Welcome to the Thailand Portal / สถานีย่อยประเทศไทย
Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand and historically known as Siam (the official name until 1939), is a country in Southeast Asia on the Indochinese Peninsula. With a population of almost 66 million, it spans 513,115 square kilometres (198,115 sq mi). Thailand is bordered to the northwest by Myanmar, to the northeast and east by Laos, to the southeast by Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the southwest by the Andaman Sea; it also shares maritime borders with Vietnam to the southeast and Indonesia and India to the southwest. Bangkok is the state capital and largest city.
Apart from a brief period of parliamentary democracy in the mid-1970s and 1990s, Thailand has periodically alternated between democracy and military rule. Since the 2000s, the country has been in continual political conflict between supporters and opponents of twice-elected Prime Minister of Thailand Thaksin Shinawatra, which resulted in two coups (in 2006 and 2014), along with the establishment of its current constitution, a nominally democratic government after the 2019 Thai general election, and large pro-democracy protests in 2020–2021, which included unprecedented demands to reform the monarchy. Since 2019, it has been nominally a parliamentary constitutional monarchy; in practice, however, structural advantages in the constitution have ensured the military's continued influence in politics.
Thailand is a middle power in global affairs and a founding member of ASEAN. It has the second-largest economy in Southeast Asia and the 23rd-largest in the world by PPP, and it ranks 29th by nominal GDP. Thailand is classified as a newly industrialised economy, with manufacturing, agriculture, and tourism as leading sectors. (Full article...)
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Image 1Thai Airways International plc ( Thai: บริษัท การบินไทย จำกัด (มหาชน)) is the flag carrier airline of Thailand. Formed in 1961 as a joint venture between SAS and Thai Airways Company, the airline has its corporate headquarters in Vibhavadi Rangsit Road, Chatuchak district, Bangkok, and primarily operates from Suvarnabhumi Airport. THAI is a founding member of the Star Alliance. The airline is the second-largest shareholder of the low-cost carrier Nok Air with a 8.91 percent stake (2021), and it launched a regional carrier under the name Thai Smile in the middle of 2012 using new Airbus A320 aircraft. In 2023, it was announced that Thai Smile would be merged back into Thai Airways. Operating from its primary hub at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport, THAI currently serves 51 international and 10 domestic destinations using a fleet of 77 aircraft consisting of wide-body and narrow-body aircraft from both Boeing and Airbus with 90 aircraft on order as of April 2025, with plans to increase its fleet to 143 aircraft by 2029. Currently THAI's route network is dominated by flights to cities in Europe, Asia and Oceania flying to 30 countries as of March 2025 including 9 domestic routes. THAI was the first Asia-Pacific airline to serve Heathrow Airport. Among Asia-Pacific carriers, the company has one of the largest passenger operations in Europe serving 11 airports. ( Full article...)
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Location of Thailand (dark green) In Thailand, cannabis, known by the name Ganja ( Thai: กัญชา; RTGS: kancha), is currently (as of 25 June 2025) a controlled substance and criminalized. However, cannabis extracts and products are officially limited to 0.2% THC content. Only medicinal use is legal, but in practice there is wide recreational usage. Legislation has been proposed which provides for fines for non-permitted uses and fines and jail time for unauthorized sale. Import and export of cannabis are still highly regulated. ( Full article...)
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Passenger terminal and airport traffic control tower ( IATA: BKK, ICAO: VTBS) is the main international airport serving Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand. Located mostly in Racha Thewa commune, Bang Phli district, Samut Prakan province, it covers an area of 3,240 ha (32.4 km 2; 8,000 acres), making it one of the biggest international airports in Southeast Asia and a regional hub for aviation. The airport is also a major Cargo Air Freight Hub (20th busiest in 2019), which has a designated Airport Free Zone, as well as road links to the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) on Motorway 7. ( Full article...)
