Thai Society & Culture
• The wai is the common form of greeting and adheres to strict rules of protocol.
• The wai is both a sign of respect as well as a greeting. Respect and courtesy are demonstrated by the height at which the hands are held and how low the head comes down to meet the thumbs of both hands.
• The wai may be made while sitting, walking, or standing.
• The senior person returns the wai, generally with their hands raised to somewhere around their chest.