICAL TREATMENT (please, see visa types & purpose visit), RETIREMENT (please, see retirements for person 50 years or over)
   (Maximum stay 90 days, extension of stay may be applied in Thailand.) Tourist visa.................. US $25.00 per entry for pleasure purpose only. (require copy airline ticket or itenery)
   (Maximum stay 60 day, extension of stay may be applied in Thailand.) Transit visa................... US $20.00 per entry. Purpose of visit: TRANSIT (require copy airline ticket or itenery), SPORTS or CREW (require business letter and invitation from Thailand)
   (Maximum stay 30 days, extension of stay may be applied in Thailand.)
5. When submitting application by mail, a self-addressed envelope size 6"x9" or large enough to fit all passports with sufficient postage stamps is required. Metered stamps will not be accepted. Please also include a 41-cent stamp for the cost of previously mailed application form to applicant. Applicant may have their visa mailed by choosing one of the following options:
   • $16.25 in postage for a next-day express mail (and additional 41-cent stamp for the cost of previously mailed form). Please include self address mailing label if possible.
   • $3.40 in postage, depending on weight, for certified mail (and an additional 17-cent stamp)
   • Federal Express, UPS or DHL with account number (do not accept credit card)
   
   Important notice:
   • Applications are usually processed within 48 hours if submitted in person. Applying by mail will take approximately 10 business days plus mailing time.
   • Applicant who is a holder of a reentry permit or those who hold passport from Bangladesh, the People's Republic of China, Cambodia, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, the Middle East countries and the Socialist countries need to submit additional requirements. (please, see list of countries for additional requirements)
   • Visa must be activated or used within three months from the date of issuance.
   • Nationals of certain countries are required to apply for a visa only at the Thai Embassy or Consulate-General in their home / residence country or at the designated Thai Embassy. Therefore, travellers are advised to contact the nearest Thai Embassy or Consulate-General to find out where they may apply for a visa to Thailand before departure.  Information on location and contact number of Thai Embassies and Consulates-General is available at http://www.mfa.go.th/web/10.php
   • Please note that the period of visa validity is different from the period of stay.  The visa validity is a period during which a visa can be used to enter Thailand. Generally, the validity of a visa is 3 months, but in some cases, we also issue visas valid for 6 months or 1 year. The validity of a visa is granted by the Embassy or Consulate-General and shown in the visa. The period of stay depends on the type of visa and is granted by an immigration officer upon arrival at the port of entry.  For example, the period of stay for a transit visa does not exceed 30 days, for a tourist visa does not exceed 60 days and for a non-immigrant visa does not exceed 90 days for the arrival date.  Travellers who wish to stay longer than such period may apply for extension of stay at Offices of the Immigration Bureau in Bangkok, located in Soi Suan Plu, South Sathorn Road, Bangkok 10120, Tel. 02-2873101-10 or at an Immigration office in the provinces.  For information on application for extension of stay, please see the website of the Immigration Bureau at http://www.immigration.go.th

Royal Thai Embassy Visa Section, Suite 101 1024 Wisconsin Ave. N.W. Washington, D.C. 20007 Tel. (202) 298-4815, 4817 Fax. (202) 944-3641 e-mail: visa@thaiembdc.org

Office Hours Monday-Friday 9.00 a.m. -1.00 p.m. and 2.30-4.00 p.m. (Walk-in Services : 9.00 a.m. - 1.00 p.m. only) U.S. Eastern Standard Time Closed on Thai and U.S. Official Holidays

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ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS :- Holders of re-entry permit or nation passport from Bangladesh, the People's Republic of China, Cambodia, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, the Middle East countries, and the Socialist countries are required to submit the followings:

1. Current passport or re-entry permit valid for travel to Thailand with validity not less than 6 months.
2. One completed and signed application forms
3. Passport-size photographs. (Phographs must have a light color background with a full-face view without wearing a hat or dark glasses and taken within 6 months.)
   1. 3 photographs for re-entry permit holder
   2. 5 photographs for the holder passport of Cambodia, China and Vietnam
4. If submitting applications in person, fees are payable in cash or money order. If submitting application by mail, fees are payable in money order to the Royal Thai Embassy only.
5. Employment verification or a guarantor's letter from a U.S. resident
6. Proof of confirmed round-trip ticket and itenary
7. Proof of permanent resident alien card
8. Proof of Financial, such as a bank statement showing personal savings or checkings account
9. A personal bio-data of applicant(s) since leaving country of birth or refugee camp. (For the person who is former nationality from Lao, Vietnam, Cambodia only)
10. Confirmed reservation a place or hotel to stay in Thailand. (name and address)
11. Reference person and address in Thailand
12. Reference person and address the next country after Thailand or your native country  

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VISA TYPES AND PURPOSE OF VISIT - NON-IMMIGRANT VISA
(May required the approval from the Ministry Concerns from Thailand in case by case and required invitation letter from Thailand) Purpose of visit: BUSINESS and CONFERENCE (requiring the business letter with letter-head explains purpose of visit, also included name of company, organization or mission and address in Thailand), RESEARCH, TEACHING, MASS MEDIA or MISSIONARY (requiring the letter with letter-head from company, agency or organization sending you on your mission, and also the letter from your counterpart in Thailand). TEACHING AND EDUCATION (requiring the letter with the letter-head from educational institution in Thailand). FAMILY REUNION (requiring marriage or birth certificates). SETTLEMENT AFTER RETIREMENT (requiring proof of retirement and financial support). MEDICAL TREATMENT (requiring letter from licensed doctor). (Maximum stay 90 days, extension of stay may be applied in Thailand.)

TOURIST VISA
Purpose of visit: for pleasure purpose only (requiring copy of airtime ticket or itenery).
(Maximum stay 60 day, extension of stay may be applied in Thailand.) TRANSIT VISA Purpose of visit: TRANSIT (requiring proof of confirmed onward ticket to a Third country). SPORTS or CREW (requiring letter from organization concerned and invitation letter from Thailand). (Maximum stay 30 days, extension of stay may be applied in Thailand.)

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FEES :-

• Non-immigrant visa US $50.00 per entry and US $125.00 per multiple entries. (for Investment & former Thai citizen)
• Tourist visa US $25.00 per entry
• Transit visa US $20.00 per entry
  When submitting application by mail, please include a self addressed envelope size 6"x9" or large enough to fit all passport(s) with sufficient postage stamps and choose one of the following options:
  1. Include $16.25 in postage for a next-day express mail (and additional 41-cent stamp for the cost of previously mailed form). Include self-addressed mailing label if possible
  2. Include at least $3.40 in postage for certified mail, depending on weight, (and additional 17- cent stamp) ** Metered stamps will not be accepted**
  3. Federal Express, UPS or DHL with account number (do not accept credit card)

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PROCESSING TIME :-

• Applications are usually processed within 2 days if submitted in person. 
• Applying by mail will take approximately 10 business days plus mailing time.

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HEALTH REQUIREMENTS :- No inoculations or vaccinations are required unless applicants have been to an infected area. At present, Thailand requires a YELLOW FEVER CERTIFICATE from persons who have been to or have come from the following countries as from February 1991:-

ANGOLA BENIN BOLIVIA BRAZIL BURKINA FASO BURUNDI CAMEROON CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC CHAD COLOMBIA CONGO, Rep. of CONGO, Democratic of COTE D' IVOIRE EQUATORIAL GUINEA

ECUADOR ETHIOPIA FRENCH GUIANA GABON GAMBIA GHANA GUINEA GUINEA-BISSAU GUYANA KENYA LIBERIA MALI MAURITANIA NIGER NIGERIA

PANAMA PERU RWANDA SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE SENEGAL SIERRA LEONE SOMALIA SUDAN SURINAME TANZANIA, UNITED Rep. of TOGO UGANDA VENEZUELA

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LIST OF COUNTRIES FOR ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS :-

BANGLADESH CHINA, People's Republic CAMBODIA INDIA LAOS MYANMAR NEPAL

NIGERIA PAKISTAN SRI LANKA VIETNAM MIDDLE EAST COUNTRIES SOCIALIST COUNTRIES

* ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

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VALIDITY OF VISA :- Visa has a 3-month validity and , as a result, must be utilized within 3 months as from the date of issue (more than 3-month up to 1-year validity of visa may be granted on a case-by-case basis if more than one or multiple entry visa is issued.)

