10 Myths About Thailand

Whether you’re enjoying an overpriced iced coffee at a Starbucks or sipping chilled water in a rough-looking street diner down a back alley, your chances of getting sick from ice are virtually zero.

All shops, bars and restaurants in Thailand order their ice from certified vendors – or get it from the local 7-Eleven, which use the same vendors. It’s all made from clean water.

If you’re rummaging through a pile of 1,000-baht Louis Vuitton bags spread over the floor of a night market, they’re bound to be copies. But the claim that all brand items in Thailand are fake is a complete myth, with literally hundreds of malls across the country selling the real deal.

For the biggest concentration of luxury brands, head to Central Embassy, Paragon or Gaysorn Plaza in Bangkok.

This is a myth that started on the Thai islands and spread through word of mouth across the Southeast Asian backpacking trail. Although this potent mix of whiskey, coke and energy drink might make you feel like you’ve ingested something illegal, the old story of Thai Red Bull (or an equivalent like M150) containing amphetamines is untrue and never has been.

Even so, these buckets are loaded with alcohol, sugar, caffeine, taurine and a whole list of other additives, which might explain the delusional state you’ll be in after finishing 2 of them.

The truth is, Thailand has a bad reputation for sex tourism, but the idea that all guys come here for one thing only is now all but a myth. Bangkok, especially, is a global city, full of international companies hiring expats and schools in need of native English teachers.

The thriving shopping, dining and nightlife scene in the capital has been gradually suppressing Thailand’s outdated, sleazy side for years (though we admit, it is still here in small pockets).

Just like the British don’t sit down for ‘high tea’ every day and the Japanese don’t exclusively live off raw fish, eating Thai food doesn’t mean you’re going to blow your head off with spice.

Popular dishes like noodle soups, chicken over rice, pad Thai and fried rice are all mild, with chilli added to taste after they are served. That said, those with more of a sensitive palate should beware of the likes of som tam, tom yam goong and nam tok. Remember the phrase "mai ped" (not spicy) to wimp out.

No, you can’t get half price off that pair of sunglasses at Chatuchak as 50 baht for a pair of fake Ray Bans is low enough already. And, if anything, you should be paying the poor lady massaging your feet more, not less.

Of course, bargaining is acceptable at markets, but keep it sensible and politely ask, "Lod dai mai?" (discount?) to get a small reduction, if you’re lucky. As for malls, don’t even bother unless you’re at MBK or Pantip Plaza.

The humble pair of chopsticks is an image of Asia, but don’t be fooled into thinking this is the only way Thais eat their food.

In fact, a spoon and fork is the most popular choice of cutlery, with chopsticks usually reserved for noodle dishes only.