Portal:Thailand

Kingdom of Thailand
ราชอาณาจักรไทย (Thai)
*Ratcha-anachak Thai*
Kingdom of Thailand ราชอาณาจักรไทย (Thai); Ratcha-anachak Thai;
	Flag Coat of arms
ISO 3166 code	TH

Welcome to the Thailand Portal / สถานีย่อยประเทศไทย

Map of Thailand

Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand and historically known as Siam, is a country in Southeast Asia on the Indochinese Peninsula. With a population of almost 70 million, it spans 513,120 square kilometres (198,120 sq mi). Thailand is bordered to the northwest by Myanmar, to the northeast 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 nation's capital and largest city.

Apart from a brief period of parliamentary democracy in the mid-1970s, Thailand has periodically alternated between democracy and military rule. Since the 2000s, the country has been caught in continual bitter political conflict between supporters and opponents of 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, and it ranks very high in the Human Development Index. It has the second-largest economy in Southeast Asia and the 23rd-largest in the world by PPP, and it ranks 91st by nominal GDP per capita. Thailand is classified as a newly industrialised economy, with manufacturing, agriculture, and tourism as leading sectors. (Full article...)

Selected articles -

Image 1

In Thailand, protests began in early 2020 with demonstrations against the government of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. They later expanded to include the unprecedented demands for reform of the Thai monarchy. The protests were initially triggered by the dissolution of the Future Forward Party (FFP) in late February 2020 which was critical of Prayut, the changes to the Thai constitution in 2017, and the country's political landscape that it gave rise to.

This first wave of protests was held exclusively on academic campuses and was brought to a halt by the COVID-19 pandemic. Protests resumed on 18 July 2020 with a large demonstration organised under the Free Youth umbrella at the Democracy Monument in Bangkok. Three demands were presented to the Government of Thailand: the dissolution of parliament, ending intimidation of the people, and the drafting of a new constitution. The July protests were triggered by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and enforcement of the lockdown Emergency Decree and spread nationwide. The protesters were mostly students and young people without an overall leader. (Full article...)
Image 2

Halfmoon male

The Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens), commonly known as the betta, is a freshwater fish native to Southeast Asia, namely Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam. It is one of 73 species of the genus Betta, but the only one eponymously called "betta", owing to its global popularity as a pet; Betta splendens are among the most popular aquarium fish in the world, due to their diverse and colorful morphology and relatively low maintenance.

Siamese fighting fish are endemic to the central plain of Thailand, where they were first domesticated at least 1,000 years ago, among the longest of any fish. They were initially bred for aggression and subject to gambling matches akin to cockfighting. Bettas became known outside Thailand through King Rama III (1788–1851), who is said to have given some to Theodore Cantor, a Danish physician, zoologist, and botanist. They first appeared in the West in the late 19th century, and within decades became popular as ornamental fish. B. splendens long history of selective breeding has produced a wide variety of coloration and finnage, earning it the moniker, "designer fish of the aquatic world". (Full article...)
Image 3

Parinya Charoenphol at Fairtex Gym in Bangkok.

Parinya Charoenphol (born 9 June 1981) (Thai: ปริญญา เจริญผล; RTGS: parinya charoenphon), nicknamed Toom, also known by the stage name Parinya Kiatbusaba and the colloquial name Nong Toom or Nong Tum, is a Thai boxer, former muay Thai (Thai boxing) champion, model and actress. She is a kathoey, a Thai word referring to what is often considered a distinct gender in Thailand and elsewhere generally considered to be gender-nonconforming men or transgender women. At the age of 18, she underwent sex reassignment surgery. (Full article...)
Image 4
The Legend of Suriyothai (Thai: สุริโยไท) is a 2001 Thai film directed by Chatrichalerm Yukol, which portrays the life of Queen Suriyothai, who is regarded by Thai people as the "great feminist". It records the climax when she takes her battle elephant in front of the Burmese army and sacrifices herself to save the life of her King Maha Chakkraphat and his kingdom. It was Thailand's most expensive film and the highest-grossing, until it was surpassed by Pee Mak. (Full article...)
Image 5

Lisa in June 2023

Lalisa Manobal (also spelled Manoban; born Pranpriya Manobal; March 27, 1997), known mononymously as Lisa (Korean: 리사), is a Thai rapper, singer and dancer. She is a member of the South Korean girl group Blackpink, which debuted under YG Entertainment in August 2016.