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LIST OF COUNTRIES EXEMPTED FROM VISA FEES (Based on Existing Agreements) :-

PHILIPPINES, Republic of (Maximum stay of 59 days) KOREA, Republic of

MALAYSIA SINGAPORE TUNISIA

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LIST OF COUNTRIES NOT REQUIRING VISA :-

1. Nationals of the following countries may enter Thailand without a visa in accordance with the Inter-Governmental Agreements for a maximum stay of 30 and 90 days for purposed of Tourism and Temporary Business only :-

30 Days 1. LAOS 2. VIETNAM 3. HONG KONG, SAR 4. MACAU, SAR

90 Days 1. ARGENTINA 2. BRAZIL 3. CHILE 4. KOREA, Republic of 5. PERU

2. Nationals of the following countries may enter Thailand without a visa in accordance with Ministry of Interior's regulation for a maximum stay of 30 days for purpose of Tourism only:-

AUSTRALIA AUSTRIA BAHRAIN BELGIUM BRAZIL BRUNEI CANADA DENMARK FINLAND FRANCE GERMANY GREECE (Helenic Republic) HONG KONG INDONESIA ICELAND

IRELAND ISRAEL ITALY JAPAN KOREA, Rep. of KUWAIT LUXEMBOURG MALAYSIA NETHERLANDS NEW ZEALAND NORWAY OMAN PERU PHILIPPINES PORTUGAL

QATAR SINGAPORE SOUTH AFRICA SPAIN SWEDEN SWITZERLAND TURKEY UNITED ARAB EMIRATES UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND UNITED STATES OF AMERICA VIETNAM

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LIST OF NATIONALITIES ARE PERMITTED TO OBTAIN TOURIST VISA ON THEIR ARRIVAL AT THE IMMIGRATION CHECKPOINTS IN THAILAND AND ONCE THEY WERE GRANTED WITH TOURIST VISA THEY WILL BE ADMITTED INTO THE KINGDOM AND CAN STAY FOR 15 DAYS :-
 

BHUTAN CHINA, PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC and TAIWAN CZECH REPUBLIC CYPRUS

HUNGARY, Rep. of INDIA KAZAKHSTAN, Rep. of MALDIVES MAURITIUS

OMAN RUSSIA SAUDI ARABIA POLAND, Rep. of UKRAINE

Immigration checkpoints in Thailand

1. Bangkok Don Maung International Airport, Bangkok
2. Chiang Mai International Airport, Chiangmai
3. Phuket International Airport, Phuket
4. Hat Yai International Airport, Songkla
5. U-tapao Airport, Rayong
6. Mae Sai Immigration Checkpoint, Chiengrai
7. Chieng Saen Immigration Checkpoint, Chiengrai
8. Chieng Khong Immigration Checkpoint, Chiengrai
9. Betong Immigration Checkpoint, Yala
10. Sadoa Immigration Checkpoint, Songkla
11. Samui Immigration Checkpoint, Sumui Airport, Surat Thani
12. Sukothai International Airport, Tak
13. Bangkok Harbour Immigration Checkpoint, Bangkok
14. Si Racha Immigration Checkpoint, Chonburi
15. Mabtaput Immigration Checkpoint, Rayong
16. Nong Khai Immigration Checkpoint, Nong Khai
17. Samui Immigration Checkpoint, Torn Harbour Dock Yatch, Surat Thani
18. Phuket Immigration Checkpoint, Phuket
19. Satun Immigration Checkpoint, Satun
20. Krabi Immigration Checkpoint, Krabi
21. Songkhla Harbour Immigration Checkpoint, Songkhla
22. Chiang Rai Airport, Immigration Checkpoint, Chiang Rai Surat Thani Airport, Immigration Checkpoint, Surat Thani

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IMPORTANT NOTICE AND ADDRESSES :-

• Visa has a 3 month validity and, as a result, must be utilized within 3 months as from the date of issue (more than 3 month up to 1 year validity of visa may be granted on a case by case basis, if more than one or multiple entries visa is issued.)
  • Applicants residing in CA, AK, AZ, ID, NV, OR, UT and WA should send their application forms to the Royal Thai Consulate-General, Los Angeles or the Royal Thai Consulate-General atOregon
  • Applicants residing in CT, MA, ME, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI and VT should send their application forms to the Royal Thai Consulate-General, New York or the Royal Thai Consulate-General at Massachusetts
  • Applicants residing in IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, MI, MN, MO, ND, NE, SD and WI should send their applications forms to the Royal Thai Consulate-General, Chicago or the Royal Thai Consulate-General at Missouri
  • In addition to applying at above addresses, applicants who are not holders of Re- Entry Permit or from People's Republic of China, the Middle East countries and the socialist countries can also obtain their visas at the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Missouri, Oklahoma, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Texas (Dallas), Texas (El Paso), Texas (Houston)and Dominican Republic

• Applicants not residing in the states mentioned above can apply at the Consular Office, Royal Thai Embassy in Washington, D.C.
• For tourist information, please contact the Tourism Authority of Thailand in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles.

Economy
 The economy of Thailand is export-dependent, with exports accounting for 60% of GDP. The exchange rate has reached 37.00/usd (GDP $7.3 trln baht) as of October 26, 2006, for a nominal GDP at market rates of approximately US$ 200 bln. This keeps Thailand as the 2nd largest economy in Southeast Asia, after Indonesia, a position it has held for many years. Thailand's recovery from the 1997-98 Asian financial crisis relied on exports, largely on external demand from the United States and other foreign markets. The Thaksin government took office in February 2001 with the intention of stimulating domestic demand and reducing Thailand's reliance on foreign trade and investment. Since then, the Thaksin administration has refined its economic message, embracing a "dual track" economic policy that combines domestic stimulus with Thailand's traditional promotion of open markets and foreign investment. This set of policies are popularly known as Thaksinomics. Weak export demand held 2001 GDP growth to 1.9%. In 2002-3, however, domestic stimulus and export revival fuelled a better performance, with real GDP growth at 5.3% and 6.3% respectively.

Macro-economic trend
This is a chart of trend of gross domestic product of Thailand at market prices estimatedby the International Monetary Fund with figures in millions of Thai Baht.

Year Gross Domestic Product US Dollar Exchange Inflation Index (2000=100)
1980 662,482 20.47 Baht 41
1985 1,056,496 27.15 Baht 53
1990 2,191,100 25.58 Baht 64
1995 4,186,212 24.91 Baht 81
2000 4,922,731 40.11 Baht 100
2005 6,924,273 41.02 Baht 111

For purchasing power parity comparisons, the US Dollar is exchanged at 12.34 Baht only.

          Before the financial crisis, the Thai economy had years of manufacturing-led economic growth--averaging 9.4% for the decade up to 1996. Relatively abundant and inexpensive labour and natural resources, fiscal conservatism, open foreign investment policies, and encouragement of the private sector underlay the economic success in the years up to 1997. The economy is essentially a free enterprise system. Certain services, such as power generation, transportation, and communications, are state-owned and operated, but the government is considering privatizing them in the wake of the financial crisis.

          The Royal Thai Government welcomes foreign investment, and investors who are willing to meet certain requirements can apply for special investment privileges through the Board of Investment. To attract additional foreign investment, the government has modified its investment regulations.

          The organized labour movement remains weak and divided in Thailand; only 3% of the work force is unionized. In 2000, the State Enterprise Labour Relations Act (SELRA) was passed, giving public sector employees similar rights to those of private sector workers, including the right to unionize.

          Roughly 60% of Thailand's labour force is employed in agriculture.[citation needed] Rice is the country's most important crop; Thailand is a major exporter in the world rice market. Other agricultural commodities produced in significant amounts include fish and fishery products, tapioca, rubber, grain, and sugar. Exports of processed foods such as canned tuna, pineapples, and frozen shrimp are on the rise.

          Thailand's increasingly diversified manufacturing sector made the largest contribution to growth during the economic boom. Industries registering rapid increases in production included computers and electronics, garments and footwear, furniture, wood products, canned food, toys, plastic products, gems, and jewelry. High-technology products such as integrated circuits and parts, electrical appliances, and vehicles are now leading Thailand's strong growth in exports.

Trade
         The United States is Thailand's largest export market and second-largest supplier after Japan. While Thailand's traditional major markets have been North America, Japan, and Europe, economic recovery among Thailand's regional trading partners has helped Thai export growth (5.8% in 2002). Recovery from the financial crisis depended heavily on increased exports to the rest of Asia and the United States. Since 2005, the rapid ramp-up in export of automobiles of Japanese makes (esp. Toyota, Nissan, Isuzu) has helped to dramatically improve the trade balance, with over 1 million cars produced last year. As such, Thailand has joined the ranks of the world's top ten automobile exporting nations.

          Machinery and parts, vehicles, electronic integrated circuits, chemicals, crude oil and fuels, and iron and steel are among Thailand's principal imports. The recent increase in import levels (4.6% in 2002) reflects the need to fuel the production of high-technology items and vehicles.

          Thailand is a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the Cairns Group of agricultural exporters. Thailand is part of the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA). Thailand has actively pursued free trade agreements. A China-Thailand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) commenced in October 2003. This agreement was limited to agricultural products, with more comprehensive FTA to be agreed by 2010. Thailand also has a limited Free Trade Agreement with India, which commenced in 2003; and a comprehensive Australia-Thailand Free Trade Agreement which started 1 January 2005. Thailand started free trade negotiations with Japan in February 2004, and an in-principle agreement was agreed in September 2005. Negotiations for a US-Thailand Free Trade Agreement are underway, with the fifth round of meetings held in November 2005.

          Tourism contributes significantly to the Thai economy, and the industry has benefited from the Thai baht's depreciation and Thailand's stability. Tourist arrivals in 2002 (10.9 million) reflected a 7.3% increase from the previous year (10.1 million).

          Bangkok and its environs are the most prosperous part of Thailand, and the infertile northeast is the poorest. An overriding concern of successive Thai Governments, and a particularly strong focus of the recently ousted Thaksin government, has been to reduce these regional income differentials, which have been exacerbated by rapid economic growth in and around Bangkok and the financial crisis. The government is trying to stimulate provincial economic growth with programs such as the Eastern Seaboard project and the development of an alternate deep-sea port on Thailand's southern peninsula. It also is conducting discussions with Malaysia to focus on economic development along the Thai-Malaysian border.

          Although the economy has demonstrated moderate positive growth since 1999, future performance depends on continued reform of the financial sector, corporate debt restructuring, attracting foreign investment, and increasing exports. Telecommunications, roadways, electricity generation, and ports showed increasing strain during the period of sustained economic growth and may pose a future challenge. Thailand's growing shortage of engineers and skilled technical personnel may limit its future technological creativity and productivity.

