Greeting & Manners S A W A D D E E A beautiful expression of welcome, the Thai greeting, or a WAI, is accomplished by placing the palms and fingers together and bringing the hands to neck level, with head slightly bowed. All Thais greet one another in the manner, with the word Sawaddee, ending in Kha for women and Khrap for men. M A N N E R S The head and feet are two symbolic parts of the bodys. The head, being the highest part, is treated with great respect. It's taboo to touch a Thai on the head, even to express fondness. In the same light, it is considered rude to point one's feet at anyone. When sitting on the floor, Thai men usually sit cross-legged, while women fold their feet under their legs. When entering a Thai house, the visitor is expected to remove his shoes and leave them at the entrance. . The typical Thai house contains a lounge or sitting room with floor mats and cushions. Public displays of affection, such as hugging and kissing, are frowned upon. Thais address each other and foreigners with the first name preceded by the word Khun. A simple Khun will suffice if you want to address a stranger.