Lisa made her solo debut with her single album Lalisa in September 2021, which made her the first female artist to sell 736,000 copies of an album in its first week in South Korea. The music video for its lead single of the same name broke the record for the most-viewed music video in the first 24 hours on YouTube by a solo artist. Both "Lalisa" and the album's viral second single "Money" charted in the top ten of the Billboard Global 200, the latter becoming the longest-charting song by a female K-pop soloist on the US Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart. Lalisa and "Money" became the first album and song by a K-pop solo artist to reach one billion streams on Spotify, respectively. (Full article...)
Image 6

Phra Pathommachedi

Phra Pathommachedi or Phra Pathom Chedi (Thai: พระปฐมเจดีย์) is a Buddhist stupa in Thailand. The stupa is located in the Wat Phra Pathommachedi Ratcha Wora Maha Wihan (Thai: วัดพระปฐมเจดีย์ราชวรมหาวิหาร), a temple in the town center of Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Pathom Province, Thailand. Phra Pathommachedi is the tallest stupa in the world. The top of its spire reaches 120.45 meters, with the base circumference of 235.50 meters.

The name Phra Pathommachedi means the first holy stupa, given by king Mongkut. Modern Historians believe that the stupa was one of the principal stupas of ancient Nakhon Pathom, the largest city of the Mon kingdom of Dvaravati in Nakhon Pathom area together with the nearby Phra Prathon Chedi (Thai: พระประโทณเจดีย์) during the 6th to the 8th centuries. (Full article...)
Image 7

Results by constituency

General elections were held in Thailand on 24 March 2019. They were the first elections since the 2014 Thai coup d'état that installed coup leader General Prayut Chan-o-cha as prime minister, and the first held in accordance with the 2017 constitution, which was drafted under the ruling military junta. The elections selected the five hundred members of the new House of Representatives, the previous House having been dissolved by the coup.

Seventy-seven parties contested the elections, including the two major parties, Pheu Thai (which supported former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and held a majority of seats prior to the coup) and the Democrat Party (the main opposition party prior to the coup). They were joined by several new parties, which mostly campaigned on a pro- or anti-junta stance. The former included the Prayut-aligned Palang Pracharath Party, while the latter included the Future Forward Party, which catered to young voters, as well as several Pheu Thai–aligned parties. (Full article...)
Image 8
Postcards of monks on Dhutanga in the early 20th century

The Kammatthana meditation tradition originally grew out of the Dhammayut reform movement, founded by Mongkut in the 1820s as an attempt to raise the bar for what was perceived as the "lax" Buddhist practice of the regional Buddhist traditions at the time. Mongkut's reforms were originally focused on scriptural study of the earliest extant Buddhist texts, revival of the dhutanga ascetic practices, and close adherence to the Buddhist Monastic Code (Pali: vinaya). However, the Dhammayut began to have an increasing emphasis on meditation as the 19th century progressed. During this time, a newly ordained Mun Bhuridatto went to stay with Ajahn Sao Kantasīlo, who was then the abbot of a small meditation-oriented monastery on the outskirts of Ubon Ratchathani, a province in the predominantly Lao-speaking cultural region of Northeast Thailand known as Isan.

Ajahn Mun learned from Ajahn Sao in the late 19th century, where he studied amidst the growing meditation culture in Isan's Dhammayut monasteries as a result of Mongkut's reforms a half-century earlier. Wandering the rural frontier of Northeast Thailand with Ajahn Sao in rigorous ascetic practices (Pali: dhutanga; Thai: tudong). Ajahn Mun traveled abroad to neighboring regions for a time, hoping to reach levels of meditative adeptness known as the noble attainments (Pali: ariya-phala), which culminate in the experience of Nibbana — the final goal of a Theravada Buddhist practitioner. (Full article...)
Image 9
Thailand's official national lottery (Thai: สลากกินแบ่ง, RTGS: salak kin baeng) is administered by The Government Lottery Office (GLO). The lottery is drawn on the first and the sixteenth of every month. It is one of only two forms of legalised gambling permitted in Thailand, the other being horse racing in Bangkok.

The lottery in Thailand is hugely popular despite the low odds of winning and the unfavourable payout ratio. The payout ratio for the Thai lottery is 60%, as compared with world-wide averages of 74% for bingo, 81% for horse racing, 89% for slot machines, and 98% in blackjack (basic rules). It is the most popular legal form of gambling in Thailand. (Full article...)
Image 10

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep (Thai: วัดพระธาตุดอยสุเทพ, Thai pronunciation: [wát.pʰráʔ.tʰâːt.dɔ̄ːj.sùʔ.tʰêːp], Northern Thai pronunciation: [wa̋t.pʰa̋ʔ.tʰâːt.dɔ̄ːj.súʔ.têep]) is a Theravada Buddhist temple (wat) in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. The temple is often referred to as "Doi Suthep" although this is actually the name of the mountain where it is located. It is a sacred site to many Thai people. The temple is 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from the city of Chiang Mai and situated at an elevation of 1,073 meters. From the temple, impressive views of downtown Chiang Mai can be seen. (Full article...)