Other statistics
Investment (gross fixed): 22.5% of GDP (Jan - Sep 2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 32.4% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index: 51.1 (2002)

Agriculture - products: rice, cassava (tapioca), rubber, corn, sugarcane, coconuts, soybeans

Industries: tourism, textiles and garments, agricultural processing, beverages, tobacco, cement, light manufacturing such as jewelry, electric appliances and components, computers and parts, integrated circuits, furniture, plastics, world's second-largest tungsten producer, and third-largest tin producer

Industrial production growth rate: 8.2% (2005 est.)

Electricity:

production: 118,900 KW·h (2003)
consumption: 106,100 KW·h (2003)
exports: 188 KW·h (2002)
imports: 600 KW·h (2002)
Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 91.3%
hydro: 6.4%
other: 2.4% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Oil:

production: 230,000 barrels per day (35,800 m³/d) (2005 est.)
consumption: 785,000 barrels per day (125,000 m³/d) (2001 est.)
exports: NA
imports: NA
proved reserves: 583 million barrels (95,000,000 m³) (November 2003)
Natural gas:

production: 22,280,000,000 m³ (2003 est.)
consumption: 29,150,000,000 m³ (2003 est.)
exports: 0 m³ (2001 est.)
imports: 5,200,000,000 m³; (2001 est.)
proved reserves: 377,700,000,000 m³ (November 2003)
Current account balance: $-5.901 billion (2005 est.)

Exports - commodities: textiles and footwear, fishery products, rice, rubber, jewelry, automobiles, computers and electrical appliances lex Imports - commodities: capital goods, intermediate goods and raw materials, consumer goods, fuels

Land & Geography
Thailand is situated in South-East Asia, covering an area of nearly 513,115 square kilometres. It is roughly the size of France. It shares land borders with Myanmar (Burma) in the north and west, the Andaman Sea in the west, Laos in the north and north-east, Cambodia and the Gulf of Thailand in the east, and Malaysia in the south. The shape of the country is similar to the profile of an elephant with a long trunk stretching down the peninsular. At school, students are taught that their country resembles the shape of an ancient axe with the peninsular being the handle.

FACTS:

Area: Thailand covers a land area of 513,115 square kilometres (198,114 square miles), extends about 1,620 kilometres (1,007 miles) from north to south and 750 kilometres (482 miles) at its widest point from east to west, or approximately the same size as France, with a coastline of approximately 2,700 kilometres (1,143 miles) on the Gulf of Thailand and 865 kilometres (537 miles) along the Indian Ocean.

Lowest point: Gulf of Thailand 0 m

Highest point: Doi Inthanon 2,576 m

Geographic coordinates: 15 00 N, 100 00 E

Natural resources: tin, rubber, natural gas, tungsten, tantalum, timber, lead, fish, gypsum, lignite, fluorite

Climate: The climate is sub-tropical with long hours of sunshine and high humidity. There are three seasons :- Hot from March to June; Rainy, from July to October; Cool, from November to February. Average low temperature is 20c and high temperature is 37c. The geographic and climatic conditions make the country suitable for the cultivation of a wide range of tropical and semi-tropical agricultural crops.

Land use: arable land: 34%, permanent crops: 6%, permanent pastures: 2%, forests and woodland: 26%, other: 32% (1993 est.).

Irrigated land: 44,000 sq km (1993 est.)

Festivals

January

Chiang Mai Winter Fair
An annual festival that is held in Chiang Mai's city hall and which features a variety of products for sale, a Miss Chiang Mai beauty contest, and all night entertainment.

The Mekong Friendship Festival
Residents of China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand come together to enjoy arts and cultural performances, exhibitions, and souvenir sales.

Don Chedi Memorial Fair
A historic event that took place way back in 1592 at Don Chedi, when King Naresuan the Great of Ayutthaya won a elephant-back duel against the leader of an enemy force. This led to the liberation of the kingdom from foreign occupation. The fair, held at the memorial fair, commemorates the momentous event with exhibitions and outdoor entertainment.

Phra That Phanom Homage-Paying Fair
This seven-day event that occurs at the end of January usually attracts thousand of Buddist devotees who pay homage to the famous Phra That Phanom, a relic of the Lord Buddha.

February

Chinese New Year and Dragon & Lion Parade
A festival held every year by local residents of Chinese descent to honor the Golden deity for his benevolence. A colorful costumed procession makes its way through the streets of the provincial capital with marching bands, lion and dragon dances from five nations, and figures of venerated deities.

Straw Bird Fair
As straw is a plentiful by-product in rice farming, the local villagers of Chai Nat create from it, large colorful straw birds representing the more than 85 species that are found in the Chai Nat Bird Park. The straw birds are put on show in a fair that also features local handicrafts and culinary delicacies.

Lampang's Annual Elephant Khantoke Fair
As known, elephants are considered to be sacred animals by the Thais. In order to support food supplies and conservation projects, the yearly Khantoke for the Elephant Fair is held by the Thai Elephant Conservation Centre. The fair not only features a spectacular procession, but also includes cultural performances and local music shows.

March

Magha Puja
An important Buddhist holy day that commemorates the occasion of 1250 Buddha disciples spontaneously congregating to hear him preach. Merit-making ceremonies take place during the day at temples throughout the country, while at night, triple candlelit circumambulations are staged around temple chapels.

International Kite Festival
Kite-flying has been enjoyed by the Thai people since ancient times when it became the most popular traditional sport during the reign of King Rama IV.

Thao Suranari Fair
This annual fair is a tribute to the local heroine, Thao Suranani, who rallied townspeople against invaders during the 1800s. Celebrations customarily feature fireworks displays, colorful processions, cultural displays and exhibitions, and beauty contests.

April

Songkran Festival
A traditional Thai New Year that is an occasion for merrymaking in Bangkok as well as in other parts of the country. Thais mark the occasion with religious ceremonies as well as public festivities. Anyone who ventures out on the streets is likely to get a thorough soaking but all in a spirit of fun and goodwill at the peak of the hot season.

May

Visakha Puja
This is the holiest of all Buddhist religious days, marking the birth, enlightenment, and death of the Buddha. As on Magha Puja, temples throughout the country are crowded with people who come to listen to sermons by revered monks. In the evening there are solemn candlelit processions around major chapels.

Yasothon Bun Bangfai Rocket Festival
Northeastern villagers fashion rockets of all kinds, some of them several meters long. The launching of these rockets is believed to ensure plentiful rains during the coming rice planting season.

Royal Ploughing Ceremony
This ancient Brahman ritual celebrates the official commencement of the rice-growing season and is staged at Sanam Luang, the large field across the Grand Palace. Colorful costumes are worn by the participants who perform various ceremonies that are believed to forecast the abundance of the next rice crop.

June

Phi Ta Khon Festival
With origins from a well-known Buddhist tale, the colourful and vibrant Phi Ta Khon procession features young men who dress up as spirits to accompany a scared Buddha image and taunt villagers. This event will be held at Amphoe Dan Sai, Loei. There will be competitions of masked dances and processions.

Sunthon Phu Day (June 26)
Sunthon Phu (the celebrated Rattanakosin poet) is remembered for his classical literary works by all Thai people old and young. This annual event marking the poet's birthday is held at the Sunthon Phu Memorial Park, Ban Kram, Amphoe Klaeng. Some of the major highlights of this event are cultural performances and puppet shows depicting Sunthon Phu's work, poetry recitals and folk entertainment

King Mongkut Play
This play adapted from the famous "The King and I" and "Anna and the King of Siam" reveals the splendid life in the Thai Royal Court through the viewpoint from the inside, with the expectation of promoting King Mongkut (Rama IV) with the right and original historical information.

July

Pattaya Marathon 2000 (July 15-16)
World-class and local runners will all gathered together to participate this international competition. Considered as being the most picturesque running routes in South East Asia, Pattaya is the scenic venue to held this event.

Candle Festival (July 15-16)
With the commencement of the Phansa (known in Thai as Khao Phansa), the northeastern city of Ubon Ratchathani put on a show presenting beautifully carved beeswax candles, some of them several meters tall. They are put on parade before being presented to local temples.

Tak Bat Dok Mai - Merit-making Festival (July 15-16)
This event is held at the beginning of the Buddhist Lent when Buddhist monks must remain in their temples to meditate and study. Devotees give offerings of flowers and incense to a procession of monks. They then present the offerings as tribute to Lord Buddha at the Shrine of the Holy Footprint which is at the Wat Phra Buddha Bat, Saraburi.

Asalha Puja (July 16)
The full moon day of th 8th lunar month marks the preaching of Lord Buddha's first sermon to his first five disciples after attaining Enlightenment more than 2,500 years ago. In the evening, candlelit processions take place in Buddhist temples around the country.

Khao Phansa - Buddhist Lent (July 17)
The festival that marks the beginning of the annual three-month Rains Retreat during which the Buddhist monks customarily stay inside their temples to meditate and study. Phansa is the most auspicious time for Buddhist ordinations since it marks a period of renewed spiritual vigor.

August

Rambutan Fair
This event will be held at Surat Thani since it is known for its luscious rambutans that grow throughout the province. This fair will includes exhibitions of local products and floats adorned with rambutans, as well as many other exhilarating fun-filled activities.

Longan Fair
Longan (as Thai called it lamyai) season is at its peak in August. A fair is held in Lamphun, about half an hour's drive south of Chiang Mai, during this season, featuring a fruit contest and a stunning Miss Longan beauty contest.

