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Understanding Thailand: Culture, Sports and Cuisines

This guide provides useful information and links to resources on Thailand.

At A Glance

SAWADEE!

The following information have been carefully selected for your reference. Some resources may have bias perspectives. Please approach the SMU Libraries (library@smu.edu.sg ) should you have any doubts or need clarifications.

 

These videos show the distinct culture, belief, values, norms, and traditions of Thailand.

Local Culture

Popular Sports

Football (Soccer), Badminton, Golf, Tennis, Weight Lifting.

Traditional or Regional Sports

Muay Thai, Sepak Takraw, Kite Flying.

An interesting perspective: This little province, Loei, which is in the northeast corner of Isaan, is ideal for people who want to travel to a region that is still largely unaffected by international tourism. This video walks through the various unique activities, culture, and tradition festive that this little province still carries. 

Delicacies

Thai Noodles

Restaurants will serve Thai noodle dishes, particularly Pad Thai noodles. Noodles are more frequently served and eaten at street stalls that specialize in Thai noodle dishes. 

Thai Salad

Thai salad is often one of the spiciest Thai dishes and is frequently ordered as one of the many communal dishes in a meal.

Thai Curry And Soup

As Thai meals are typically served family style, with all diners sharing entrée, a Thai curry or soup is usually ordered with a meal.

Thai Desserts

Traditional Thai desserts are quite sweet, made predominately from various combinations of rice, coconut milk, and sugar, along with a few seemingly less common dessert ingredients, such as sweet corn or kidney beans.

Thai Beverages

While tap water is not generally recommended for consumption, ice is generally safe in Thailand and bottled water is ubiquitous and cheap. Fruit smoothies and fruit juice are both very popular: smoothies made with fresh fruit and sugar syrup are blended with ice that is generally safe to consume.

Thai Fruit

Thailand is undoubtedly a nation of fruits; fruit vendors sell dozens of different chilled fruits on street corners throughout the kingdom. Thai fruits include the familiar: banana, pineapple, watermelon, and papaya, as well as the exotic: dragon fruit, chompu, durian, and jackfruit.

Thai Cuisine

Take a tour of a traditional Thai food experience that needs to be known.

Explore the various Thailand cuisine to all-time favourites regarded by Thai through this video.

Insights

101 East examines if Thailand can save its moral soul. As increase scandals involving misbehaving monks rock the nation.

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