Business Culture: Business Attire

Visitors who are attending meetings with government officials should wear suits in dark or muted colors.

Foreign women should wear conservative suits or dresses that have hemlines to the knees.

Business attire in Thailand is formal and conservative.

Both foreign men and women can wear Western-style attire to social events, as long as it is tailored and modest.

Climate and Region

Bordering Myanmar, Malaysia, Cambodia, and Laos, Thailand's terrain includes mountains, savannah plain, and long coastlines. The physical conditions encountered in Thailand will vary depending on the region, as the northern region has distinct summer and winter seasons, while the southern part has fairly consistent hot temperatures year-round. Overall, Thailand has a tropical climate, so conditions are humid and hot throughout the year. However, March through May are the hottest months, and have minimal rainfall; visitors from June through October usually encounter hot, rainy weather; and November through February is generally cool with lower humidity. In the northern part of the country, temperatures are around 16°C (60°F) in the winter, while temperatures average around 30°C (85°F) during the summer. In the southern region, temperatures are typically between 25°C and 30°C (76°F and 85°F) year-round. The dry northwest monsoon (a wind that brings cooler and drier weather) occurs between November and the end of March, while the wet southwest monsoon occurs from mid-May until early October. Visitors are advised to bring umbrellas during all times of the year. However, the business visitor's actual destination will influence what clothing and accessories to bring.

For most business travelers, Bangkok, along the coastline of the Gulf of Thailand, will be the destination. This capital city features a tropical wet and dry climate. In Bangkok, average daily temperatures reach around 30°C (around 85°F). The dry months are between November and February, while the rainy months occur between May and October.

Meetings and Presentations

Business attire in Thailand is formal and conservative, and most Thais pay close attention to appearance. This is partly because they use a visitor's clothing and accessories to determine the visitor's place in the hierarchy of his or her firm. Visitors who are attending meetings with government officials should wear suits, with dark or muted colors preferred. Foreign men should wear lightweight, conservative suits with jackets and ties for work, at least to the first meeting. After the business relationship has been established, many foreign men wear slacks and open-necked shirts. Foreign women should wear conservative suits or dresses that have hemlines to the knees. Foreign women should never wear sleeveless shirts or skirts or dresses with hemlines above the knee. Women do not need to wear hosiery. Lightweight clothing is essential, and visitors should bring clothing that doesn't wrinkle easily. Also, though it is balmy outside, office buildings in Thailand are usually very cold, so visitors may want to bring sweaters or shawls.

Social and Networking Events

Plan on conservative, modest attire for social occasions in Thailand. Thai men wear dark business suits or traditional Thai shirts to evening events. Thai women usually wear conservative dresses, simple blouses with calf-length, loose-fitting pants, or long wraparound skirts to informal events. Both foreign men and women can wear Western-style attire to social events, as long as it is tailored and modest. Reserve shorts and tennis shoes for the gym or beach while in Thailand.