Her Majesty Queen's Birthday Celebrations
A nationwide holiday that sees public buildings being decorated to honor Her Majesty Queen Sirikit's birthday. The most splendid buildings are in Bangkok, particularly along Ratchadamnoen Avenue and in the area around the Grand Palace, where both government offices and streets are garlanded with colored lights. The queen's birthday also coincides with Mother's Day celebrations in Thailand.

 

September

Langsat Fair
This event will be held at northern province of Uttaradit. The fair is held displaying and selling the langsat fruit together with local handicrafts.

Phichit Boat Races (September 2-3)
This annual event takes place on the Nan River in front of Wat Tha Luang, Phichit. It will features boats competing against each other with great fervour and excitement of the cheers of the spectators.

Phitsanulok Boat Races (September 16-17)
This event will take place on the Nan River too but in front of Wat Phra Sri Rattana Mahathat Maha Worawihan, Phitsanulok. This event will also includes decorative boat and cheer squad competitions. Everyone is welcome to participate various other activities.

Korlae Boat Racing & Narathiwat Produce Festival(Sept 21-25)
Centered on the Bang Nara River, Narathiwat, this event highlights the boat racing and dove cooing contests.

Um Phra Dam Nam Festival (September 26-30)
The people of Phetchabun conduct this festival as part of the Sart Thai Festival. The Governor of the province officiates at a holy ritual whereby he dives into the river with the Buddha image in his arms, which people believe will result in happiness and fertility. After that, the Phra Buddha Maha Thammaracha is taken to the provincial hall to be bathed in lustral water by the public. The highlight of this event will be a procession bearing the sacred Phra Buddha Maha Thammaracha image around the city.

Trang Vegetarian Festival (September 29-October 7)
This annual event originated in the 19th century, is conducted by the local Chinese who engage in a ten-day vegetarian diet. There are ceremonies at local Chinese temples as well as procession of ascetics performing extraordinary feats. This event will be held at Kio Ong La and Chao Pho Muen Ram CHinese Shrines, Trang.

Phuket Vegetarian Festival (September 29-October 7) This event is conducted by the locals of Chinese ancestry during the 9th Chinese calendar month where they indertake a ten-day vegetarian diet. There are processions of ascetic devotees performing remarkable feats such as fire-walking and climbing ladderswith knife-edged rungs.

October

Wax Castle & Boat Racing (October 11-14)
This event is held to celebrate the end of Buddhist Lent (Ok Phansa). People in the northeast mould beeswax into miniature Buddhist temples and shrines in order to gain merit, which will determine their future rebirth. Sakon Nakhon is the best place to witness these crafted models. . There is an annual festival with a grand wax castle procession, competitive boat racing as well as traditional northeastern cultural performances.

Chak Phra & Thot Phapa Festival (October 12-15)
These two events occur on the same day at the end of Buddhist Lent. Thot Phapa is where Buddha images on elaborately decorated carriages are pulled by the locals in land and water-borne processions. Chak Phra takes place after this whereby saffron robes are offered to monks and money is conated to temples. You can witness these events at Tapi River Bank, Surat Thani.

5000 Year Ban Chiang Civilisation Celebrations (October 22-24)
Ban Chiang World Heritage Site in Udon Thani is considered by UNESCO as one of the oldest archaeological site in Thailand. Major celebration that includes exotic art and cultural processions and performances, local handicraft demonstrations and displays, international and local sport events, and dazzling light and sound presentations will be held here.

Lanna Boat Races (October 28-29)
These long-boat races held on the Nan river are distinctively enhanced by the brightly fancy coloured Nan boats. This event also accompanies the annual Kathin season, when devotees wishing to gain merit present new robes to monks of local temples.

November

River Kwae Bridge Week Fair (November 26-December 7)
During World War II, the black iron bridge was brought from Java by the Japanese Army and reassembled under Japanese supervision by Allied prisoners of war as part of the "Death Railway" that linked Thailand with Myanmar. Also made famous by the movie of the same name, the bridge on the River Kwae (or Kwai) is the setting for this week-long series of events that also possesses attractions, including archaeological and historical exhibitions, and rides on vintage trains.

Thai Beer Festival
The German's celebrate Oktoberfest while the Thai's have their own, the Thai Beer Fest. The festival is arranged at the World Trade Centre Plaza to enable everyone to come along and have a jolly good time. It also features sales of barbecued food, seafood and Thai culinary specialties along with music and cultural performances.

December

Trooping of the Colours (December 3)
Held in the Royal Plaze near the equestrian statue of King Chulalongkorn, their Majesties and King and Queen preside over this impressive annual event. Members of the elite Royal Guards dressed in colourful uniforms, swear allegiance to the King and march past members of the Royal Family.

H.M. The King's Birthday Celebrations (December 5)
H.M. King Bhumibol Adulyadej, is well beloved and deeply respected by all Thai. The celebrations of his royal birthday provides his loyal subjects the opportunity to express their reverence for him. Buildings and homes all over the country are elaborately decorated and the area around the Grand Palace is spectacularly illuminated.

The 14th Phuket King's Cup Regatta (December 5-11)
This internationally popular regatta is held at the Andaman Sea off Phuket. Competitors come from all over the world to compete for trophies that are awarded in several different categories.

Ayutthaya World Heritage Site Celebration (December 13-19)
Ayutthaya, an ancient Siamese capital, celebrates its glorious past with displays of traditional culture and lifestyles, numerous forms of entertainment, as well as spectacular light and sund presentations amid the ruins of this ancient city.

Transport

By Air
          Bangkok is Thailand's major gateway. Most visitors arrive through Bangkok's Don Muang International Airport, which is connected by daily flights to Europe, North America, Asia and Australasia abroad the world's major airlines. Other international flights from Singapore, Malaysia, and Hong Kong land on less regular basis at the southern airports of Phuket and Hat Yai and Chiang Mai in the north.

NOTE: Airport tax of approximately 200 Baht is payable upon departure.

By Rail
          Regular rail services link Singapore and Bangkok. Intermediary stops include Kuala Lumpur, Butterworth and major southern Thai towns.

By Road
          Overland entrances to Thailand is restricted to three road crossings on the Thai-Malaysian border in Songkhla, Yala, and Narathiwat.

By Sea
          There are no regular steamship connections with Thailand. Cargo ships calling at Bangkok's Klong Toey port sometimes have passenger cabin facilities. Cruise ships, such as Cunard's Queen Elizabeth II, Royal Viking or Pearl of Scandinavia periodically visit Pattaya.

