11 Awesome Things Thailand Gave The World

Thailand is known for its creative and innovative people but you might just be surprised to see what everyday things were invented in the Land of Smiles. We’ve compiled a list of 11 awesome things that Thailand gave the world. World, you’re welcome!

Muay Thai

Muay Thai has become world famous and is Thailand’s national sport. The close-combat martial art is also known as Thai boxing and was invented hundreds of years ago. Today, thousands of international travellers come to Thailand each year to learn the martial art at Muay Thai training camps.

Polythene prosthetic leg

Singha beer

Singha is Thailand’s national beer brewed by Boon Rawd Brewery. The Singha is a powerful mythological lion which is found in ancient Thai, Indian and Hindu stories. A royal warrant was granted in 1939 and Boon Rawd is still the only brewery permitted to show the royal Garuda on the Singha beer bottleneck.

Sriracha hot sauce

Sriracha was first produced in the Thai coastal city of Si Racha in Chonburi Province. Sriracha hot sauce is made from chilli peppers, distilled vinegar, garlic, sugar and salt and is served as a condiment, especially with seafood dishes.

Elephant operating table

Thais invented an operating table that would be comfortable for both the friendly giants and the surgeons. The operating table is fixed to a pulley-system so that the surgeon can operate without causing harm to the elephant. Elephants play an important part in Thai culture and are the national animal of Thailand.

3D vaginas

You might have heard of the latest craze in Thailand, the 3D Vag , which rose to fame after a hospital employees Facebook post went viral. The vagina plumping procedure is performed by taking fat from a person’s fatty areas and then injecting it into their mons pubis.

Red Bull

Chaleo Yoovidhya invented Red Bull, the world’s best-selling energy drink, in Thailand over 40 years ago. ‘Krating Daeng’ (red gaur – an Indian bison) was the drinks original name and is where the drink’s slogan, ‘Red Bull gives you wings’, came from. The company was later sold and redeveloped to elevate the drink from a blue-collar favourite to a trendy international upscale beverage. In many countries, both versions are still available today.

Appreciation for the bum gun

Many travellers are wary of the “bum gun” yet after a few weeks in the Land of Smiles have become converted to the superior cleaning method. It obviously takes some getting used to and handy tips are always welcome.

SangSom

SangSom is a local Thai rum distilled from sugarcane, and despite being available in roughly 20 countries, it is barely known outside of Thailand. The strong liquor has won three international awards, which it proudly boasts on its packaging.

Makruk Thai

Makruk is a traditional board game played in Thailand. It’s similar to chess and likely inspired by the 6th-century Indian game of chaturanga. In Thailand, a staggering two million Thais play Makruk Thai, which is more strategic than conventional chess and can be equated to an anticipated endgame of international chess.

Tuk-Tuk

The iconic tuk-tuk is a two-stroke, three-wheeled auto-rickshaw that runs on LPG. No trip to Thailand is complete without a ride in this fast and fun transportation option. The tuk-tuk has also become one of the most recognised symbols of Thailand.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.