Every country in the world has its dos and don’ts, and Thailand is not an exception. Going against the norms in any country can jeopardize anyone’s safety. So, if you are traveling to Thailand for any reason, you may be wondering whether you can wear red t-shirts in the country or not.
Without a doubt, wearing a red t-shirt is not against the law or norm in Thailand and, as such, it is safe for you to wear red t-shirts during your stay in Thailand. However, it is important to understand that wearing a red t-shirt used to have a strong political meaning in Thailand, and this is why many Thais don’t wear red t-shirts. Nevertheless, it doesn’t mean that anyone will harm you because you are wearing red t-shirts in Thailand.
Again, you don’t have to be afraid of wearing red t-shirts in Thailand. As stated by many commenters on Trip Advisor, lots of foreigners wear red t-shirts in the country. However, there are some essential things you need to know about wearing red t-shirts in the Land of Smiles.
Red t-shirts used to be considered as the symbols of an anti-government group
Before you start wearing red t-shirts in Thailand, you should know the story associated with them in the country. Several years ago, an anti-government group called Sua Daeng was formed by some individuals that were against the government of Thailand. Translated as ‘red shirts’ in the Thai language, Sua Daeng tried as much as possible to oust the government of the period. The group used to wear red t-shirts to demonstrate their protest against the government.
Although some individuals believed the group was fighting the injustice perpetrated by the government, others felt Sua Daeng was aggressive and could destroy the country. Factually, it was once called “a terrorist group” by the Thai government.
Around 2006 and the following years, red t-shirts and yellow t-shirts were used to show support or non-support for former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. There were massive protests after the military took over the reign of the country. You can learn more about the protest in Britannica.
Today, all these things are no longer concerns for anyone in Thailand. Therefore, both the locals and foreigners can wear red t-shirts in the country without any safety issues.
Why do lots of people don’t still wear red t-shirts in Thailand?
Although you are safe when wearing red t-shirts in Thailand, you should note that many Thais still don’t wear red t-shirts. This could be because of the undesirable history of wearing red t-shirts in the country. During the time of Sua Daeng, many individuals disposed of their red t-shirts. Also, they have unconsciously developed an aversion to wearing those shirts. Besides, red is considered to denote danger in many cultures; hence, many individuals do not deem it fit to wear red t-shirts in the country.
Nevertheless, no one will frown at you for wearing a red t-shirt in the country. So, you can adorn your red t-shirts without any fear.
A handful of locals wear red t-shirts for different reasons
As stated earlier, red t-shirts are not worn regularly by lots of people in Thailand. However, you may still come across some Thais that wear these t-shirts in the country.
In many cases, football fans wear red t-shirts of the clubs they support without any issue. Typically, in Thailand, numerous football fans support Manchester United FC and Liverpool FC of England. These two English football clubs often wear red shirts as their home jerseys. Therefore, Thai fans of these clubs wear red jerseys, especially on match days. So, it is not strange to see football fans wearing red t-shirts in Thailand.
In addition, several other individuals wear red t-shirts in Thailand for fashion reasons. They may just want to show off their latest red t-shirts. Of course, they are safe to wear red t-shirts, so there is no cause for alarm.
Dress modestly in Thailand
As explained above, you are safe to wear red t-shirts in Thailand. But if you are still concerned about it, then you should consider leaving your red t-shirts at home and wearing something else throughout your stay in Thailand. This will ensure that you don’t have an unfounded fear of wearing red t-shirts in the country.
When you are in the Land of Smiles, you must apply modesty to your dressing. Thais are modest in their dressings. Therefore, as a foreigner, you should respect the culture and ways of the locals by dressing modestly.
To dress modestly in Thailand, you have to consider the following points:
- Don’t wear any red t-shirt with any political message. Even if you don’t mean it, it could be considered offensive by some individuals, and this could jeopardize your safety. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the words or pictures on any red t-shirt before adorning it.
- Make sure that anything you are wearing covers knees and shoulders. Don’t wear revealing that may show your lap, hips, nipples, buttocks, etc. This applies to males and females. However, if you are at the beach or other related settings, it may not be necessary to cover shoulders and knees.
- You can wear a polo, blouse, or t-shirt. Nonetheless, you must avoid wearing a tank top as it exposes some parts of your upper body.
- Don’t walk around barefooted in Thailand as it is considered to be offensive.
- As a woman, you should not wear anything that may show your cleavage.
- Whenever you want to visit a temple, it is even more important to observe all these rules. Besides, you should read the rules at the entrance of some of the Buddhist temples in Thailand.
In conclusion, it is safe to wear red t-shirts in Thailand as there are no rules or issues associated with adorning them. However, red t-shirts were once used for protesting against the government in Thailand. As a result of this, lots of Thais don’t like wearing red T-shirts, but you may see some locals adorning them.
