The official name of Bangkok :
Known to foreigner as Bangkok capital city of Thailand. Her actual name is
“Krung Thep Maha Nakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Yutthaya Mahadilokphop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udom Ratchaniwet Maha Sathan Amon Phiman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit”

Throughout its long history, Thailand has gently absorbed immigrants. At present, the core of the Thai population consists of Thai, Laotian, Mon and Chinese who intermingle throughout the country. On the fringes are other ethnic groups. These ethnic groups include Hmong, Yao, and Shan. In the west there are Mon, Karen, and other groups. In the northeast, one sees Khmer, Suay, and others, while in the south there are Malay, Semang, and Sagai.

For this reason, life in each region of Thailand differs, thanks to the special combinations of peoples and cultures to be found everywhere.
The indigenous culture of Thailand bears the influence of Indian and Chinese civilizations. Yet somehow, Thailand's culture and character are unique - unlike any of those that have influenced it.

Thai cuisine, so delicious and varied in its tastes, is a true gastronomic art. It presents an enormous range of dishes and a subtle blend of flavors. Creativity in cooking stems partly from the Thais' love of good food, and partly from the wealth of ingredients available.

Rice is the staple food of the Thai people. The northern and northeastern people prefer glutinous rice, while the rest eat long-grained rice. Most Thai food is highly spiced with chilies, yet it varies from region to region. Generally, northern food is milder than that enjoyed in the central plains, whereas most of the food enjoyed in the northeast is very spicy, with fiery salads and specialty dishes. Southern cuisine makes delicious use of seafood and hot curries, with a large variety of vegetables as side dishes.
For over two thousand years, Thailand's artistic heritage has continuously developed. Ancient Thai architectural art evolved from the Buddhist art that accompanied the advent of Buddhism from India and Sri Lanka. It then evolved in such a way that it developed its own unique characteristics, as can be seen in the ruins of the religious buildings and monasteries in such important cities as Nakhon Pathom, Suphan Buri, and Sukhothai.

The early Ayutthaya period saw the Khmer influence, while in the last years of Ayutthaya, Western architectural art started making inroads. In the early Rattanakosin period, Thai architecture accommodated considerable Chinese influences. In the mid-Rattanakosin period, Thai buildings reflected a harmonious mixture of Thai and Western elements, as can be seen in the Grand Palace in Bangkok.
Not only is the spirit of Thai architectural art found in the royal palaces and the monasteries, but it can also be seen in local architectural constructions throughout every region. Each region has its own personality, fine examples of which can be found even in the details of houses.

In addition to architecture, Thai arts and crafts are unique and well-known. The popular handicrafts are made by the hands of highly skilled artisans. Their special skills have been passed on from generation to generation to ensure that useful and beautiful products are made with care. These cottage industries make use of local raw materials, for example reeds, rattan and bamboo. Each location provides different materials. The designs and products also vary from place to place, depending on the local cultures, traditions, and social milieu.
Besides local handicrafts, there are royally sponsored works done by specially trained craftsmen, known as Chang Sip Mu, that is, "ten traditional artisans." The ten types of craftsmen employed in the projects are drawers, engravers, turners, sculptors, modelers, molders, plasterers, beaters, lacquerers, and figure makers.

A few of the Thai handicrafts that are widely admired include pottery, wickerwork, nielloware, silk weaving, lacquer ware, and mother-of-pearl inlay.

Most Thai people are connected in some way with agriculture, which, in varying degrees, influences and is influenced by the religious ceremonies and festivals that help make Thailand such a distinctive country.

Festivals are an essential part of Thai Life. Many of them follow the lunar calendar and so are moveable feasts, while others have set annual dates.
Of the national events, Songkran, the traditional Thai New Year on April 13, and Loy Krathong, on the full moon night in November, are the most famous. Songkran is a boisterous affair in which water is splashed over one and all. The splashing is symbolic of cleansing. Loy Krathong, in contrast, is a quieter, more romantic event in which homage is paid to the Mother of Waters. All over the country, people gather at rivers, ponds, and lakes under the moonlight to float krathongs, small lotus-shaped offerings containing flowers, incenses, candles, and coins.

Music has always been part of Thai life and rituals. Music is known collectively as "strumming, fiddling, beating, and blowing" to show the significance of rhythm and tunes.
Traditional Thai music borrowed a few elements from neighboring countries, especially from India, and integrated it into the music that was already being played in various regions. The existing instruments were modified into something the Thais could call their own. They are played in all parts of Thailand.
The musical influence that pervades the Thai life is the Pi Phat orchestra. Pi Phat is played with percussion and woodwind instruments. No strumming or fiddling instruments are used. It consists of gong circles, xylophones, Pi Nok (a soprano oboe) and Pi Nai (a sopranino oboe).
Another musical band that combines all types of instruments is Wong Mahori, a Thai music ensemble popular among the upper class. The band is made larger with singing accompaniment and harps. The band members consists of a singer, a krap clapper, a three-string fiddle player, a four-string lute player, a tab drummer, a flute player, and a cymbal player. In King Rama IV's reign two more instruments were added: xylophones and fiddles.

Dramatic art reflects a high level of Thai cultural achievement. The beautiful, gentle body movements are unique and reflect long years of training and practice. There are two kinds of dramatic art: dance and drama. The typical movement of Thai dance is the rising and falling of the body; the variations seen in different regions are in the use of hands and arms. Drama or Lakhon is a dance that tells stories. There are many kinds of Lakhon, such as Khon (mask dance drama) and Li-ke (Thai folk drama). The performances of Khon usually involve episodes from the epic Ramakien.
Thailand has a geography and climate that supports the abundant growth of agricultural products. Such natural bounty also affects the attitude of the Thai people. They are peace-loving, comfort-loving, simple, unambitious and satisfied with what they have. With such natural abundance, things are easy to acquire and not expensive. They often feel that they do not lack anything in life. Consequently, they are not lacking in morality, either.
In addition to the geographical features of the country, the culture and the value system of the society play an important part in molding Thai attitudes. The Thai value system is inseparably tied to the Theravada sect of Buddhism. For example, they value individualism rather than group cohesiveness or the collective interest. They do not preach to others. All this is in line with the Buddhist principle that one should help oneself and should not interfere with other people's business.

Buddhism also lies behind such common expressions as Mai pen rai (or "never mind, it doesn't matter") when something unfortunate happens, reflecting the feeling that one must gracefully submit to external forces beyond one's control, such as the effects of past karma.