Business Hours

Thailand follows the same normal business as in most other countries. Although it is common for many companies to work a half day on Saturdays, it is highly unusual for Thais to request a business meeting on Saturdays. Generally, Thais do not worry as much about being on time as many foreigners who visit the country.

Bangkok’s traffic has eased a little in the last decade ago but the time it takes to get from one place to another can still be unpredictable. It is considered acceptable to be up to a half hour late for an appointment. It is also useful to note that Bangkok has no real central business district where most companies are located. However, the trend in recent years has been for many large companies to move to more suburban locations. Due to this, it is almost impossible to fit more than two meetings in one day, unless you are planning the third over dinner. Appointments are usually made at 10:00 in the morning or 2:00 in the afternoon.

A visitor to the country may be surprised to find how long some things are open. While typical opening hours for offices, government offices etc. are similar to those in the West, other places stay open far longer.