Inner Atlas · Curious laws of Thailand · Series 06
The curious
laws of
Thailand that
nobody tells you.
Laws and legal facts
Thailand has laws that will surprise you. Some are funny. Others are very serious.
Before you read: the curious laws of Thailand that appear here are real and in force. Some are rarely enforced. Others, with total seriousness.
Learning about them isn't just interesting—it's part of understanding how this country works.
It is illegal to leave your home without underwear
It is a criminal offense under Thai law: going out in public without wearing underwear is technically a crime. The police don't go around conducting inspections, but the law remains in effect as a standard of public decency. Modesty in Thailand is not optional.
Driving without a shirt is also prohibited
Another rule that surprises tourists: driving any vehicle without a shirt on is prohibited by law. This applies to cars, motorcycles, and tuk-tuks. In a country where the heat can be brutal, the law is clear-cut. It is enforced loosely, but it is on the books.
Alcohol is sold only at specific times
In Thailand, the sale of alcohol is permitted only from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 5 p.m. to midnight. Outside of those hours, no supermarket or store can sell you beer. During religious holidays or elections, the ban is in effect all day. Many tourists find this out at the worst possible moment.
Knowing Thailand's curious laws changes your experience of the trip.
View the trip to Thailand →Stepping on a banknote is a crime
All Thai bills and coins bear the king's image. Stepping on them to stop a bill from flying away, or accidentally crushing them, It is considered a serious offense against the monarchy and it is a crime under the Penal Code. If you drop a banknote, bend down to pick it up.
Insulting the King can cost you 15 years in prison
Thailand's lèse-majesté law is one of the strictest in the world. Any offense against the royal family — including comments on social media, WhatsApp, or any digital platform — can be punished by 3 to 15 years in prison. This is not a metaphor. There are foreigners who have served their sentences.
"The King and I" is prohibited in Thailand since 1956
The famous Hollywood movie starring Yul Brynner is banned in Thailand because it is considered to portray King Rama IV in a disrespectful manner. It cannot be screened or distributed in the country. It is one of the most heavily censored films in Asia, and the ban remains in effect today.
There are cities that are easier to understand when you see them from a distance.
Bangkok is chaotic, noisy, and intense. And yet, from the very first day, there’s something about it that draws you in. Its curious laws are simply a reflection of that duality: an ultra-modern city with rules that seem to come from another era.
That's why at SunZen we give you the background information that no guidebook provides. So Thailand won't take you by surprise. So you can enjoy it.
Rakel · SunZen TravelSome schools have a third bathroom for the Kathoey community
Thailand is so far ahead in terms of acceptance of the transgender community that some high schools and universities have legally established a third restroom designated with a pictogram depicting a figure that is half man and half woman. It is an official measure, not a symbolic gesture.
Ladyboys work in banks, airports and universities
The transgender community—known as Kathoey or Ladyboys—is naturally integrated into the fabric of Thai society. They work in banks, stores, airports, hospitals, and universities as a matter of course. It's not tolerance—it's true integration, which many Western countries have not yet achieved.
A 14th-century dialect is still alive in the mountains of the northeast
The Tai Nyaw ethnic group lives in Loei Province. Due to the geographical isolation of their valleys for centuries, they speak a Thai dialect so ancient that linguists consider it a living fossil. A Thai person from modern-day Bangkok has serious difficulty understanding them.
The color of your clothes has a designated day by astrological law
Although it is not a written law, the daily color code is so deeply ingrained that it influences official decisions. Yellow is the king's color; pink is the previous king's color. During periods of royal mourning or celebrations, the government may officially ask the public to wear a specific color. And it does.
Thai coins feature temples you can visit
Each baht coin features an image of a royal temple in Bangkok. The 1-, 2-, 5-, and 10-baht coins offer the perfect itinerary for visiting four of the country's most important temples. And stepping on them—just like stepping on banknotes—is illegal because they bear the king's image.
In Thailand, the Western year 2025 is the Buddhist year 2568
Thailand officially follows the Buddhist calendar, which began 543 years before the Gregorian calendar. All official documents, receipts, invoices, and public displays use the Buddhist calendar. It's not just a curiosity—it's the country's current legal system.
Thailand has its own rules. And it makes perfect sense once you understand them.
The curious laws
of Thailand are just
the beginning.
Learning about Thailand's quirky laws is only part of the story. The other part is connecting with the right people in the places that matter. That's what traveling is all about.
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Co-founder of SunZen Travel. Traveler. The best moments of my trips weren't on the itinerary.