Funeral or food court? Tourists in Thailand accidentally attend mourning service, welcomed with Thai food

tourists funeral food court

Foreign tourists mistake funeral for food court 

A heartwarming story unfolded in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand, when foreign tourists were warmly welcomed with Thai food after they mistook a funeral for a food court.

Last Saturday (31 Jan), Facebook user Charantorn Chaloemkiad posted a video of two male Caucasian tourists sitting at a round table covered with a blue tablecloth while a woman wearing a striped long-sleeve T-shirt and a white cap serves them bottles of water.

Two days later, he posted a clip of three Caucasian men seated at the same kind of table having a conversation with a local man.

Shortly afterwards, the same woman serves them a variety of dishes.

Hosts allowed tourists to stay and served them free meals

In response to MS News queries, Mr Charantorn said that the first incident occurred around 7pm that day.

According to him, the funeral was held right next to a cafe in a night market.

The two tourists, whom he said were German, entered the funeral thinking it was a restaurant. The ceremony’s area reportedly blended in with the shop, which belonged to the deceased’s family.

The duo then asked whether the area was a food court.

tourists funeral food court

Source: Charantorn Chaloemkiad on Facebook

After being informed that it was a funeral, they were initially shocked but politely asked if they could stay.

Without hesitation, the hosts allowed them to do so. The tourists were then served food and drinks, including Thai iced tea, pink milk, and pa thong ko (a popular Thai deep-fried dough), at no charge.

Both men enjoyed their free meal and left the ceremony afterwards.

Another group of tourists made similar mistake

The following day, at around 6pm, a similar incident occurred.

This time, three siblings, reportedly from the Netherlands, made a similar mistake when they stumbled upon the same funeral, asking to order drinks.

tourists funeral food court

Source: Charantorn Chaloemkiad on Facebook

Once they were told it was a funeral, the hosts welcomed the tourists before offering food and drinks.

The siblings were said to be delighted by the warm reception and deeply impressed by the generosity shown.

Netizens praised the generosity of the hosts

The video has been widely shared on social media, with users praising the Thai hosts for their compassion and cultural openness.

Many noted that the incident reflected Thai values, highlighting the community spirit and hospitality displayed by the hosts.

“They probably thought it was a buffet restaurant, seeing a lot of people there,” one netizen commented.

tourists funeral food court

Translation: They probably thought it was a buffet restaurant, seeing a lot of people there.
Source: Facebook

Another commended the kindness of the funeral hosts, noting that it embodies the generosity often associated with Thai people.

tourists funeral food court

Translation: The Land of Smiles, and the Thai people are generous. Lovely!
Source: Facebook

Also read: Chinese tourist in M’sia mistakes Hari Raya open house for restaurant, host lets him stay for squid & satay feast

Chinese tourist in M’sia mistakes Hari Raya open house for restaurant, host lets him stay for squid & satay feast

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Featured image adapted from Charantorn Chaloemkiad on Facebook and Charantorn Chaloemkiad on Facebook.

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