ITC (International Training Center on AIDS, TB and STIs)

“Train to become effective program managers on AIDS, TB and
STIs at Thailand’s International Training Center (ITC)”



	The kingdom of Thailand lies in the heart of Southeast Asia, making it a natural gateway to Indochina, Myanmar and Southern China. Its shape and geography divide into four natural regions:
	The mountains and forests of the North; The vast rice fields of the Central Plains; The semi-arid farm lands of the Northeast plateau; and The tropical islands and long coastline of the peninsula South.
	The country comprises 76 provinces that are further divided into districts, sub-districts and villages. Bangkok is the capital city and centre of political, commercial, industrial and cultural activities. It is also the seat of Thailand's revered Royal Family, with His Majesty the King recognised as Head of State, Head of the Armed Forces, Upholder of the Buddhist religion and Upholder of all religions.

	Thailand is a constitutional monarchy with His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, or King Rama IX, the ninth king of the Chakri Dynasty, the present king. The King has reigned for more than half a century, making him the longest reigning Thai monarch. Thailand embraces a rich diversity of cultures and traditions. With its proud history, tropical climate and renowned hospitality, the Kingdom is a never-ending source of fascination and pleasure for international visitors.

	Head of State:
	H.R.H. King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX of the Chakri Dynasty)

	Prime Minister:
	Abhisit Vejjajiva

	Government:
	Thailand has had a constitutional monarchy since 1932. Parliament is composed of 2 houses, the House of Representatives and the Senate. Both representatives and senators are elected by the people. A prime minister elected from among the representatives leads the government. The country is divided into 76 provinces. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) comes under an elected governor. Appointed provincial governors administer the other 75 provinces (Changwat), which are divided into districts (Amphoe), sub-districts (Tambon) and villages (Mu Ban).

	Administration:
	76 provinces, each subdivided into amphoe (district), tambon (sub-district) and muban (village)

	Neighboring Countries:
	Myanmar - west and north, Lao P.D.R. - north and northeast, Cambodia - southeast and Malaysia - south.
	Capital:
	Bangkok (Krung Thep, meaning "City of Angels")

	Land Area: 513,115 sq. km.

	Topography:

	Thailand is divided into 4 natural regions:
	The mountainous North, with its profusion of multi-coloured orchids, fascinating native handicrafts and winter temperatures are sufficiently cool to permit cultivation of temperate fruits such as strawberries and peaches; The high Northeast Plateau, which still jealously guards its many archaeological and anthropological mysteries The Central Plain, one of the world's most fertile rice and fruit-growing areas with colourful traditional culture and way of life as well as the sandy beaches of the East Coast and vibrant cosmopolitan Bangkok; The peninsular South where the unspoiled beaches and idyllic islands complement economically vital tin mining, rubber cultivation and fishing.
	Population:
	Thais are well-known for their friendliness and hospitality. A large majority of over 62 million citizens of Thailand are ethic Thai, along with strong communities whose ethnic origins lie in China, India and elsewhere. About 7 million people reside in the capital city of Bangkok.

	People:
	Thai (80%), Chinese (10%), Malay (3%), and the rest are minorities (Mons, Khmers, hill tribes) Ethnic Thais form the majority, though the area has historically been a migratory crossroads, and has thus produced a degree of ethnic diversity. Integration is such, however, that culturally and socially there is enormous unity.

	Thai people are some of the most hospitable and tolerant people in the world. Knowing the cultural norms related to monarchy, religion and social situations will make your stay even more enjoyable http://www.tourismthailand.org/

	Language:
	Spoken and written Thai is largely incomprehensible to the casual visitor. However, English is widely understood, particularly in Bangkok where it is almost the major commercial language. English and some European Languages are spoken in most hotels, shops and restaurants in major tourist destinations, and Thai-English road and street signs are found nationwide.

	Religion:
	Buddhism (95%), Muslim (4%), others (1%)

	National Flag:
	The red, white, and blue stripes symbolize the nation, Buddhism, and the monarchy, respectively.

	National Flower:
	“Ratchaphruek“ (or golden shower) Ratchaphruek is chosen as national flower because it is widely known to Thais, which it can be plant and seen anywhere throughout the country. It bears beautiful cluster-shaped flowers in summer. The color of flowers is shining yellow contrasting great importance similarly to the color of our national religion ‘Buddhism' and the color of Monday when His Majesty King of Thailand was born.
	National Animal:
	“Chang Thai” (or Thai elephant) Thai elephant is selected as national animal because it has maintained close link with Thai history and custom, it has a long life, and it is closely related to the livelihood of Thai people as one of transportation means both in times of peace and battles. Especially, ‘white elephant' is deeply connected to King of Thailand, and white elephant was portrayed in the former national flag. Thai tradition abounds with examples of the elephant playing an important role in the workings of the Kingdom.

