My last time in Thailand was 13 years ago. I remember I loved my two months here back then. That is the whole reason we’re spending the longest in Thailand during this trip. Before we arrived in Thailand, I am surprised I had forgotten just how much trust and kindness there is here. Traveling through Phuket, Chiang Mai, Koh Lipe, Khao Sok, Koh Lanta, and beyond, I encountered something unexpected—a level of trust so deep and natural that it left a lasting impression on me.
A Taxi Ride of Trust in Phuket
One of our first experiences in Thailand was in Kamala Beach, Phuket. We had just arrived, jetlagged and exhausted, and I went to pick up food for the family. I hopped into a taxi from the hotel, bought the food, and when the taxi driver came to pick me up for the return trip, I realized—I didn’t have enough money. Embarrassed, I told him the situation, expecting frustration or, at the very least, a request to return immediately with the money. Instead, he smiled and simply said, “No worry, pay me tomorrow.”
We exchanged WhatsApp numbers, and I tried over the next few days to pay him, but every time I reached out, he was busy working at the airport or somewhere far from the hotel. Eventually, he told me to leave the money with a hotel employee. When I handed it over, the hotel staff took it without hesitation and assured me they’d pass it along. No contracts, no signatures, just trust.
A Kindle Left Behind in Koh Lipe
Another moment of unexpected kindness happened in Koh Lipe. As we boarded a speedboat to Koh Lanta, Happy A suddenly realized her Kindle was missing. She was certain she had left it under the pillow at our previous hotel. A sinking feeling set in. Losing a Kindle while hopping from island to island? That seemed like the end of it.
But we called the hotel anyway. Without hesitation, the employee on the other end reassured us, “Don’t worry, you’ll have it tomorrow.” And sure enough, the next day, a kind Thai stranger arrived at our new hotel—hand-delivering the Kindle, safe and sound. This was no easy feat. Someone had to package the kindle, drive a tuk tuk for 20 minutes to the pier, put it on a boat to go to Koh Lanta, and drive it from the pier to our hotel. The ease and certainty with which they solved the problem amazed me.
Pay Tomorrow? No Problem.
Arriving in Koh Lanta, we checked into our hotel only to realize we didn’t have the cash to pay immediately. We expected a problem, maybe even a denial of check-in. Instead, the response was simple: “Pay tomorrow.” It was as if it wasn’t even a concern.
Another time, in Duck Spicy Restaurant in Kamala Beach, I had ordered too much food and was short 50 baht—a small amount to me, but about 15% of my total bill. The owner smiled and said, “Pay tomorrow.” Of course, I made sure to return the next day, even hiring a Bolt motorcycle taxi to take me back to pay. But the point wasn’t just that they trusted me—it was that they seemed to live in a world where people trust each other by default.
More Than Money: The Kindness of Thai People
It wasn’t just financial trust; it was the general kindness that made an impression. Thai people, while sometimes reserved (maybe due to the language barrier), have a warmth that reveals itself in small, meaningful ways.
- Pan Yai Ai Cafe in Chiang Mai – The hardworking owner, always smiling, opened at 8 AM and closed at 8 PM. No matter when I saw her—at sunrise with my morning coffee or at closing time—her kindness never wavered. Even when she was tired, her warmth was still there.
- Board Game Cafe and Fairy Tale Cafe in Chiang Mai – The owners, Top and Kim, welcomed us not just as customers but as people to connect with. They shared their passions, took the time to chat, and created a space that felt more like home than a business.
- Mr. Pad Thai in Koh Lanta – There was a humble little restaurant where the owner, known to us as Mr. Pad Thai, cooked with the biggest smile. Every time we visited, he greeted the girls warmly, made them feel at home, and even gifted them mandarins as a kind gesture. Sometimes, he would forget to charge customers and trusted that they would return to pay later. That kind of honesty and faith in people is something I rarely see elsewhere.
Trust in Everyday Travel
Even in travel logistics, I noticed this incredible trust. When we needed a private car to take us from Khao Sok pier to the airport, all I had to do was fill out a form—no deposit, no confirmation call, just an agreement. The next morning at 10 AM, like clockwork, a car was waiting for us. No chase, no follow-ups, no second-guessing. Just trust.
Kindness in Healthcare
While in Koh Lanta, I got really sick and had to visit a clinic for IV fluids. The care I received was excellent, and yes, I paid a lot for the treatment, but what surprised me most was what happened afterward. A few days after my visit, the clinic followed up with me to check on how I was feeling. They didn’t have to do that, but they did. It was a small act of kindness that made all the difference.
A Culture of Trust
All of these experiences left me wondering: Why is trust so ingrained in Thai culture? Is it Buddhism? A deep-rooted cultural philosophy? I don’t know the exact answer, but what I do know is that experiencing this level of trust changed me.
It made me reflect on how, in many parts of the world, trust is often something that has to be earned, proven, or backed up with paperwork. In Thailand, it was simply given. And that, more than anything, made me feel at home.
Khop khun krap, Thailand. You’ve shown me that trust still exists in the world, and that kindness—true, unforced kindness—is one of the most powerful things a person can experience.