Foreign Embassies

Republic of Argentina Embassy Prommitr Villa, 20/85 Sukhumvit Soi 49/1, Bkk 10110 Tel: 259 0401-2, 259 9198; Fax: 259 0402; Email: embtail@mozart.inet.co.th Australian Embassy 37 South Sathorn Rd, Bkk 10120 Tel: 344 6300, 344 6400, 344 6455-7; Fax: 344 6593, 344 6341, 344 6310 Email: austembassy.bangkok@dfat.gov.au Austrian Embassy 14 Soi Nandha, Soi Attakarnprasit, South Sathorn Rd, Bkk 10120 Tel: 287 3970-2, 287 3925; Fax: 287 3925 People's Republic of Bangladesh Embassy 727 Sukhumvit Soi 55, Bkk 10110 Tel: 381 1144, 391 8069-70; Fax: 391 8070 Royal Belgian Embassy 17th Fl, Sathorn City Tower, 175 South Sathorn Rd, Tungmahamek, Sathorn, Bkk 10120 Tel: 679 5454; Fax: 679 5467; Email: Bangkok@diplobel.org Royal Bhutanese Embassy Room 107, 19th Fl, JTC Bldg, 919 Silom Rd, Bangrak, Bkk 10500 Tel: 237 3315-27, 237 3600-3; Fax: 237 7541 Republic of Bolivia Consulate 1901 Ramkamhang Rd, Huamark, Bangkapi, Bkk 10240 Tel: 314 0040, 314 1911; Fax: 318 9737 Federative Republic of Brazil Embassy 23rd Fl, Lumpini Tower, 1168/66 Rama 4 Rd, Bkk 10120 Tel: 679 8567-8; Fax: 679 8569 British Embassy Website 14 Wireless Rd, Lumpini, Patumwan, Bkk 10330 Tel: 305 8333 (Main Embassy line), 253 0191; Fax: 254 9579 Brunei Darussalam Embassy 154 Ekamai Soi 14, Sukhumvit Soi 63, Luksorndang, Prakanong, Bkk 10110 Tel: 381 5914-6; Fax: 381 5921 Republic of Bulgaria Embassy 33/15 Soi Charoenchai, Sukhumvit Soi 63, Bkk 10110 Tel: 391 6180-1; Fax: 391 6182 Cambodian Embassy 185 Rajadamri Rd, Patumwan, Bkk 10330 Tel: 254 6630, 253 9851; Fax: 253 9859 Canadian Embassy 15th Fl, Abdulrahim Place, 990 Rama 4 Rd, Bangrak, Bkk 10500 Tel: 636 0560; Fax: 636 0568 Republic of Chile Embassy 15 Sukhumvit Soi 61, Klongtoey, Bkk 10110 Tel: 391 4858, 391 8443; Fax: 391 8380 People's Republic of China Embassy 57 Ratchadapisek Road, Dindang, Bkk 10310 Tel: 245 7030-45; Fax: 246 8247, 247 2214 Republic of Colombia Consulate 9th Fl, Park Place, 231 Sarasin Rd, Lumpini, Patumwan, Bkk 10330 Tel: 254 5105-6; Fax: 254 5109 Republic of Cuba Embassy Mela Mansion apt. 3C, 5 Soi 27, Sukhumvit Rd, Klong-Toey Neur, Bkk Tel: 665 2803; Fax: 661 6560; Email: cubaemb1@loxinfo.co.th Republic of Cyprus Consolate 17th Fl, Richmond Bldg, 75/59 Sukhumvit Soi 26, Klongtoey, Bkk 10110 Tel: 261 8408-10 Czech Republic Embassy 71/6 Ruam Rudee Soi 2, Ploenchit Rd, Bkk 10330 Tel: 255 4978, 255 3027; Fax: 253 7637 Royal Danish Embassy 10 Soi Attakarn Prasit, South Sathorn Rd, Yannawa, Bkk 10120 Tel: 213 2021-5, 679 9349-50; Fax: 213 1752 Dominican Republic Consulate 92/6 Changwattana Rd, Laksi, Bangkhen, Bkk 10210 Tel: 521 0675, 521 1282, 521 5000; Fax: 521 0737 Arab Republic of Egypt Embassy 49 Soi Ruam Rudee, Ploenchit Rd, Bkk 10330 Tel: 253 0161, 253 8138; Fax: 256 9310, 254 9489 Ethopian Consulate-General 962/14 Prannok Rd, Bkk 10700 Tel: 411 0218, 412 1068 European Commission Delegation 19th Fl, Kian Gwan House 2, 140/1 Wireles Rd, Bkk Tel: 255 9101, 255 9106-11; Fax: 255 9113-4 Republic of Finland Embassy 16th Fl, Amarin Plaza, 500 Ploenchit Rd, Patumwan, Bkk 10330 Tel: 256 9306-9, 256 9511-3; Fax; 256 9310 French Embassy 35 Soi Rong Phasi Kao 36, New Rd, Bangrak, Bkk 10500 Tel: 256 9306-9, 285 6104-7; Fax; 256 9310 Republic of Gabon Consulate 13 Soi Pradipat 10, Pradipat Rd, Samsennai, Payatai, Bkk 10400 Tel: 279 2800-1; Fax: 271 1142 Republic of Gambia Consulate 610/5-6 Songwad Rd, Samphantawong, Bkk 10100 Tel: 224 0091; Fax: 224 6212, 224 6894 Germany Embassy 9 South Sathorn Rd, Yannawa, Bkk 10120 Tel: 285 6627-8, 679 1120; Fax: 287 1776 Greece Embassy 99 Rama 9 Rd, Huay Kwang, Bkk Tel: 247 1068, 254 9729; Fax: 247 1068 Republic of Honduras Consulate 4A Phirom Mansion, 11 Sukhumvit Soi 41, Bkk 10110 Hungarian Embassy 28 Soi Sukchai, Sukhumvit Soi 42, Klongtoey, Bkk 10110 Tel: 661 1150-2; Fax: 661 1153 Republic of Iceland Consulate 59 Soi Navin, Chuaploeng Road, Bkk 10120 Tel: 249 1300; Fax: 249 1253 Indian Embassy 46 Soi Prasarnmitr, Sukhumvit Soi 23 , Bkk 10110 Tel: 258 0300-6; Fax: 258 4627 Indonesian Embassy 600-602 Phetchaburi Rd, Bkk 10400 Tel: 252 3135-40; Fax: 255 1267, 255 8199 Islamic Republic of Iran Embassy 602 Sukhumvit Rd (between Soi 22 and 24), Bkk 10110 Tel: 261 9790-3; Fax: 259 9111 Republic of Iraq Embassy 47 Pradipat Rd, Samsen Nai, Phayathai, Bkk 10400 Tel: 278 5335-8; Fax: 271 4218 Ireland Consulate Website 28th Fl, (High Zone), Q.House Lumpini Bldg, 1 South Sathorn Rd, Tungmahamek, Sathorn, Bkk 10120 Tel: 677 7500; Fax: 677 7501 Israel Embassy 25th Fl, Ocean Tower, 11 Sukhumvit Soi 19, Bkk 10110 Tel: 260 4854-9; Fax: 260 4860 Italian Embassy 399 Nang Linchee Rd, Thungmahamek, Bkk 10120 Tel: 287 2054-7, 285 4090-3; Fax: 285 4793 Japan Embassy 1674 New Petchburi Rd, Huay Kwang, Bkk 10310 Tel: 252 6151-9; Fax: 255 6999, 258 6877 Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Consulate 47 Soi Ekamai, Sukhumvit Rd, Klongtoey, Bkk 10110 Tel: 391 7142; Fax: 391 9180, 381 1314 Democratic People's Republic of Korea Embassy 14 Moo Ban Suanlaemthong 2, Pattanakarn Rd, Bkk 10250 Tel: 319 1442-3; Fax: 318 6333 Lao People's Democratic Republic Embassy 502/1-3 Ramkamhaeng Rd, Bangkapi, Bkk 10310 Tel: 539 6667; Fax: 539 6678 Lebanese Embassy 15th Fl. CTI Tower, 191/67 Ratchadapisek Rd, Bkk 10110 Tel: 261 1013, 261 1015, 261 5091; Fax: 261 1026 Malaysian Embassy 33-35 South Sathorn Rd, Yannawa, Bkk 10120 Tel: 679 2190-0; Fax: 679 2208 Maltese Consulate 485/14 Silom Rd, Bkk 10500 Tel: 235 9423-4; Fax: 235 6293 Mexican Embassy 21/60-62 Thai Wah Tower, 20th Fl. South Sathorn Rd, Bkk 10500 Tel: 285 0815; Fax: 285 0667 Moroccan Embasy 5th Fl, Ban Chang GlasHouse, Sukhumvit Soi 25, Bkk 10110 Tel: 260 6410-1; Fax: 260 6412 Union of Myanmar Embassy 132 North Sathorn Rd, Bangrak, Bkk 10500 Tel: 234 0278, 234 4789, 234 4698; Fax: 236 6898; Email: mebkk@asianet.co.th Royal Nepal Embassy 189 Sukhumvit Soi 71, Klongtoey, Bkk 10110 Tel: 391 7240, 390 2985, 392 4741; Fax: 381 2406 Royal Netherlands Embassy 106 Wireless Rd, Bkk 10500 Tel: 254 7701-5, 254 1265; Fax: 254 5579 New Zealand Embassy 93 Wireless Rd, Bkk 10330 (P.O. Box 2719, Bkk 10500) Tel: 254 2530; Fax: 253 9045 Royal Norweigen Embassy 18th Fl, UBC II Bldg, 591 Soi Sukhumvit 33, Bkk 10110 Tel: 261 0230-5; Fax: 262 0218 Sultanate of Oman Embassy 7th Fl, 134/1-2 Silom Rd, Bangrak, Bkk 10500 Tel: 236 7385 Islamic Republic of Pakistan Embassy 31 Soi Nana Nua, Sukhumvit Rd, Bkk 10110 Tel: 253 0288-9, 254 9702; Fax: 253 0290 Republic of Panama Embassy 1168/37 Lumpini Tower Bldg, 16th Fl, Rama IV Rd, Tungmahamek, Sathorn, Bkk 10120 Tel: 679 7988-9; Fax: 679 7991; Email: ptyconsuladothai@hotmail.com Republic of Peru Embassy 16th Fl, Glas Haus Bldg, #1 Soi Sukhumvit 25, Sukhumvit Rd, Wattana, Bkk 10110 Tel: 260 6243, 260 6245, 260 6248; Fax: 260 6244; Email: peru@peruthai.or.th Republic of Philippines Embassy 760 Sukhumvit Rd, Klongtoey, Bkk 10110 Tel: 259 0139-40, 261 6869; Fax: 259 2809 Polish People Republic Embassy 8 Sukhumvit Soi 5, Klongtoey, Bkk 10110 Tel: 258 4112-3; Fax: 251 8895 Portuguese Embassy 26 Captain Bush Lane, New Rd, Bangrak, Bkk Tel: 234 0372, 234 2123, 238 4275; Fax: 236 1954 Romanian Embassy 20/1 Soi Rajakhru off Soi 5, Phaholyothin Rd, Phayathai, Bkk 10400 Tel: 617 1551-4; Fax: 617 1113; Email: romembnk@ksc.th.com Russian Federation Embassy 78 Sap Rd, Suriwongse, Bangrak, Bkk 10500 Tel: 268 1169, 234 9824; Fax: 237 8488; Email: rosposol@cscoms.com Saudi Arabia Royal Embassy 23rd & 24th Fl, Saeng Thong Thani Bldg, 82 North Sathorn Rd, Bangrak, Bkk 10500 Tel: 639 2999, 639 2960; Fax: 639 2950 Republic of Singapore Embassy 129 South Sathorn Rd, Yannawa, Bkk 10120 Tel: 286 2111, 213 1261, 287 5115; Fax: 287 2578 Slovakian Embassy Pantip Court, 68 South Sathorn Rd, Bkk 10120 Tel: 285 0220-2; Fax: 285 0223 Souh African Embassy 12A Fl, M-Thai Tower, All Seasons Place, 87 Wireless Rd, Pathumwan, Lumpini, Bkk 10330 Tel: 250 9012-14; Fax: 685 3500 Spainish Embassy Lake Rajada Office Complex, 23rd Fl, Suites 98-99, 193 Ratchadapisek Rd, Klongtoey, Bkk 10110 Tel: 661 8284-6; Fax: 661 9220; Email: embespth@mail.mae.es Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Embassy 13th Fl, Ocean Tower 2, 75/6-7 Sukhumvit Soi 19, Bkk 10110 Tel: 261 1934-5; Fax: 261 1936 Swedish Embassy 20th Fl, Pacific Place, 140 Sukhumvit Rd, Klongtoey, Bkk 10110 Tel: 254 4954-55; Fax: 254 4914 Swiss Embassy 35 Wireless Rd, Bkk 10500 (GPO Box 821, Bkk 10510) Tel: 253 0156-60, 254 6855; Fax: 255 4481 Taiwan (Republic of China) Embassy 10th Fl, Kian Gwan Bldg, Wireless Rd, Bkk 10330 Tel: 251 9274-6, 251 9393-6; Fax: 254 9276 Republic of Turkey Embassy 61/1 Soi Chatsan, Suthisarn Rd, Phayathai, Bkk 10310 Tel: 274 7262-3; Fax: 274 7261 United States of America Embassy 95 Wireless Rd, Bkk 10500 Tel: 205 4000; Fax: 205 4131 Additional links: Thai-US Relations; US-Asean Business Council Uzbekistan Embassy 77 Soi Thonglor 8, Sukhumvit Soi 55, Prakhanong, Bkk 10110 Tel: 391 3397, 714 9838-9; Fax: 391 3397 Consulate General 138/5 Soi Thonglor 11, Sukhumvit Rd 55, Klongtan, Wattana, Bkk 10110 Tel: 391 6848, 712 8883; Fax: 391 3323; Email: ankhor@uzbinbkk.org Apostolic Nunciature 217/1 South Sathorn Rd, Bkk 10120 Tel: 233 9109, 212 5883-4; Fax: 212 0932 Socialist Republic of Vietnam Embassy 83/1 Wireless Rd, Bkk 10500 Tel: 251 7202, 251 5835; Fax: 251 7201, 251 7203