	Most significant of all, perhaps, is the white elephant, prized because it is a rare animal judged fit only for royal duties. According to ancient royal Thai traditions, a white elephant is a noble beast of special importance, exemplifying a king's honor and glory. Known in Thai as Chang Samkhan, a white elephant is a gift fit for a king and to acquire one during his reign, will bring about prosperity and happiness throughout the kingdom.

	National Architecture:“Sala Thai” (or Thai-style arbor)
	Sala Thai reflects knowledge of Thai people. It retains beauty, which is different from architectures of other countries, and foreigners can acknowledge ‘Thai-ness' through Sala Thai.

	Time: The time in Thailand is seven hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (+7 hours GMT).

	Climate:
	Thailand enjoys a tropical climate with three distinct seasons-hot and dry from February to May (average temperature 34 degrees Celsius and 75% humidity); rainy with plenty of sunshine from June to October (average day temperature 29 degrees Celsius and 87% humidity); and cool from November to January (temperatures range from 32 degrees Celsius to below 20 degrees Celsius with a drop in humidity). Much lower temperatures are experienced in the North and Northeast during nighttime. The South has a tropical rainforest climate with temperatures averaging 28 degrees Celsius almost all year round.

	Clothing:
	Light, cool clothes are sensible and a jacket is needed for formal meetings and dining in top restaurants. Shorts (except knee length walking shorts), sleeveless shirts, tank tops and other beach-style attire are considered inappropriate dress when not actually at the beach or in a resort area.

	National Animal:
	“Chang Thai” (or Thai elephant) Thai elephant is selected as national animal because it has maintained close link with Thai history and custom, it has a long life, and it is closely related to the livelihood of Thai people as one of transportation means both in times of peace and battles. Especially, ‘white elephant' is deeply connected to King of Thailand, and white elephant was portrayed in the former national flag. Thai tradition abounds with examples of the elephant playing an important role in the workings of the Kingdom.

	Most significant of all, perhaps, is the white elephant, prized because it is a rare animal judged fit only for royal duties. According to ancient royal Thai traditions, a white elephant is a noble beast of special importance, exemplifying a king's honor and glory. Known in Thai as Chang Samkhan, a white elephant is a gift fit for a king and to acquire one during his reign, will bring about prosperity and happiness throughout the kingdom.

	National Architecture:“Sala Thai” (or Thai-style arbor)
	Sala Thai reflects knowledge of Thai people. It retains beauty, which is different from architectures of other countries, and foreigners can acknowledge ‘Thai-ness' through Sala Thai.

	Time: The time in Thailand is seven hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (+7 hours GMT).

	Climate:
	Thailand enjoys a tropical climate with three distinct seasons-hot and dry from February to May (average temperature 34 degrees Celsius and 75% humidity); rainy with plenty of sunshine from June to October (average day temperature 29 degrees Celsius and 87% humidity); and cool from November to January (temperatures range from 32 degrees Celsius to below 20 degrees Celsius with a drop in humidity). Much lower temperatures are experienced in the North and Northeast during nighttime. The South has a tropical rainforest climate with temperatures averaging 28 degrees Celsius almost all year round.

	Clothing:
	Light, cool clothes are sensible and a jacket is needed for formal meetings and dining in top restaurants. Shorts (except knee length walking shorts), sleeveless shirts, tank tops and other beach-style attire are considered inappropriate dress when not actually at the beach or in a resort area.

	Internet Services:
	Thailand has been expanding its information service for residents and tourists alike Sthrough the Internet system. Services are now available at Thailand's leading hotels and at the many " Cyber-Cafes " that are cropping up in all major tourist destinations.

	Telephone Services:
	At present, all telephone numbers (for local calls and long distance calls within the country) have nine digits.
	For Bangkok calls, 02 is added to the existing numbers i.e. 0 2694 1222. For provincial calls, an area code is added to the existing numbers. For example,area code for Chiang Mai is 053 = 0 5324 8604; area code for Phuket is 076 = 0 7621 1036. For mobile phones, 01 or 09 is added to the existing numbers. The new system has no effect on international phone calls.The international dialing code for Thailand is 66.
	When making international calls to Thailand, add 66 and omit the leading 0.When making international calls from Thailand, first dial 001+country code+area code+ telephone number. If calling Laos or Malaysia, there is a special code which is charged at a semi-domestic rate.

