Thailand is a fascinating country filled with beautiful temples, tropical islands, incredible food, elephants, colorful festivals, and traditions that are very different from our own. These fun facts about Thailand are a great way for kids to learn more about the country, but we like to take it a little further.
When my family first explored Thailand from home, we didn’t just read about it. We made Thai curry, listened to Thai music, tried a traditional game, made elephant crafts, watched movies, and learned a little about everyday life in Thailand.
Whether you’re studying Thailand with your kids, planning a homeschool geography lesson, or just looking for a fun way to learn about another country, you’ll find Thailand facts for kids along with plenty of hands-on activities to bring the country to life.
Thailand at a Glance
Capital: Bangkok Continent: Asia Population: About 71 million people Official language: Thai Currency: Thai baht Main religion: Buddhism National animal: Thai elephant Former name: Siam Known for: Beautiful temples, tropical beaches, delicious food, elephants and colorful festivals Famous foods: Pad Thai, curries, mango sticky rice and tom yum soup
A little bit about Thailand
25 Fun Facts About Thailand
1. Thailand used to be called Siam
Thailand was known as Siam until 1939. That’s where the names Siamese cats and Siamese twins originally came from.
2. Thailand is the only Southeast Asian country that was never colonized by a European power
While neighboring countries came under European colonial rule, Thailand remained independent. In fact, the name Thailand is often translated as “Land of the Free.”
3. Bangkok is the capital of Thailand
Bangkok is Thailand’s enormous capital city and home to millions of people. It is known for everything from modern skyscrapers and busy markets to elaborate Buddhist temples.
4. Bangkok has a much longer ceremonial name
The name Bangkok is wonderfully simple compared with the city’s full Thai ceremonial name, which is extraordinarily long. Thai people generally call the city Krung Thep, meaning “City of Angels.”
5. Most people in Thailand practice Buddhism
The vast majority of Thailand’s population is Buddhist, and Buddhism has an enormous influence on Thai culture, traditions and everyday life.
6. Thailand has tens of thousands of Buddhist temples
Buddhist temples are called wats, and you’ll find them throughout the country. Some are hundreds of years old and decorated with gold, colorful tiles and intricate carvings.
7. Thailand is famous for its elephants
Elephants have played an important role in Thai history and culture for centuries. The Thai elephant is Thailand’s national animal, and elephant imagery appears throughout the country.
8. White elephants have traditionally been especially important
In Thai culture, rare white elephants have historically been associated with royalty and good fortune. They were considered incredibly valuable and were traditionally connected to the king.
9. Thailand has a king
Thailand is a constitutional monarchy, which means it has both a monarch and an elected government. The Thai monarchy has a long history and remains an important part of the country’s culture.
10. Thai is the official language
Thai has its own beautiful writing system that looks completely different from the English alphabet. The Thai script has 44 consonant letters.
11. Thai is a tonal language
The pitch you use when saying a Thai word can change its meaning. That can make learning Thai particularly interesting—and challenging—for English speakers.
12. The traditional Thai greeting is called a wai
Instead of shaking hands, you may see Thai people place their palms together near their chest and bow their heads slightly. This traditional greeting is called a wai.
13. Feet are considered the lowest part of the body
Pointing the bottom of your feet toward another person or a sacred object can be considered disrespectful in Thailand. This is especially important when visiting temples.
14. The head is considered especially important
In traditional Thai culture, the head is considered the highest and most sacred part of the body, so touching someone’s head isn’t generally considered polite.
15. Thailand celebrates a giant water festival
Songkran, the traditional Thai New Year celebration in April, is famous for enormous public water fights. Water is traditionally associated with cleansing and starting the new year fresh.
16. Thailand also celebrates a beautiful festival of lights
During Loy Krathong, people float small decorated baskets called krathongs on rivers and waterways. Seeing thousands of tiny lights floating across the water makes this one of Thailand’s most beautiful celebrations.
17. Rice is an incredibly important part of Thai food
Rice is a staple of Thai cuisine and agriculture. Thailand is particularly famous for its fragrant jasmine rice.