Languages
Thailand's population is relatively homogeneous, however this is changing due to immigration. More than 85% speak a Thai language and share a common culture. This core population includes the central Thai (33.7% of the population, including Bangkok), Northeastern Thai or Lao (34.2%), northern Thai (18.8%), and southern Thai (13.3%).

The language of the central Thai population is the language taught in schools and used in government. Several other small Tai groups include the Shan, Lue, and Phutai.

Up to 14% of Thai are of significant Chinese heritage, but the Sino-Thai community is the best integrated in Southeast Asia. Malay-speaking Muslims of the south comprise another significant minority group (2.3%). Other groups include the Khmer; the Mon, who are substantially assimilated with the Thai; and the Vietnamese. Smaller mountain-dwelling tribes, such as the Hmong and Mein, as well as the Karen, number about 788,024. Some 300,000 Hmong, who ironically are natives to the area longer than the Thais themselves, are to receive citizenship by 2010.

People & Population

Thai People:  The Thai people are very gentle, friendly and hospitable people. Travellers to Thailand are generally struck by the ubiquity of smiles, warmth and friendliness. The standard greeting is pai nai (ไปไหน), or “Where are you going?” But this is not meant to be interpreted literally, but rather it is the approximate equivalent of “Hello” or “How are you?” The key focus for understanding the Thai is sanuk (สนุก), a word that can be translated as “fun” or “enjoyable”. Almost as important is the concept of sabai (สบาย), best translated as “comfortable” or “contented”. See also Thai Origins

Population:  Thailand is an ethnically homogeneous country. Thailand’s population is around 62 million. Most people (about 95 percent) are Theravada Buddhists. About 80 percent of the population is ethnic Thai. Islam is Thailand’s second religion, accounting for perhaps 5 percent of the population, and Thai-speaking Muslims may be found in every province of the country, from Chiang Rai in the north to Yasothon in the far northeast. Hill-tribe people living in the north and west total about half a million, and many of the tiny group of Christians in Thailand is concentrated among them. The main hill-tribe groups include Lisu (ลีซอ), Lahu (ลีซอ), Akha (อาข่า), Karen (กะเหรี่ยง), Hmong (ม้ง) and Yao (เย้า).

Traveller's information

Passports
          Entry into Thailand requires a passport valid for at least six months ahead. If you anticipate your passport expiring while you are in Thailand, get a new one before you travel or inquire from your government whether your embassy in Thailand (if one exists) can issue a new one after arrival. (The Malaysia Embassy, for example, will not issue a new passport to its nationals if they do not possess a Thai Work Permit.)

Visa
          At the Thai immigration, be sure to check your passport immediately after stamping. Overworked officials sometimes make mistakes. Point out any errors before you leave the immigration area at your port of entry. Mistakes will be rectified. If you don’t notice the mistake made at the port of entry, go to the Immigration Office in Soi Suan Phlu in Bangkok and plead your case.
Once a visa is issued, it must be used to enter Thailand within 90 days. The Royal Thai Embassy in Washington DC, maintains one of the best Internet sites for information about visas for Thailand : www.thaiembdc.org/visa/visa.htm.

Transit Tourist Visas
          No visa is required for people of 57 different nationalities to enter the country for 30 days at no charge. People of 78 other nationalities, such as those from smaller European countries like Andorra or Liechtenstein or from West Africa, South Asia or Latin America, can obtain a 15-day Transit Visa on arrival upon payment of a fee. A few nationalities (e.g. Hungarians) must obtain a visa in advance of arrival or they will be turned back. It is always prudent to check with a Thai embassy or consulate in advance about the requirement pertaining to you. Without proof of an onward ticket and sufficient funds for the period of stay, any visitor can be denied entry; but in practice your ticket and funds are rarely checked if you are dressed neatly for the immigration check. Next in length of validity is the Tourist Visa, which is good for 60 days and costs US$15. Two passport photos must accompany the application form. Usually it takes only one day to get your visa, but check this.

Non-Immigrant Visas
          The Non-lmmigrant Visa is good for 90 days and can be applied only in your home country for US$50. It is not difficult to obtain if you can offer a good reason for wanting it. Business, study, retirement and extended family visits are among the valid reasons. If you want to stay longer than six months, this is the one to get. The Non-Immigrant Business Visa (abbreviated by Thai immigration officials as ‘Non-B’) allows single, triple or multiple entries to Thailand for 6 months or one year, depending on the particular embassy practice. The only hitch is that you cannot stay in the country for more than 90 days but must step across the border to return.

Visa Exceptions
          Citizens of Brazil , Korea , New Zealand and Peru may enter Thailand without a visa, in accordance with inter-governmental agreement, for purposes of a maximum stay of 90 days for purposes of tourism or temporary business only. No extension of stay will be granted.

Visa Extension Renewals
          Sixty-day Tourist Visas may be extended by up to 30 days at the discretion of Thai immigration authorities. The Central Immigration Office in Bangkok (Tel: 02-2873101) in Soi Suan Phlu, (Off Thanon Sathon Tai) or any immigration office in the country can approve this extension. (There is an immigration office at the border entry points.) The usual fee for extending a Tourist Visa is 500 Baht. Bring along one photo and one copy each of the photo and visa pages of your passport. Normally only one 30-day extension is granted. The 30-day, no-visa stay can be extended for seven to 10 days (depending on the immigration office) for 500 Baht. You can also leave the country and return immediatety to obtian another 30-day stay. There is no limit on the number of times you can do this, nor is there a minimum interval you must spend outside the country. Extension of the 15-day on-arrival Transit Visa is only allowed if you hold a passport from a country that has no Thai embassy. Extending a Non-Immigrant Visa very much depends on how the officials feel about you: if they like you then they will extend it. Other than the 500 Baht extension fee, money doesn’t usually come into it; neat appearance and polite behavior count for more.

Overstay
          If you overstay your visa, the usual penalty is a fine of 500 Baht each extra day (imposed as from 15 March 2006), with a 20,000 Baht limit. Fines can be paid at the airport or in advance at the Investigation Unit (Tel: 02-287 3101-10), Immigration Bureau, Room 416, 4th floor, Old Building, Soi Suan Phlu, Off Thanon Sathon Tai, Bangkok. There is no stigma involved. After the fine is paid the matter is forgotten.

Re-Entry Permits Multiple-Entry Visas
          If you need to leave and re-enter the Kingdom before your visa expires, say for a return trip to Laos or the like, you may need to apply for a Re-Entry Permit at a Thai immigration office. The cost is 1,000 Baht; you’ll need to supply one passport photo. There is no limit to the number of Re-Entry Permits you can apply for and use during the validity of your visa.

Customs
          Thai law though not draconian is very strict on the illegal importation of narcotics, firearms and pornographic materials. You are allowed to bring in your mobile phones, one camera or video camera with 5 rolls of still film or 3 rolls of movie film or videotape. Up to 200 sticks of cigarettes, 250 gm of tobacco and one litre of wine or spirit are allowed in duty-free.

Antiques Art Works
          Taking out antiques, Buddha images (except the small amulets for wearing on a chain around the neck) and works of art needs a license from the Fine Arts Department. Application is made by submitting two front-view photos of the object (no more than 5 objects to a photo) and a photocopy of your passport. You must bring along the objects to show at the Bangkok National Museum , the Chiang Mai National Museum or the Songkhla National Museum . Give 3 to 5 days for the application and inspection process to be completed. Religious artworks require a permit from the Ministry of Commerce as well.

