Money, Currency : Pattaya.com

   The Thai Money (Notes and Coins)
   The Baht, Satang and Salueng

   Thai money is called "baht". There's also a "satang" and a "salueng" (for loose change in similar to cent and quarter respectively). One hundred "satangs" make one "baht"... just like one hundred cents make one dollar. One "salueng" is equivalent to


25 Satang	50 Satang

1 Baht	5 Baht

10 Baht

Gallery of Old Money Collection
This section displays images of Thai money that were used during the past many years. Click here to view.


1 Baht (Front)	1 Baht (Back)

5 Baht (Front)	5 Baht (Back)

Bank notes (Currently-in-use)
Below are the faces of various Thai bank notes. Please note that in reality, the sizes of each bank notes


20 Baht	50 Baht

100 Baht	500 Baht

1,000 Baht

    Who can claim VAT refunds?
    A VAT refund can be claimed by any non-Thai visitor who has not been in Thailand for more than 180 days in calen-
dar year, and who is not a crew member of an airline; and departs Thailandby air carrier from an international airport.

    How to claim a VAT refund?
    1. VAT refund only applies to goods taken out of Thailand within 60 days from the date of purchase.
    2. The goods must be purchased from stores displaying the "VAT REFUND FOR TOURISTS" sign
    3. On any day, goods purchased at a participating store must not be less than 2,000 baht and the total amount of           goods purchased, including VAT, must not be less than 5,000 baht.
    4. At each store ask the sales assistant to complete 2 VAT refund forms (P.P.10) and attach the original tax invoice to          the         forms.
    5. Before departure, present your purchases to Customs and Revenue officers for inspection in order to obtain VAT          refund at the departure lounge after check-in and passport control.
    6. In case the VAT refund exceeds 10,000 baht, you can either present your claim to the Customs and Revenue officers at the         VAT Refund Office or drop it in the box at the Refund Counter or mail it from your home back to the Revenue

    The VAT refund offices are located at :

Bangkok Airport Tel	(02) 535-6576-9
Chiangmai Airport	(053) 922-207
Phuket Airport	(076) 328-267
Hat Yai Airport	(074) 250-400

    How will the refund be paid?
    You can choose to receive your refund by :
        Refund amount not exceeding 10,000 baht, receive cash in Thai baht, draft, or credit to credit card account.
        Refund amount exceeding 10,000 baht, credit to credit card account.

    The following fees apply to refund requests :
     For cash refund, a fee of 100 baht.
     For draft refund, a fee of 100 baht plus draft issuing fee at the rate charged by banks and postage fees.
     For credit to credit card account refund, bahtplus money transfer fee at the rate charged by banks.

    Important to Note
    You cannot claim VAT refunds for the following goods :
        Prohibited items
        Firearms, explosives or any similar items
        Gem stones

    Some hints
        Allow yourself adequate time at the airport for the refund process. In case your request for refund by draft or credit card account receives no reply within an appropriate period of time, please contact at VAT Refund Office at Bangkok International Airport, Tel 535-6576-79 or the VAT Refund Center, Revenue Department, Phaholyothin Road, Bangkok 10400, Thailand, Tel. 272-9376-87, Fax. 272-9388
     Further information can be obtained from the participating stores or at the Revenue Department.

    Warning
        The Purchases for which you are claiming VAT refunds are subject to inspection by Customs and Revenue officers before departure at the VAT Refund Office inside

    In 1997 Thailand's value - added tax (VAT) was raised from 7 to 10%. The tax applies only to certain goods and services but unfortunately no - one seems to know what's subject to VAT and what's not, so the whole situation can be rather confusing. Legally the tax is supposed to be applied to a retailer's cost for the product. For example, if a merchant's wholesale price is 1OOB for an item that retails at 200B, the maximum adjusted retail including VAT should be 210B, not 220B. But this doesn't always

    Like the credit - card surcharge, a direct VAT surcharge is illegal; if you're charged a full 10% on retail, you can try reporting it to the TAT Tourist Police. So far I've heard of no refunds for VAT however, and 1 would consider that such

    Tourist hotels will usually add a 10% hotel tax, and sometimes an 8 to 10% service charge as well, to your

    Thai Currency
    The Thai unit of currency is the Baht which is worth a little less than 4 US cents. One US dollar = approximately 40 baht. The baht is divided into loo satang. "Copper" coins are valued at 25 and 50 satang. "Silver" coins are in denominations of 1' 2 and 5 baht. A 10 baht coin is composed of both "silver" and "copper". Banknotes are valued at 10 baht (brown), 20 baht(green), 50 baht (blue), 100 baht (red), 500

Traveller's Cheques/ Cheques/Credit Cards
     US dollar traveller cheques can be conveniently cashed at all provincial banks and authorised money changers. Traveller cheques in other currencies are best changed in Bangkok where better rates prevail. Generally, hotel exchange rates are lower then those offered by banks and authorised money changers. Major international credit cards, such as American Express, Diners, Carte Blanche, Master Card and VISA are accepted by major banks, restaurants, hotels and shops. Thai and foreign banks provide standard services nation-wide, Monday through Friday, except public and bank holidays, between 8.30 AM and 3.30 PM. Major banks such as Bangkok Bank, Thai Danu Bank, Thai Farmers Bank and Siam Commercial Bank operate currency exchange centres in most tourist areas from 7.00 AM to 9.00 PM, seven days a week, including holidays. Many first-class hotels provide 24'-hour money exchange services, but only for major currencies such as American dollars, British pounds, German marks and Swiss francs. Travellers cheques are generally accepted only from bona fide hotel guests.

Exchange Control
     -   Foreign tourists ma freely bring in foreign banknotes or other types of foreign exchange. Upon leaving Thailand, a          foreign tourist may freely take out foreign means of payments which he brought in with him, with the exception that          foreign notes or coins are limited to a maximum equivalent of US$ 10,000 or the amount declared in writing to          Customs upo  arrival.  Failur   to  do  so  may leadt arrest,   confiscation of the  excess amount   involved and / or          prosecution.
     -   For   travellers   leaving Thailand, the maxi - mum amount permitted to take out without prior authorisation is 50,000          Baht per person
     -   Foreign visitors may bring in personal effects and other goods which are not prohibited by current customs          regulation.   Other than personal effects, departing visitors are also allowed to take out merchandise bought from          duty free shops, precious stones, gold and platinum ornaments.
     -   Foreign visitors are welcome to open a foreign currency account with any commercial bank in Thailand. As a          special gesture to non - residents, no restrictions are imposed on the maintenance of and withdrawal from the          account, as long as the funds originate from abroad.
    -   For additional information concerning foreign exchange regulations, please contact any authorised banks.

It is not necessary to tip cinema ushers. It is customary to tip porters and hotel personnel who have given good personal service. A 10%-15% tip is appreciated in restaurants, particularly where service charge is waived.

The following goods may be imported into Thailand without incurring customs duty:
200 cigarettes or 250g of tobacco or equal weight of cigars; one litre of wine or spirits; one still camera with five rolls of film or one movie camera with three rolls of 8mm or 16mm film.

Note: There are restrictions on the export of items of archaeological interest or historical value without a certificate of authorisation from the Department of Fine Arts in Thailand. The export of images of Buddha and other religious artefacts is also subject to this ruling.

Warning: Any drug-related offences are severely penalised.