	When calling Laos, first dial 007+856+area code+telephone number When calling Malaysia, first dial 09+06+area code+telephone number Direct assistance: 1133 (local), 100 (international)

	Emergency Telephone Numbers:
	Central Emergency (Police, Ambulance, Fire) : 191 Highway Patrol : 1193 Crime Suppression : 195 or (662) 513 3844 Tourist Police (English, French and German spoken) : 1155 Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Call Centre : 1672 Immigration Bureau : (662) 287 3101-10
	International and Domestic Travel:
	Flying is the most convenient mode of transportation for most visitors traveling to Thailand. Domestic flights are also easy and convenient, cutting down on journey time. A number of domestic carriers service a majority of large provincial cities dotting generously across the country. Travel to neighboring countries is cheaper when booked within Thailand. Train services connect Bangkok to all regions of the country at reasonable prices. A regular rail service also runs between Bangkok and Singapore via Malaysia. Long distance coaches, both air-conditioned and open-aired, connect all major cities. At the local level, diverse forms of transportation are provided: provincial buses, city buses, songthaews, tuk-tuks, rickshaws, boats, and even rental cars.

	International Travel:
	Air : With Bangkok serving as the international travel hub of SE Asia, the capital serves as the landing port for numerous international airlines, most with direct flights from their destinations. Some chartered and regional flights may land at one of the other international airports within Thailand, consisting of Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Hat Yai, Phuket, and Ubon Ratchatani. Thecountry's national airline is Thai Airways. Airport departure taxes for international departures costs 500 baht/person. The check-in counters open 2 hours and close half an hour prior departure time.

	International flights information:
	(662) 535-1254 (departures) (662) 535-1301 (arrivals)
	Those traveling from neighboring countries may enter Thailand via road, rail, ships, or ferries.

	Domestic Travel:
	Domestic travel during public holidays and on weekends, particularly to popular destinations, should be booked well in advance for all modes of transportation. Booking is particularly difficult during the Songkran Holiday and New Year's Holiday.

	*Air:* Local carriers Thai Airways(TG) and Bangkok Airways (PG) fly to most major provincial airports beyond 250 km distance from Bangkok. Thai Airways' 2 most popular routes are Chiang Mai and Phuket. Services to Koh Samui and Sukhothai are only provided by Bangkok Airways. Other smaller local carriers include Angel Air (mainly servicing Phuket) and PB Air which flies to fewer destinations. Air Andaman services is limited to the Southern cities only.

	The domestic terminal is located at the southern end of the Bangkok International Airport. Normally, check-ins for domestic flight is one hour prior to departure time and closes half an hour before flight time. Departure tax has already been added to your ticket fare.

	Domestic flights Information:
	(662) 535-1192 (departures) (662) 535-1253 (arrivals)

	Reservation/Ticket: Airline Telephone
	Angel Air (662) 937-8908 Bangkok Airways (662) 265-5555 PB Air (662) 261-0220-5 Thai Airways (662) 628-2000

	Tickets can be purchased through travel agencies (cheaper for international flights, same for domestic flights) or by booking with the airlines themselves, either via phone, internet, or e-ticketing kiosks (Thai Airways only).

	*Buses:* Inter-city bus services offer a fast means of transport to all corners of the country. Air-conditioned buses service many provincial areas and bookings for both regular and tour coaches (private companies) can be made through major hotels and travel agents, or at the following bus terminals:

	Northern Bus Terminal: Kampaengphet 2 Road, Bangkok Tel: 0-2936-2852-66 ext.614 0-2936-3670
	Eastern Bus Terminal: Sukhumvit Rd, Bangkok. Tel: 0-2391-6846, 0-2391-2504
	Northeastern Bus Terminal: Kampaengphet 2 Rd, Bangkok Tel: 0-2936-2852-66 ext.605, 0-2936-0657
	Southern Bus Terminal:Boromratchchonnani Rd, Bangkok Tel: 0-2435-1200, 0-2435-1199
	Central Bus Terminal: Kampaengphet 2 Rd, Bangkok Tel: 0-2936-2841-8 ext.311-2537-8055

	The government bus company, called Bor Kor Sor (BKS), provides the cheapest mode for getting around Thailand. Being frequent and reliable, no advance booking is necessary. Both air-conditioned ones and open-aired ones stop almost everywhere along their route, with the latter being the cheapest and slowest.

	*Trains:*The State Railway of Thailand runs an efficient rail service linking Bangkok (Hua Lam Phong is the central train station) to the rest of the country at very reasonable prices for express, fast and ordinary trains. Limited western and southern routes out of Bangkok also operate from the Thon Buri Station, traveling to destinations as far as Kanchanaburi province in the west and Chumporn province in southern Thailand. On express trains, sleepers are available in three classes: first and second class (air-conditioned), and second class (non air-conditioned, but with fans). Advance tickets are available at all principal stations or the Bangkok Railway Advance Booking Office at Tel : 0-2220-4444

	Foreign Embassies in Thailand:
	Most major embassies are found in Bangkok. If you have a need to contact your embassy prior to or during your trip to Thailand, please see the address and contact information at http://www.tourismthailand.org/about_plan_03rmbassy.php

	Visa Information:
	Visitors are required to hold a passport valid for at least 6 months after entry into Thailand. For information on the types of visas available and particular requirements by nationality please see http://www.mfa.go.th/web/12.php

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