18. Thai food combines several different flavors
Many Thai dishes balance sweet, sour, salty, spicy and savory flavors in the same dish. That’s one of the things that makes Thai food taste so distinctive.
19. Pad Thai isn’t the only famous Thai food
Pad Thai may be one of the best-known Thai dishes outside the country, but Thai cuisine also includes curries, noodle dishes, soups, salads and desserts.
20. Mango sticky rice is a popular Thai dessert
This simple dessert combines sweet sticky rice, coconut milk and fresh mango. If you’re learning about Thailand with kids, it’s also a fairly easy Thai food to try at home.
21. Thailand has hundreds of islands
Thailand has islands scattered through both the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand. Some have become famous around the world for their white-sand beaches and dramatic limestone scenery.
22. Thailand is home to some enormous snakes
The reticulated python, one of the longest snake species in the world, lives in Thailand. The country is also home to king cobras and many other reptiles.
23. Monkeys live in Thailand too
Several species of monkeys and other primates live in Thailand, including macaques and gibbons. In some areas, monkeys have become very comfortable living close to people.
24. Muay Thai is Thailand’s national sport
Muay Thai, sometimes called Thai boxing, is a martial art that has been practiced in Thailand for centuries. It uses punches, kicks, knees and elbows.
25. Thailand has never stopped being one of our favorite countries to learn about
There is so much more to Thailand than a list of facts. Its food, music, dance, games, art and traditions give kids plenty of ways to actually experience some of Thai culture while learning about the country.
Fun Thailand Activities for Kids
Learning a few facts about Thailand is a great start, but we had much more fun when we actually tried some of the food, music, games and traditions ourselves.
You don’t have to do everything below. Pick a Thai recipe for dinner, make an elephant craft, learn a few dance moves or curl up with a movie set in Thailand. Or make a day of it and do several activities together.
What to make for your Thai food from home
Thai food has become a staple of many Americans’ diets and a favorite of foodies around the world. If you haven’t had it yet, you are in for a treat!
If you were overwhelmed by Germany’s dish, you will be very happy about this quick and delicious meal.
I love any kind of Thai curry! I love the depth of flavor the unexpected acid that meets sweet and creamy coconut and add in garlic and ginger and it might be my favorite dish ever. (I say that about a lot of food!)
I make curry quite often because it is a quick and easy meal and I can use whatever vegetables I happen to have on hand.
I used this recipe as a general guide and used they vegetables I preferred. (zucchini, red pepper, onions, snap peas and pineapple.) You can use whatever protein you want to as well. I am using chicken, but I love curry with shrimp or scallops!
Spectacular Thai curry really comes down to having the right curry paste and little touches like curry leaves or lemon grass. (I freeze lemon grass in little pieces in the freezer so I always have some.) If you don’t have either you will be ok, just add some extra fresh garlic and a little brown sugar and it will still be delicious.
For years, I couldn’t figure out why my curry wasn’t as good as my favorite restaurant so I finally asked the chef and she said you are using the wrong paste.
One of our favorite ways to learn about another country is through movies. Thailand has been the setting for quite a few family films, although some are definitely better suited to older kids.
There were quite a few movies that had Thailand featured in them. We watched 3-4 of them this week! These were our two favorites.
“The King and I”
The King and I is a classic movie musical based in Siam (modern day Thailand). It tells the true story of an English schoolteacher who was hired to teach the scores of children of the King of Siam. Cultural clashes occur again and again.
I love that the movie really draws focus on understanding each other despite our differences. Isn’t that why we want to travel the world in the first place?
This is a movie that will stay with you long after it is over. I watched it years ago and think about it often, it is a story of a family’s triumph and being able to overcome something horrendous.
This true story follows a young family who is in Thailand for vacation when the 2004 tsunami happens. They are swept up in the form and what follows is truly “impossible.”
A young Tom Holland (of Spiderman fame) is so incredibly moving in this movie and has the most screen time of anyone in the movie. He is remarkable.
My kids who are 12 and up were riveted and moved during the movie. I wouldn’t recommend it for kids much younger as it is very intense and might be scary due to subject matter.