General images

The following are images from various Thailand-related articles on Wikipedia.

Image 1Muay Thai match in Bangkok, Thailand (from Culture of Thailand)
Image 2Thaksin Shinawatra, Prime Minister of Thailand, 2001–2006. (from History of Thailand)
Image 3The 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)
Image 4The roads along the old moat of Chiang Mai are full of vehicles during the Songkran water splashing festival. (from Culture of Thailand)
Image 5The Khmer temple of Wat Phra Prang Sam Yod, Lopburi. (from History of Thailand)
Image 615th-century Kalong ware glazed stoneware dish (from Culture of Thailand)
Image 7Siamese Expeditionary Forces in Paris Victory Parade, 1919. (from History of Thailand)
Image 8Yi Peng, floating lantern festival in Northern Thailand, observed around the same time as Loy Krathong. (from Culture of Thailand)
Image 9Walking Street, Pattaya (from History of Thailand)
Image 10Ananta 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)
Image 11Protesters mobilising, 1 December 2013 (from History of Thailand)
Image 12King Maha Vajiralongkorn. (from History of Thailand)
Image 13Thai women wearing sabai (pha biang), Jim Thompson House (from Culture of Thailand)
Image 14A wedding ceremony in Thailand. (from Culture of Thailand)
Image 15Khaosan Road, Bangkok (from History of Thailand)
Image 16Funeral pyre of Chan Kusalo, the patriarch-abbot of northern Thailand. (from Culture of Thailand)
Image 17King Chulalongkorn (from History of Thailand)
Image 18The statue of Sunthorn Phu at the Sunthorn Phu Memorial in Klaeng District, Rayong Province. (from Culture of Thailand)
Image 19Thai women wearing Isan Modifide sinh dress for Boon Bang Fai festival in Roi Et (from Culture of Thailand)
Image 20Mural painting at Phra Thi Nang Phutthaisawan dates back to the early Rattanakosin period. (from Culture of Thailand)
Image 21Wat Phra Kaew, an example of early Rattanakosin period architecture located in Bangkok's historic Rattanakosin Island. (from Culture of Thailand)
Image 22Schoolgirls and boys playing khrueang sai in front of a temple (from Culture of Thailand)
Image 23A 14-year-old Vietnamese contaminated with Agent Orange. (from History of Thailand)
Image 24People's Alliance for Democracy, Yellow Shirts, rally on Sukhumvit Road in 2008. (from History of Thailand)
Image 25King Prajadhipok signing the Permanent Constitution of Siam on 10 December 1932 (from History of Thailand)
Image 26Mural painting of the epic Ramakien depicts the Hanuman enlarging his body to rescue Phra Ram. (from Culture of Thailand)
Image 27Five states of Siam that emerged from the dissolution of the Ayutthaya Kingdom in 1767 (from History of Thailand)
Image 28Traditional Thai desserts (from Culture of Thailand)
Image 29A group of Kalae houses, traditional northern Thai house located at Thawan Duchanee's house in Chiang Rai. (from Culture of Thailand)
Image 30The image depicts Khon, a traditional dance drama that has been recognized as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2018. (from Culture of Thailand)
Image 31Map 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)
Image 32Thai soldiers at the Chang Phueak Gate in Chiang Mai. (from History of Thailand)
Image 33Mural painting in Wat Borom Niwat by Khrua In Khong. (from Culture of Thailand)
Image 34Mural painting in Wat Amphawan Chetiyaram showing the royal cremation ceremony (from Culture of Thailand)
Image 35United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship, Red Shirts, protest on Ratchaprasong intersection in 2010. (from History of Thailand)
Image 36Siam in 1900 (from History of Thailand)
Image 37Buakaw Banchamek, a famous Muay Thai fighter (from Culture of Thailand)
Image 38Painted pottery bowls from the Ban Chiang archaeological site. (from Culture of Thailand)
Image 39General Prayut Chan-o-cha, the coup leader (from History of Thailand)
Image 4015th-16th century Sawankhalok stoneware with brown underglaze and pale blue glaze (from Culture of Thailand)
Image 4117th-19th century Benjarong style ceramics from Ayutthaya. (from Culture of Thailand)
Image 42People floating krathong rafts during the Loi Krathong festival in Chiang Mai, Thailand (from Culture of Thailand)
Image 43Phibun welcomes students of Chulalongkorn University, at Bangkok's Grand Palace – 8 October 1940. (from History of Thailand)
Image 44Buddhist novices receiving joss sticks. (from Culture of Thailand)
Image 45Thai greeting, the smile is an important symbol of refinement in Thai culture. (from Culture of Thailand)
Image 46A Buddha from Wat Kukkut, Lamphun (from History of Thailand)
Image 47Wat 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)
Image 48Gurkhas guide disarmed Japanese soldiers from Bangkok to prisoner of war camps outside the city, September 1945 (from History of Thailand)
Image 49A group of traditional Thai houses at King Rama II Memorial Park in Amphawa, Samut Songkhram. (from Culture of Thailand)
Image 50The ruins of Ayutthaya city was completely buried beneath a mass of jungle vegetation in 1930. (from History of Thailand)
Image 51Display 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)
Image 52A traditional wedding in Thailand. (from Culture of Thailand)

