Thailand hostel puts up Hindi notice, Indian traveller asks why and gets surprising answer

An Indian traveller’s experience at a hostel in Bangkok has prompted a discussion about travel etiquette after he discovered a notice written specifically in Hindi. Sparsh Sunil said the message made him reflect on how the conduct of Indian tourists can be perceived overseas and urged travellers to follow local rules, respect public spaces and behave responsibly.

In an Instagram video, Sunil also recounted incidents he said he had witnessed during his trip to Thailand. He argued that seemingly minor actions such as being loud, littering, cutting queues or disregarding local rules can shape how people view Indians travelling abroad.

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A post shared by Sparsh Sunil 🇮🇳🌍 (@sparshmusafir)

Hindi message at Bangkok hostel surprises Sunil

Alongside the video, Sunil wrote, "We often complain about how the world sees India, but sometimes, we also need to look at how we behave when we travel abroad. Loud behaviour, littering, ignoring queues, disrespecting local rules or treating public spaces carelessly. These things may seem small, but when you’re travelling, people also associate your behaviour with where you come from."


In the video, he showed a notice displayed at the hostel and said, "Indian brothers and sisters, please do not do all this. So, right now I am in Bangkok, Thailand. First, look at what I found written at a hostel."

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The notice, written in Hindi, said: "Please do not drink water directly from your mouth. Use a glass from the kitchen."

Sunil said seeing the message left him embarrassed and prompted him to ask hostel staff why the instruction had specifically been written in Hindi.

"As soon as I entered and read this, I felt so embarrassed. So I asked, 'Why did you write this in Hindi?'" he said.

According to Sunil, the staff told him that some Indian visitors had failed to follow verbal instructions, which was why the notice had been put up in Hindi.

‘You are representing your country’

Sunil went on to describe other incidents he said he had observed in Thailand. He spoke about tourists asking inappropriate questions to women outside massage centres and approaching local people for photographs without considering whether they were comfortable.

"Are you for sale? Is this any way to behave?" he said while questioning such conduct.

He also rejected the idea that such behaviour should be associated with people from any particular part of India.

"Do not think that only North Indians do it, while South Indians don't, or that South Indians do it and North Indians don't, or that people from the East or West do it. When you travel outside the country, you are Indian. You are an ambassador of your country," Sunil said.

He added, "You damage the image of the country, and that's all. And then people like us feel embarrassed. We have to say, 'Sorry, not everyone is like this.'"

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Social media users share similar observations

Several users agreed with Sunil's message and said they had noticed similar behaviour while travelling.

"Well done, brother, for pointing this out," one user commented.

Another wrote, "Thank you for speaking up. We need millions of like-minded people like you."

"I have been to Thailand many times and noticed these things. People come with one mindset," another user said.

A further commenter suggested that civic sense should be taught more formally, writing, "We should really have a subject on civic sense."

One user also pointed to everyday dining etiquette, writing, "At the buffet table, use tongs or a spoon to pick things, not your hands, even if it’s a fruit or croissant."