This may be my favorite book we have read yet! It is a book that will entertain and teach your children all about Thailand and has songs, activities and fun trivia.
You can buy it through Kindle, but I would recommend buying the actual book so your kids can use it fully.
For older kids and adults I recommend:
The Bridge Over the River Kwai– a book about Japanese POW’s who have to build a bridge from Burma to Thailand. This is a classic for a reason!
Learn how to do a Traditional Thai dance
This was really fun to watch and to try to do. It is easier than many because it is slow and repetitive. If you want to go all out, make a crown and try to keep in on your head while you do the dance!
Videos from Thailand
I highly recommend this nursery rhyme song from Thailand. Its catchy and your kids will enjoy the actions and the repetitive words. They will be singing in Thai in no time.
National Geographic has a fabulous series called “Are we there yet?” is so amazing for kids. There are multiple videos for Thailand including Bangkok and different wild life.
Make a Thai Inspired Elephant
Adorable foil elephants
This is a great craft for any age and we all spent an hour or so perfecting our little elephants. So here is what you need:
A flat piece of cardboard (We used a cereal box and an insert from some new sheets.)
Aluminum foil
Craft paints
Paint brushes
Hot glue or Elmer’s glue
Follow this tutorial. (KidWorldCitizen.com is a fabulous resource for those of you who want more craft ideas!)
We used Elmer’s glue and hot glue to see which one we liked better. The hot glue means that you will be able to make this craft all in one setting, but the outline is bumpier and harder to get the foil lie flat. Here is the one using hot glue.
Here is one made from Elmer’s glue that we traced the night before and let dry.
This one is a combo of hot glue and Elmer’s glue
For those of you who don’t think you can’t draw an elephant this is the tutorial we followed. It was much easier than I had anticipated! Of course some of the kids just freehanded it and they were just as charming.
Play a traditional Thai game
Len Saba is one of the oldest games in Thailand.
To play you will need:
Something the same size as a Saba seed. I found that racquetball balls were the closest easily available substitution. You could also use small bean bags to mimic the unusual shape of the Saba.
To Play Len Saba:
Each player gets a turn with the “Saba seed” and you try to hit your opponent using only your knees, feet, or legs. Once you hit your player, they are now it and try to hit the others with the Saba seed.
Music from Thailand
We try to listen to music from each country while we do our craft projects. We really enjoyed this calming music from Thailand. Try playing it while you eat to feel like you have been transported to a small restaurant in Thailand.
Thailand Facts for Kids FAQ
What are some fun facts about Thailand for kids?
Thailand is a country in Southeast Asia known for its beautiful beaches, tropical forests, ornate temples, delicious food, and elephants. Thailand was once called Siam, its capital is Bangkok, and the official language is Thai. Thailand is also one of the few countries in Southeast Asia that was never colonized by a European power.
What is Thailand famous for?
Thailand is famous for its Buddhist temples, tropical islands, street food, colorful festivals, elephants, and cities like Bangkok and Chiang Mai. Thai foods such as pad Thai, curries, mango sticky rice, and tom yum are also popular around the world.
What is the national animal of Thailand?
The Thai elephant is the national animal of Thailand. Elephants have played an important role in Thai history and culture for centuries, which makes an elephant craft a fun activity to include when kids are learning about Thailand.
What language do people speak in Thailand?
The official language of Thailand is Thai. English is also commonly encountered in major tourist areas, but Thai is the primary language spoken throughout the country.
What is Thailand’s capital?
Bangkok is the capital and largest city of Thailand. It is known for its temples, markets, street food, canals, shopping, and busy city streets.
What are some Thailand activities for kids?
Kids can learn about Thailand by making Thai food, creating an elephant craft, trying a traditional Thai dance, listening to Thai music, reading books about Thailand, watching age-appropriate movies, or trying a traditional game such as Len Saba.
What food is Thailand known for?
Thailand is known for dishes that combine sweet, sour, salty, spicy, and savory flavors. Popular Thai foods include pad Thai, green and red curries, tom yum soup, papaya salad, satay, and mango sticky rice.
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Last update on 2026-09-11 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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