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Image 4Himavanta is a legendary forest, also called Himmanpan Mountain, which is said to be located in the Himalayas. Himavanta appears in a piece of Thai literature called Traibhumikatha which explains that Himavanta is a forest where many diverse mythical creatures such as Phaya Naga, Phaya Krut, and Kinnaree, spirits or even gods and goddesses reside. The mythical Nariphon tree that is often mentioned in Thai folklore is also said to grow here. The story of Himavanta and the explanation of the three existing planes were written by the philosopher-king of Si Satchanalai, Phaya Lithai. Since the Himavanta forest relates to Buddhist cosmology, it profoundly influences beliefs, cultures and artworks in the Buddhist and Hindu religions, among others. ( Full article...)
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Image 5The culture of Thailand is a unique blend of various influences that have evolved over time. Local customs, animist beliefs, Buddhist traditions, and regional ethnic and cultural practices have all played a role in shaping Thai culture. Thainess, which refers to the distinctive qualities that define the national identity of Thailand, is evident in the country's history, customs, and traditions. While Buddhism remains the dominant religion in Thailand with more than 40,000 temples, Islam, Christianity, and other faiths are also practiced. Thailand's historical and cultural heritage has been shaped by interactions with neighboring cultures as well as far-reaching cultures such as Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Khmer, Portuguese, and Persian, with the ancient city of Ayutthaya serving as a global trade center. Early European visitors also recognized Ayutthaya as one of the great powers of Asia, alongside China and India, highlighting the city's importance and influence in the region. In modern times, Thailand's cultural landscape has been shaped by the influence of global trends. This includes the adoption of modern educational practices and the promotion of science and technology, while also preserving traditional customs and practices. ( Full article...)
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Image 6The rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer ( LGBTQ) people in Thailand are regarded as some of the most comprehensive of those in Asia. Both male and female same-sex sexual activity are legal. Legalization of same-sex marriage and adoption of children by married same-sex couples was signed into law in 2024, and came into force on 23 January 2025. Thailand was the first Asian UN member state to pass a comprehensive same-sex marriage law, as well as the first in Southeast Asia and the 38th in the world. About eight percent of the Thai population, five million people, are thought to be in the LGBT demographic. In 2013, the Bangkok Post said that "while Thailand is viewed as a tourist haven for same-sex couples, the reality for locals is that the law, and often public sentiment, is not so liberal." A 2014 report by the United States Agency for International Development and the United Nations Development Programme said that LGBT people "still face discrimination affecting their social rights and job opportunities", and "face difficulty gaining acceptance for non-traditional sexuality, even though the tourism authority has been promoting Thailand as a gay-friendly country". ( Full article...)
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Image 7On 22 May 2014, the Royal Thai Armed Forces, led by General Prayut Chan-o-cha, the commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army, launched a coup d'état, the twelfth since the country's first coup in 1932, against the caretaker government following six months of political crisis. The military established a junta called the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to govern the nation. The coup ended the political conflict between the military-led regime and democratic power, which had been present since the 2006 Thai coup d'état known as the "unfinished coup". Seven years later, it developed into the 2020–2021 Thai protests to reform the monarchy of Thailand. After dissolving the government and the Senate of Thailand, the NCPO vested executive and legislative powers in its leader and ordered the judicial branch to operate under its directives. In addition, it partially repealed the 2007 constitution, save the second chapter that concerned the king, declared martial law and curfew nationwide, banned political gatherings, arrested and detained politicians and anti-coup activists, imposed Internet censorship in Thailand and took control of the media. ( Full article...)
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Image 8The history of Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, dates at least to the early 15th century, when it was under the rule of Ayutthaya. Due to its strategic location near the mouth of the Chao Phraya River, the town gradually increased in importance, and after the fall of Ayutthaya King Taksin established his new capital of Thonburi there, on the river's west bank. King Phutthayotfa Chulalok, who succeeded Taksin, moved the capital to the eastern bank in 1782, to which the city dates its foundation under its current Thai name, "Krung Thep Maha Nakhon". Bangkok has since undergone tremendous changes, growing rapidly, especially in the second half of the 20th century, to become the primate city of Thailand. It was the centre of Siam's modernization in the late 19th century, subjected to Allied bombing during the Second World War, and has long been the modern nation's central political stage, with numerous uprisings and coups d'état having taken place on its streets throughout the years. ( Full article...)
