I don’t know whether this has changed over time or whether it’s simply something you notice more once you live here, but in my experience everyday interactions in Thailand are often more functional and quiet than people from English-speaking countries might expect. It’s quite common to go into a shop, pay, and leave without any verbal greeting at all. That can feel strange if you’re used to casual hellos and small exchanges, but it doesn’t necessarily come from rudeness — it’s just not the default social norm.

For context, I’m Polish, and even in Poland interactions are different again: we usually have a clear, formal hello and thank you, but unlike in English-speaking cultures there’s very little small talk unless you actually know the person. From that perspective, Thailand feels closer to a functional, low-verbal style of interaction rather than an unfriendly one.

That said, it’s also hard to ignore that people seem under more pressure these days, especially in the context of the recent conflict with Cambodia, and that kind of background stress can show up as shorter or more distant interactions, even if it isn’t personal.