Money
          In theory a visitor arriving in Thailand must have USD250 per person for Tourist Visa holders and USD500 for Non-Immigrant Visa holders. For Transit Visa or No Visa entries it is USD125. Double that for a family. There is no limit to the amount of money (whether Thai Baht or foreign currencies) you can bring into the country. (There is no black-market money exchange in Thailand , so there is no point bringing in Thai Baht except the few hundreds for taxi and immediate use.) But on departure you cannot take out more than 50,000 Baht. If you are going to Cambodia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam the limit rises to 500,000 Baht. No restriction on the export of foreign currencies. There is no problem with money transactions in Thailand with credit or debit cards, ATMs, traveller cheques, bankdrafts or whatever monetary modes with shops and restaurants, etc. except that small establishments have no facility to charge to credit cards. ATM cards or credit cards to withdraw cash is a very convenient option. There is a fee of USD1 charged to your home account for use of credit card to withdraw money.

Tipping
          No hard-and-fast rules. But giving something is very appreciated, though not demanded. Leave the coins on the platter. Or a 20 Baht note to the porter or room boy. Taxis do not expect a tip. But guides, tour bus drivers and bus boys do expect a certain amount per day of their services on top of the rental fees. USD5 for guides and USD2 a day for drivers and their bus boys for FITs and very small groups are sufficient. For big groups USD2 and USD1 per person in the group is enough.

Bargaining
          Cheerful bargaining everywhere (except in Department stores, most hotels and restaurants) is the norm. But once a price is agreed upon, do not try to lower it some more; and it is boorish to walk away. In touristy outlets bargain down to 50% of the asking price. Be happy to get away with 30% or so. The best way is to price the goods at various outlets before settling in to bargain a reasonable price. Fairness rather than stinginess should be the rule of the game.

Value Added Tax (VAT)
          The government imposes a VAT of 7% on many kinds of goods and services. But many people are totally confused what these items are or how VAT is applied. Only the big shops will process the VAT refund for bona fide tourists who must fly out of the country and show their purchases at the refund booths in the airport. Get a receipt for VAT exemption from the shops you bought your goods to present at the VAT Refund counter in the airport.

Food & Drinks
          Thai food is inexpensive by any standard – and delicious if chillies are well liked in the food. In Bangkok every kind of cuisine can be found in restaurants and small eateries – except Malay, Nonya/Peranakan and Singapore food. (One or two had ventured into the business but closed down because the taste was not authentic enough.) Many restaurants serve halal and kosher food. Outside Bangkok and Chiang Mai, the variety is seriously diminished in all but hotel restaurants. All kinds of beverages are obtainable easily. Avoid tap water for drinking. It won’t kill you, but it contains small amounts of lead and other minerals, and a huge dose of chlorine that might make you sick. Bottled (purified) or boiled water is what you should drink. Tea served free in Chinese restaurants and Thai foodstalls are perfectly all right. Another thing to avoid is the ice-cream sold in the streets. It might have been melted and refrozen thereby contains an overdose of bacteria. Raw and undercooked meat and shellfish can carry diseases. Restaurants heavily patronised are considered safer and the food tastier than sparsely patronised ones. Ice is safe as it is made from purified water in factories. So cube ice in the outlets are safe compared to shaved ice as the latter tends to be handled unhygiencally in the transportation.

Climate

Thailand is largely tropical, so it's hot and humid all year around with temperatures in the 28-35°C range (82-95°F), a degree of relief provided only in the mountains in the far north of Thailand. The careful observer will, however, note three seasons:

Cool: From November to the end of February, it doesn't rain much and temperatures are at their lowest, although you will barely notice the difference in the south and will only need to pack a sweater if hiking in the northern mountains, where temperatures can fall as low as 5°C. This is the most popular time to visit and, especially around Christmas and New Year's, finding flights and accommodation can be expensive and difficult.

Hot: From March to June, Thailand swelters in temperatures as high as 40°C (104°F). Pleasant enough when sitting on the beach with a drink in hand, but not the best time of year to go temple-tramping in Bangkok.

Rainy: From July to October, although it only really gets underway in September, tropical monsoons hit most of the country. This doesn't mean it rains non-stop, but when it does it pours and flooding is not uncommon.

There are local deviations to these general patterns. In particular, the south-east coast of Thailand (including Ko Samui) has the rains reversed, with the peak season being May-October and the rainy off season in November-February.