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Image 9Plaek Phibunsongkhram; 14 July 1897 – 11 June 1964) was a Thai military officer and politician who served as the third prime minister of Thailand from 1938 to 1944 and again from 1948 to 1957. He rose to power as a leading member of the Khana Ratsadon, becoming prime minister in 1938 and later consolidating his influence as a military dictator. His regime allied with the Empire of Japan during the Second World War, and his administration was marked by authoritarian policies and the promotion of Thai nationalism. He was closely involved in both domestic reforms and foreign policy during the war and played a central role in shaping modern Thai state ideology. Phibun was a member of the army wing of Khana Ratsadon, the first political party in Thailand, and a leader of the Siamese revolution of 1932, which replaced Thailand's absolute monarchy with a constitutional monarchy. Phibun became the third Prime Minister of Thailand in 1938 while serving as Commander of the Royal Siamese Army. Inspired by the Italian fascism of Benito Mussolini, he established a de facto military dictatorship run along fascist lines, promoted Thai nationalism and Sinophobia, and allied Thailand with Imperial Japan in World War II. Phibun launched a modernization campaign known as the Thai Cultural Revolution that included a series of cultural mandates, which changed the country's name from "Siam" to "Thailand", and promoted the Thai language. ( Full article...)
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Image 10The Bangkok Mass Transit System, commonly known as the BTS Skytrain ( Thai: รถไฟฟ้าบีทีเอส RTGS: rot fai fa [BTS]), is an elevated rapid transit system in Bangkok, Thailand. It is operated by Bangkok Mass Transit System PCL (BTSC), a subsidiary of BTS Group Holdings, under a concession granted by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) which owns the lines. The system consists of 62 stations along three lines with a combined route length of 70.05 kilometers (43.53 mi). The BTS Sukhumvit Line runs northwards and south-eastwards, terminating at Khu Khot and Kheha respectively. The BTS Silom Line which serves Silom and Sathon Roads, the central business district of Bangkok, terminates at National Stadium and Bang Wa. The Gold Line people mover runs from Krung Thon Buri to Klong San and serves Iconsiam. The lines interchange at Siam station and Krung Thon Buri. The system is formally known as "The Elevated Train in Commemoration of HM the King's 6th Cycle Birthday" ( รถไฟฟ้าเฉลิมพระเกียรติ 6 รอบ พระชนมพรรษา). Besides the three BTS lines, Bangkok's rapid transit system includes the underground and elevated Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) lines, the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRT), and the elevated Airport Rail Link (ARL), serving several stations before reaching Suvarnabhumi Airport, and the SRT Red Lines of the State Railway of Thailand. ( Full article...)
The following are images from various Thailand-related articles on Wikipedia.
