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Never touch someone's head, or point your feet at them

Don't touch anyone's head, even a child's, since it's considered the most sacred part of the body, and avoid pointing your feet at people, at Buddha images, or resting them on furniture, since feet are considered the lowest and least respectful part of the body.

ThailandSocialstrictUpdated September 2, 2026

Resist the instinct to pat a child on the head affectionately; it’s genuinely off-limits, however friendly the intent. Adults touching each other’s heads is off-limits too, outside specific contexts like a haircut.

When sitting, keep your feet flat or tucked under rather than propped up or pointed at another person, a Buddha statue, or an image of the King. Never step over someone lying or sitting on the floor, their outstretched legs included, walk around them instead, even if it takes a few extra seconds in a crowded room.

Why it matters

These norms come from Buddhist and traditional Thai beliefs about the body. Thais believe the crown of the head houses a person's spiritual essence, called khwan, which is why even a friendly pat on a child's head is genuinely off-limits, not just old-fashioned manners. Feet sit at the opposite end of that hierarchy: the literal and symbolic lowest, least clean point of the body. Both taboos are taken seriously and consistently across generations.

Source: Feet Low, Head High: A Guide to Thai Etiquettes – Thailand Foundation

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