Embassies in Abroad

Argentina, Royal Thai Embassy Virrey del Pino 2458-6 Piso, 1426 Buenos Aires Tel: +541 785 6504, 6521, 6532 Fax: +541 785 6548 Australia, Royal Thai Embassy, Canberra 111 Empire Circuit, Yarralumla, A.C.T. 2600, Canberra Tel: +06 273 1149, 273 2937 Fax: +06 273 1518 E-mail: info@thaiembassy.org.au Website: http://www.thaiembassy.org.au Australia, Royal Thai Consulate General, Sydney Level 8, 131 Macquarie Street SYDNEY, NSW 2000 Tel (02) 9241-2542, 9241-2543 Fax (02) 9247-8312 E-mail: thaicon-sydney@diplomats.com Website: http://thaisydney.idx.com.au/ Australia, Royal Thai Consulate-General, Brisbane 87 Annerley Road South Brisbane, Qld 4102 Australia Tel +61-7-38467771 Fax fax: +61-7-38467772 E-mail : admin@thaiconsulate.org Website: http://www.thaiconsulate.org Australia, Royal Thai Consulate General, Adelaide Level 1, 72 Flinders Street Adelaide SA 5000 Tel (08) 8232-7474 Fax (08) 8232-7474 Australia, Royal Thai Consulate General, Melbourne Suite 301, 566 St Kilda Road Melbourne Vic 3004 Tel (03) 9533-9100 Fax (03) 9533-9200 Australia, Royal Thai Consulate General, Perth Visa section, Level 8, 14 Victoria Ave,  Perth WA 6000 Tel: 9221-3237 Fax: 9221-1635 Email: jamjohn@highway1.com.au Austria, Royal Thai Embassy Weimarer Strasse 68, A-1180 Vienna Tel: 310 3423, 310 1630, 310 8988 Austria, Royal Thai Consulate, Salzburg Arensbergstrasse 2, Salzburg Tel: (0662) 646 5660 Bangladesh, Royal Thai Embassy House No. NW(E) 12, Road No.59, Gulshan Model Town, Dhaka Tel: (880) 2 601 634, 601 475 Fax: (880) 2 883 588 Belgium, Royal Thai Embassy Square du Val de la Cambre 2, 1050 Brussels Tel: (322) 640 6810, 640 1986 Fax: (322) 648 3066 Website: http://www.waw.be/rte-be/ Brazil, Royal Thai Embassy Lote 10-Setor de Embaixadas Norte, Avenida das Nacoes Norte, P.O. Box 10-2460, 70.433 - Brasilia, DF. Tel: (061) 224 6943, 224 7943, 223 5105 Fax: (061) 321 2994, 223 7502 Brunei, Royal Thai Embassy Lot 25251, Simpang 683 Jalan Tutong Kampong Bunut Bandar Seri Begawan BF 1320 Brunei Darussalam Tel: (673 2) 653108 / 9, 653311 (Visa Section) Fax: (673 2) 653032 Cambodia, Royal Thai Embassy 196 M.V. Preah Norodom Boulevard, Sangkat Tonle Bassac, Khan Chamkar Mon, Phnom Penh, Cambodia Tel: (855 23) 363 869-71 Fax: (855 18) 810 860, (855 23) 365 118 E-mail: thaipnp@mfa.go.th, thaipnh@mfa.go.th Website: http://www.mfa.go.th/embassy/phnompenh Canada, Royal Thai Embassy 180 Island Park Drive Ottawa, Ontario K1Y OA2, Canada Tel: (613) 722-4444 Fax : (613) 722-6624 Email: thaiott@magma.ca Website: http://www.magma.ca/~thaiott China, Royal Thai Embassy 40 Guang Hua Lu, Beijing 100600 Tel: (8610) 6532-1749, 6532-1848, 6532-2151 6532-5048, 6532-1903 (consular) Fax: (8610) 6532-1748 Email: thaibej@eastnet.com.cn Website: http://203.150.20.1/rtebej/ China, Royal Thai Consulate-General, Guangzhou White Swan Hotel, Southern Street, Shamian Island, Guangzhou Tel: (8620) 8188-6986 ext. 3301 - 3303, 3307, 3309, 3344, 3347, 3356 Fax: (8620) 8187-9451, 8192-3076 Email: gzthaicg@public1.guangzhou.gd.cn China, Royal Thai Consulate-General, Kunming 145,1st Floor, South Building, Kunming Hotel, Dong Feng Dong Road, Kunming Tel: (86871) 3168916, 3149296 (direct line) 3138888 ext. 2204 - 2209 (hotel line) Fax: (86871) 3166891 Email: thaikmg@public.km.yn.cn Royal Thai Consulate-General in Hong Kong Fairmont House, 8th Floor, 8 Cotton Tree Drive, Central, Hong Kong Tel: (852) 25216481 - 5 Fax: (852) 25218629 Email: thai-cg@hongkong.super.net Germany, Royal Thai Embassy Lepsiusstr. 64-66, 12163 Berlin, Tel: (030) 79 48 10 Fax: (030) 79 48 1 511 Email: thaiber@snafu.de Website: http://www.thaiembassy.de/ Greece, Royal Thai Embassy 23 Taigetou Street, P.O. Box 65215, Paleo Psychico 15452, Athens Tel: (301) 6717969, 6710155 Fax: (301) 6479508 Hungary, Royal Thai Embassy Verecke ut.79, 1025 Budapest Tel: (36-1) 1689421, 1689422, 2500727 Fax: (36-1) 2501580, 1882347 India, Royal Thai Embassy 56-N, Nyaya Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi-110021 Tel: (91-11) 26118103, 26118104 Fax: (91-11) 26872029 Website: http://www.thaiemb.org.in/ Indonesia, Royal Thai Embassy 74, Jalan Imam Bonjol, Jakarta Pusat Tel: 390 4225, 390 4055 Fax: 310 7469 Fax: (202) 944-3611 Iran, Royal Thai Embassy Baharestan Avenue, Park Amin-ed-Dowleh No. 4, P.O. Box 11495-111, Tehran Tel: +9821 753 1433, 753 7708 Iraq, Royal Thai Embassy House No.1, Street 28, Area 213, Hay Al-Kindi, Baghdad, P.O. Box 6062 Al-Mansour Tel: +964 1 541 8798, 542 6515 Fax: +964 1 542 6516 Israel, Tel Aviv 21 Shaul Hamelech Blvd. Tel Aviv 64367 Tel. (972-3) 695-8980, 695-8984 Fax. (972-3) 695-8991 Email. thaisr@netvision.co.il Website: http://www.thaiembassy.org/telaviv Italy, Royal Thai Embassy Via Bertoloni 26B, I-00197 Rome Tel: +0039 6 8078379, 8081381, 8078695, 8078719 Fax: +0039 6 8078693 Japan, Royal Thai Embassy 3-14-6, Kami-Osaki, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141 Tel: +03 3441 1386, 1387, 7352, 7688, (03) 3447 2247 Fax: +03 3442 6750, 3442 6828 Kenya, Royal Thai Embassy Rose Avenue, off Denis Pritt Rd., P.O. Box 58349, Nairobi Tel: +254 2 714276, 715800 Fax: +254 2 715801 Korea, Republic of, Royal Thai Embassy 653-7, Hannam-dong, Yongsan-ku, Seoul Tel: +82 2 795 3098, 795 0095 Fax: +82 2 798 3448 Kuwait, Royal Thai Embassy Surra, Area No.3, Block No.49, Ali Bin Abi-Taleb Street, Building No. 28., P.O. Box 66647 Bayan, 43757 Kuwait Tel: 531 4870, 531 7530-1, 533 9243 Fax: 531 7532 Laos, Royal Thai Embassy Route Phonekheng, Vientiane, P.O. Box 128 Tel: 214 5813, 214 5856 Fax: +66 1 411 0017 Malaysia, Royal Thai Embassy 206 Jalan Ampang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur Tel: +03 248 8222, 248 8350, 248 8420, 245 8005 Fax: +03 248 6527 Malaysia, PENANG Royal Thai Consulate-General No. 1, Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman 10350 Penang Tel. (60-4) 2268029, 2269484 Fax:(60-4) 2263121 E-mail : thaipg@tm.net.my Malaysia, KOTA BHARU Royal Thai Consulate-General 4426 Jalan Pengkalan Chepa, 15400 Kota Bharu, Kelantan Tel. *(60-9) 7445266, 7482545 Fax: *(60-9) 7449801 E-mail : thaicg@tm.net.my Mexico, Royal Thai Embassy Sierra Vertientes 1030, Lomas de Chapultepec, 11000 Mexico, D.F. Tel: +525 596 1290, 596 8446 Fax: +525 596 8236 Morocco, Royal Thai Embassy 11 Rue de Tiddes, Rabat, B.P. 4436 Tel: +212 7 763 365, 763 328 Fax: +212 7 763 920 Myanmar (Burma), Royal Thai Embassy 45, Pyay Road, Yangon Tel: +951 35 670, 33 082, 21 567 Fax: +951 22 784 Nepal, Royal Thai Embassy Jyoti Kendra, Thapathali, Kathmandu Tel: +977 1 213 910, 213 912 Fax: +977 1 226599 The Netherlands, Royal Thai Embassy 1 Buitenrustweg, 2517 KD. The Hague Tel: +070 345 2088, 345 9703, 345 0632 Fax:+ 070 345 1929 New Zealand , Royal Thai Embassy 2 Cook Street, P.O. Box 17-226, Karori, Wellington Tel: +04 476 8618, 476 8619 Fax: +04 476 3677 Nigeria, Royal Thai Embassy 1 Ruxton Road, Old Ikoyi, P.O. Box 3095, Lagos Tel: 269 0334 Fax: 269 2855 Norway, Royal Thai Embassy Munkedamsveien 59 B, 0270 Oslo Tel: +47 22832517, 22832518 Fax: 22830384 Oman, Royal Thai Embassy Villa 33-34 Road "O", Madinat Qaboos East, Muscat P.O. Box 60, M.Q., Postal Code 115, Muscat, P.O. Box 3367 Ruwi, Postal Code 112, Muscat Tel: +09 68 602 683, 602 684, 602 685, 695 250 Fax: +09 68 605 714 Pakistan, Royal Thai Embassy 4, Street No.8, Shalimar F-8/3, Islamabad Tel: 859 130, 859 131, 859 195, 852 778 Fax: +92-51 256 730 Philippines , Royal Thai Embassy 107 Rada Street, Legaspi Village, Makati, Metro Manila, P.O. Box 1228 Makati Central Post Office, 1252 Makati, Metro Manila Tel: 815 4220, 816 0696 7, 815 4219, 817 4262, 810 3833, 812 8983 Fax: 815 4221 Poland, Royal Thai Embassy ul. Staroscinska 1B m. 2-3, 02-516 Warsaw Tel: +48 22 492 655,496 414, 494 730,491 406 Fax: +48 22 492 630 Portugal, Royal Thai Embassy Rua de Alcolena 12, Restelo, 1400 Lisbon Tel: +35 11 301 4848,301 5051, 301 7171 Fax: +35 11 301 8181 Romania, Royal Thai Embassy 44-48 Strada Mihai Eminescu, Etaj 2, Apartamentul 5, Bucharest Tel: +40 1 210 1338, 210 3447 Fax: +40 1 210 2600 Russia, Royal Thai Embassy Eropkinsky Pereulok 3, Moscow 119034 Tel: +095 201 4893, 201 3989, 201 2715, 201 2853 Fax: +095 230 2004, 210 2853 Saudi Arabia, Royal Thai Embassy Diplomatic Quarter, Ibnu Banna Road, P.O. Box 94359, Riyadh 11693 Tel: +966-1 488 1174, 488 0797, 488 0300 Fax: +966-1 488 1179 Senegal, Royal Thai Embassy 10 Rue Leon G. Damas, Angle F. Fann Residence, B.P. 3721, Dakkar Tel: +221 243076, 243801 Fax: +221 256360 Singapore, Royal Thai Embassy 370 Orchard Road, Singapore 0923 Tel: (65) 235 4175, 737 2158, 737 3372, 737 2644, 737 2175 to 6 Fax: (65) 732 0778 Email: thaisgp@singnet.com.sg Website: http://www.thaiembsingapore.org/ South Africa, Royal Thai Embassy 840 Church Street, Eastwood, Arcadia 0083, Pretoria Tel: +012 342 5470, 342 4516, 342 4506, 342 4600 Fax: +012 342 4805 Spain, Royal Thai Embassy Calle Del Segra, 29-2 A, 28002 Madrid Tel: +91 5632903, 5637959 Fax: +91 5640033 Sri Lanka, Royal Thai Embassy 43, Dr. C.W.W. Kannangara Mawatha, Colombo 7 Tel: 697 406, 689 045, 689 037 Fax: 697 516 Sweden, Royal Thai Embassy Floragatan 3, 114 31 Stockholm, Box 26220, 100 40 Stockholm Tel: +08 791 73 40 Fax: +08 791 73 51 Switzerland, Royal Thai Embassy Kirchstrasse 56, CH-3097 Bern-Lieberfeld Tel: +41 31 970 30 30 Fax: +41 31 970 30 35 Turkey, Royal Thai Embassy Cankaya Cad. Kader Sok. 45/3-4, 06700 Gaziosmanpasa, Ankara Tel: +90 312 4673409, 4673059 Fax: +90 312 438 6474 United Arab Emirates, Royal Thai Embassy Villa No.1, Plot No. 341 West 14/1, Al Rowdah, P.O. Box 47466, Abu Dhabi Tel: +97 12 453 991, 431 279, 432 554 Fax: +97 12 458 687 United Kingdom, Royal Thai Embassy 29-30 Queen's Gate, London, SW7 5JB Tel: +07 1 5890173, 5892944 Fax: +07 1 8239695 Emails: thaiduto@btinternet.com, info@thaiembassyuk.org.uk Website: http://www.thaiembassyuk.org.uk/ UNITED NATIONS (Switzerland) Permanent Mission of Thailand To The United Nations Office 28B Chemin du Pefit-Saconnex 1209 Geneva Tel: (4122) 734-2010, 734-2018, 734-2020 Fax: (4122) 733-3678 E-Mail: thai.gva@itu.ch United Nations, USA, Permanent Mission of Thailand To The United Nations Office 351 East 52nd Street New York, NY 10022 Tel: (1-212) 754-2230 Fax: (1-212) 754-2535,688-3029 E-Mail: thaun@undp.org United States of America, Royal Thai Embassy (Consular Office) 1024 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W., Suite 101, Washington, D.C. 20007 Tel : (202) 944-3608 Fax : (202) 944-3641 Email: consular@thaiembdc.org Website: http://www.thaiembdc.org/ Vietnam, Royal Thai Embassy 63-65 Hoang Dieu Street, Hanoi Tel: +84 4 235 092 94 Fax: +84 4 235 088