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Image 4Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall, the royal reception hall built in European architectural style. Construction was started by Rama V, but was completed in 1915. (from History of Thailand)
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Image 5Mural painting of the epic Ramakien depicts the Hanuman enlarging his body to rescue Phra Ram. (from Culture of Thailand)
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Image 6A Buddha from Wat Kukkut, Lamphun (from History of Thailand)
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Image 7Siamese administrative division in 1932 ( Rama VII) (from History of Thailand)
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Image 8A traditional wedding in Thailand. (from Culture of Thailand)
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Image 915th-16th century Sawankhalok stoneware with brown underglaze and pale blue glaze (from Culture of Thailand)
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Image 11King Vajiralongkorn, the current monarch of Thailand (from History of Thailand)
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Image 12Ayutthaya administrative division in 1468 ( Borommatrailokkanat) (from History of Thailand)
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Image 15Buakaw Banchamek, a famous Muay Thai fighter (from Culture of Thailand)
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Image 16Traditional Thai desserts (from Culture of Thailand)
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Image 17Rattanakosin administrative division in 1824 ( Rama II) (from History of Thailand)
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Image 19Map showing linguistic family tree overlaid on a geographic distribution map of Tai-Kadai family. This map only shows general pattern of the migration of Tai-speaking tribes, not specific routes, which would have snaked along the rivers and over the lower passes. (from History of Thailand)
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Image 20Protesters mobilising, 1 December 2013 (from History of Thailand)
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Image 21Siamese administrative division in 1916 ( Rama VI) (from History of Thailand)
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Image 22Rattanakosin administrative division in 1882 ( Rama V) (from History of Thailand)
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Image 23Rattanakosin administrative division in 1805 ( Rama I) (from History of Thailand)
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Image 24Thai administrative division in 1941 ( Rama VIII) (from History of Thailand)
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Image 25Schoolgirls and boys playing khrueang sai in front of a temple (from Culture of Thailand)
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Image 26King Chulalongkorn (from History of Thailand)
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Image 27Siamese administrative division in 1893 ( Rama V) (from History of Thailand)
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Image 28Siamese administrative division in 1890 ( Rama V) (from History of Thailand)
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Image 29The image depicts Khon, a traditional dance drama that has been recognized as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2018. (from Culture of Thailand)
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Image 30Thai administrative division in 1950 ( Rama IX) (from History of Thailand)
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Image 31Thai greeting, the smile is an important symbol of refinement in Thai culture. (from Culture of Thailand)
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Image 32Thai administrative division in 1973 ( Rama IX) (from History of Thailand)
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Image 33Siam in 1900 (from History of Thailand)
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Image 35The roads along the old moat of Chiang Mai are full of vehicles during the Songkran water splashing festival. (from Culture of Thailand)
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Image 36Rattanakosin administrative division in 1850 ( Rama III) (from History of Thailand)
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Image 37Five states of Siam that emerged from the dissolution of the Ayutthaya Kingdom in 1767 (from History of Thailand)
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Image 38Thai soldiers at the Chang Phueak Gate in Chiang Mai. (from History of Thailand)
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Image 39Mural painting at Phra Thi Nang Phutthaisawan dates back to the early Rattanakosin period. (from Culture of Thailand)
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Image 40Sukhothai administrative division in 1293 ( Ramkhamhaeng) (from History of Thailand)
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Image 41Rattanakosin administrative division in 1837 ( Rama III) (from History of Thailand)
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Image 42A 14-year-old Vietnamese contaminated with Agent Orange. (from History of Thailand)
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Image 43King Bhumibol in his birthday ceremony in 2007, celebrating his longest-reigning in Thai history. (from History of Thailand)
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Image 44A group of Kalae houses, traditional northern Thai house located at Thawan Duchanee's house in Chiang Rai. (from Culture of Thailand)
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Image 45Yi Peng, floating lantern festival in Northern Thailand, observed around the same time as Loy Krathong. (from Culture of Thailand)
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Image 46Mural painting in Wat Amphawan Chetiyaram showing the royal cremation ceremony (from Culture of Thailand)
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Image 47Gurkhas guide disarmed Japanese soldiers from Bangkok to prisoner of war camps outside the city, September 1945 (from History of Thailand)