List articles

More Thailand-related lists

Good article -

This is a Good article, an article that meets a core set of high editorial standards.

Luang Por Dattajivo (Thai: ทตฺตชีโว, RTGS: Thattachiwo; Pali: Dattajīvo; born 21 December 1940), also known by his birth name Phadet Phongsawat (Thai: เผด็จ ผ่องสวัสดิ์) and former ecclesiastical title Phrarajbhavanajahn (Thai: พระราชภาวนาจารย์, RTGS: Phra Rat Phawanachan), is a Thai Buddhist monk. He is the former deputy-abbot of Wat Phra Dhammakaya and the vice-president of the Dhammakaya Foundation, and was the observing abbot of the temple from 1999 until 2006, and again from 2011 until 2016. he was still widely considered the de facto abbot. He met Mae chi (nun) Chandra Khonnokyoong and Luang Por Dhammajayo in his student years, and they have been his teachers throughout his life.

Luang Por Dattajivo was ordained in 1971, and quickly became a prolific author. He also took on a significant role in managing Wat Phra Dhammakaya. It was for this position that he was charged by the Thai military junta in 2017, when he refused to deliver Luang Por Dhammajayo to the authorities. This happened during the lockdown by the Thai junta, when abbot Luang Por Dhammajayo was sought for charges of receiving ill-gotten gains, charges which have been widely described as politically motivated. (Full article...)

List of Good articles

Did you know (auto-generated) -

... that in 2021, Christina Soontornvat became the first author to win two Newbery Honors in the same year for both fiction (A Wish in the Dark) and nonfiction (All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys' Soccer Team)?
... that Thai YouTuber MindaRyn began an anime singing career after her music covers were noticed by a Japanese record label?
... that the first Thai typewriter left out two letters, which eventually became obsolete?
... that Chetana Nagavajara initiated and led arts-criticism research projects in Thailand in the early 2000s?
... that "gambling lord" Hong Taechawanit's mansion in Thailand became a police station?
... that in addition to running Bangkok's first power station, the Siam Electricity Company also operated half the city's tram lines and a fire brigade?
... that the Thai Supreme Court opinion concerning the murder of Jenjira Ployangunsri is often quoted on Valentine's Day?
... that British animal-welfare activist Shirley McGreal founded the International Primate Protection League, after seeing trafficked monkeys in cages at an airport in Thailand?

Selected fare or cuisine -

A bowl of kaeng phet pet yang, roast duck in red curry

Thai curry (Thai: แกง, romanized: kaeng, pronounced [kɛ̄ːŋ]) is a dish in Thai cuisine made from curry paste, coconut milk or water, meat, seafood, vegetables or fruit, and herbs. Curries in Thailand mainly differ from the curries in India in their use of ingredients such as herbs and aromatic leaves over a mix of spices. (Full article...)

List of fare/cuisine articles
Thai cuisine Tom yum Street food of Thailand Beer in Thailand Chim chum Pad thai Thai salads Nine auspicious Thai desserts Miang kham Mango sticky rice Khao tom Thai fried rice Phuket cuisine Naem Khao kha mu Pla ra Kaeng som

Selected picture -

Credit:ooboyoo (uploaded by Manop)

The interior of the new Suvarnabhumi Airport, also known as (New) Bangkok International Airport (Thai: ท่าอากาศยานสุวรรณภูมิ).

More did you know -

... that about 6 million people are infected with Opisthorchis viverrini (pictured) in Thailand?

Thailand topics

History:	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
Politics:	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
Economy:	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
Geography:	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
Provinces:	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
Culture:	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
Others:	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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