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Image 4815th-century Kalong ware glazed stoneware dish (from Culture of Thailand)
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Image 49Thai administrative division in 2023 ( Rama X) (from History of Thailand)
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Image 50The Democracy Monument in Bangkok, built in 1940 to commemorate the end of the absolute monarchy in 1932, was the scene of massive demonstrations in 1973, 1976, 1992 and 2010. (from History of Thailand)
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Image 52Thai women wearing Isan modified sinh dress for Boon Bang Fai festival in Roi Et (from Culture of Thailand)
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Image 54Siamese administrative division in 1906 ( Rama V) (from History of Thailand)
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Image 55Muay Thai match in Bangkok, Thailand (from Culture of Thailand)
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Image 56Siamese administrative division in 1900 ( Rama V) (from History of Thailand)
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Image 57Funeral pyre of Chan Kusalo, the patriarch-abbot of northern Thailand. (from Culture of Thailand)
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Image 59Rattanakosin administrative division in 1800 ( Rama I) (from History of Thailand)
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Image 60People floating krathong rafts during the Loi Krathong festival in Chiang Mai, Thailand (from Culture of Thailand)
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Image 61Display of respect of the younger towards the elder is a cornerstone value in Thailand. A family during the Buddhist ceremony for young men who are to be ordained as monks. (from Culture of Thailand)
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Image 62The Khmer temple of Wat Phra Prang Sam Yod, Lopburi. (from History of Thailand)
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Image 6317th-19th century Benjarong style ceramics from Ayutthaya. (from Culture of Thailand)
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Image 64Map of the Kingdom of Siam with Tributary States, 1869 (from History of Thailand)
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Image 65Thai administrative division in 1945 ( Rama VIII) (from History of Thailand)
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Image 66Siamese monthon division in 1900 ( Rama V) (from History of Thailand)
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Image 67Siamese Expeditionary Forces in Paris Victory Parade, 1919. (from History of Thailand)
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Image 68Wat Arun, the most prominent temple of the Thonburi period, derives its name from the Hindu god Aruṇa. Its main prang was constructed later in the Rattanakosin period. (from History of Thailand)
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Image 69Thaksin Shinawatra, Prime Minister of Thailand, 2001–2006. (from History of Thailand)
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Image 70The ruins of Ayutthaya city was completely buried beneath a mass of jungle vegetation in 1930. (from History of Thailand)
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Image 71A wedding ceremony in Thailand. (from Culture of Thailand)
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Image 72General Prayut Chan-o-cha, the coup leader (from History of Thailand)
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Image 73Thonburi administrative division in 1780 ( Borommaracha IV) (from History of Thailand)
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Image 75Siamese administrative division in 1908 ( Rama V) (from History of Thailand)
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Image 76Phibun welcomes students of Chulalongkorn University, at Bangkok's Grand Palace – 8 October 1940. (from History of Thailand)
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Image 77Ayutthaya administrative division in 1767 ( Borommaracha III) (from History of Thailand)
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Chandra Khonnokyoong (Thai: จันทร์ ขนนกยูง; RTGS: chan khonnokyung, 20 January 1909 – 10 September 2000) was a Thai Maechi (nun) who founded Wat Phra Dhammakaya. Religious studies scholar Rachelle Scott has described her as "the most influential female meditation teacher in Thailand". Her own students call her Khun Yay Achan Mahā-ratana Upasika Chandra Khonnokyoong (Khun Yay Achan, for short), an honorific name meaning "grandmother-master-great-gem devotee". Although illiterate, she was widely respected for her experience in meditation, which is rare for a maechi. She managed to attract many well-educated students, despite her rural background and illiteracy. Some scholars have raised the example of Maechi Chandra to indicate that the position of women in Thai Buddhism may be more complex than was previously thought. (Full article...)
- ... that a restaurant in a Thai hotel serves "Chicken Volcano", a dish containing whiskey?
- ... that "gambling lord" Hong Taechawanit's mansion in Thailand became a police station?
- ... that American-born Freddie Lish called playing for the Thai national basketball team, "my dream ever since I found out my mom was born in Thailand"?
- ... that So Sethaputra compiled his authoritative English–Thai dictionary while in prison, with the manuscripts smuggled out for publication?
- ... that the first batch of Action Computer Enterprise's Discovery 1600, one of the first multi-user microcomputers, was delivered to a tobacco-growing business in Thailand?
- ... that the French, when they began to colonize Cambodia, agreed that Angkor Wat was in Thailand?
- ... that during Siam Niramit, a Bangkok cultural show, the forestage was transformed into a 50-metre-long (160 ft) river?
- ... that Karl Malte von Heinz designed the Vatican, Pakistani, Yugoslav and Thai diplomatic missions in India?
Tom yum or tom yam (, ; Thai: ต้มยำ, RTGS: tom yam [tôm jām] ⓘ) is a family of hot and sour Thai soups. The strong hot and sour flavors make it very popular in Thai cuisine. The name tom yam is composed of two words in the Thai language. Tom refers to the boiling process, while yam means mixed.
Historian Giles Milton contends that the origins of tom yum can be traced back to India, where there is a variation of hot and sour shrimp soup known as sour prawn soup. In Thailand, tom yam is available in various types, with the most popular being tom yam nam khon (creamy tom yam soup), and tom yam nam sai (clear tom yam soup). This soup features a variety of main ingredients, including shrimp, pork, chicken, and seafood. (Full article...)
- ... that the wildly popular Jatukham Rammathep amulet was created by a policeman in 1987 who believed the amulet's spirit helped him solve a murder case?
Thailand topics
| History:
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Ayutthaya Kingdom, Chakri dynasty, Constitution of Thailand, Early history of Thailand, Effect of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake on Thailand, Hariphunchai, History of Thailand (1768–1932), History of Thailand (1932–1973), History of Thailand (1973-2001), History of Thailand since 2001, Lan Na, Nakhon Si Thammarat Kingdom, Pattani Kingdom, Plaek Pibulsonggram, Pridi Phanomyong, Sarit Dhanarajata, Siamese coup d'état of 1932, South Thailand insurgency, Srivijaya
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| Politics:
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1997 Constitution of Thailand, 2006 interim constitution of Thailand, Administrative divisions of Thailand, Cabinet of Thailand, Constitution of Thailand, Constitutional Court of Thailand, Foreign relations of Thailand, Government of Thailand, National Assembly of Thailand, People's Alliance for Democracy, Sonthi Boonyaratglin, South Thailand insurgency, Pridiyathorn Devakula, Prem Tinsulanonda, Surayud Chulanont, 2006 Thai coup d'état, Thai 2006 interim civilian government, Thai Rak Thai, Thaksin Shinawatra, Samak Sundaravej
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| Economy:
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Agriculture in Thailand, Baht, Bank of Thailand, List of banks in Thailand Bureau of the Crown Property, Stock Exchange of Thailand, Suvarnabhumi Airport, Thai Airways, Thaksinomics, Tourism in Thailand, Transport in Thailand, US-Thailand Free Trade Agreement, Rail transport in Thailand, Thai motorway network
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| Geography:
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Bangkok Metropolitan Area, Chao Phraya River, Demographics of Thailand, Doi Inthanon, Gulf of Thailand, Khao Lak, Khao Yai National Park, Khorat Plateau, Ko Chang, Ko Samet, Ko Samui, Kra Isthmus, Kwai river, Mekong, Patong Beach, Phi Phi Islands, Three Pagodas Pass
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| Provinces:
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Bangkok, Chiang Mai Province, Chiang Rai Province, Chonburi Province, Kanchanaburi Province, Khon Kaen Province, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, Narathiwat Province, Pattani Province, Phuket Province, Songkhla Province, Ubon Ratchathani Province, Udon Thani Province, Yala Province
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| Culture:
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Thai art, Buddhism in Thailand, Buddhist temples in Thailand, Cinema of Thailand, Cuisine of Thailand, Dance in Thailand, Education in Thailand, Farang, Flag of Thailand, Kathoey, Lakorn, Literature in Thailand, Thai language, Loi Krathong, Media of Thailand, Muay Thai, Music of Thailand, List of television stations in Thailand, Thai names, National Museum, Thai New Year, Public holidays in Thailand, Ramakien, Royal Flags of Thailand, Royal Flora Ratchaphruek, Thai greeting, Thai-style dresses, Traditional Thai musical instruments
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| Others:
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Pridi Banomyong, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Communications in Thailand, Elephant Nature Park, Environmental issues in Thailand, Grand Palace, Bangkok, Prostitution in Thailand, Queen Sirikit, Military of Thailand, Thai royal and noble titles, List of shopping malls in Thailand, Thai studies
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Southeast Asia
Other countries
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