Is Thailand in Indonesia? Where is Thailand?
Is Thailand in Indonesia? This is a common question that travellers have before heading to either of these Southeast Asia destinations.
As a part of the world with many countries close together, it can be confusing to differentiate between each country. Especially as many people backpack Southeast Asia and travel around many countries at once.
Luckily for you, I am a full-time traveller and a large portion of my site focuses on Southeast Asia topics, so I am here to provide an answer to your common question and clarify whether Thailand is in Indonesia or not.
Is Thailand in Indonesia?
If you are looking for a quick and summarised answer, it is: No, Thailand is not in Indonesia. Thailand is a separate country and a completely independent country with its own laws, government, economy, etc.
There are a few reasons why people may mistakenly think that Thailand is in Indonesia. The biggest reason being that both countries are found in Southeast Asia and share similar climates and cultures. As a result, an inexperienced traveller may find it hard to distinguish between Thailand and Indonesia in photos.
But while the countries are similar in location and other factors, there are big differences between the two countries too. One of the most obvious differences is the currency. Thailand uses the Thai Baht whereas Indonesia uses Indonesian Rupiah.
The two countries also have different languages, with Thai people speaking, you guessed it, Thai and Indonesians speaking Indonesian.
Thailand is home to many famous landmarks such as the Grand Palace in Bangkok, while Indonesia is known for its outdoor beauty such as in Bali. Of course, both countries have incredible beaches and tropical ways of life.
For example, Bali in August when the weather is warmest would be very similar to Thailand and has similar vibes.
But to summarise, is Thailand in Indonesia? No, it is not. Thailand is a completely different country and is not a part of Indonesia.
Was Thailand ever part of Indonesia?
Despite the close proximity and similarities shared by the countries, Thailand was never part of Indonesia.
On the other hand, Indonesia was never part of Thailand either.
In fact, Thailand is only of only a handful of countries in the world to have never been colonised.
Thailand did use to have a different name – Siam – with a long and complex history. But it has never been colonised. That being said, there have been western influences on Thai culture, as most countries surrounding Thailand were colonised by Europe.
Naturally, this led to things in Thailand appearing similar to European ways of life. For example, architecture in the late 19th and early 20th century in Thailand was very westernised.
To confirm, Thailand has never been a part of Indonesia. The answer to both “Is Thailand in Indonesia” and “Has Thailand ever been part of Indonesia” is no.
Where is Thailand?
Now that we know the answer to “Is Thailand in Indonesia?” is no, it’s important to learn where Thailand actually is.
Thailand is found, as mentioned throughout this article, in Southeast Asia. It’s a wonderful part of the world and some of my favourite countries out of them all. On top of many other reasons, it’s a really cheap country which is one reason why backpacking Thailand is incredibly popular, for example.
Thailand has a very unique shape. It has a large broad northern region which is inland and consists of mountainous jungle regions, whereas towards the south is a thinner strip of land where you will find amazing beaches. Off the coast of Thailand are many popular Thai islands too like Phuket (pronounced poo-ket) or the Phi Phi islands.
Having such a unique shape to the country allows for great diversity in Thailand’s landscapes, which is one of the reasons why it’s such a popular country to visit. The opportunity to go jungle hiking or elephant trekking as well as island hopping or scuba diving is not something many countries can offer.
The countries which border Thailand are Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Malaysia. These 5 countries are very commonly visited together. They make up part of what is known as the Banana Pancake Trail.
Where is Indonesia?
It’s also important to learn where Indonesia is since Thailand and Indonesia are separate countries.
Indonesia is made up of a group of islands. The 5 main islands are the most popular to visit: Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Sulawesi and Papua. But Indonesia has over 18,000 islands in total!
You can easily identify Indonesia on a map by looking for the group of islands directly north of Australia. For the record, Australia is not part of Asia, it’s in Oceania.
Indonesia’s land borders lie with Malaysia (on the island of Borneo), Papua New Guinea (on, you guessed it, the island of New Guinea) and East Timor (on the island of Timor).
Is Thailand in Indonesia: FAQ
Below are some questions related to “Is Thailand in Indonesia?” along with my answers.
No, Thailand is not part of Indonesia. The Kingdom of Thailand and the Republic of Indonesia are two separate countries.
Aside from being two separate countries, one of the main differences would be how westernised Thailand is compared to Indonesia. As Indonesia is made up of islands, the way of life is a lot more traditional on most islands outside the main 5. Whereas in Thailand, most places are adapted to suit the influx of tourism.
It’s impossible to say one country is better than the other one. It depends on what you are looking for out of the country. Thailand offers a more full-on experience with constant things to do and see whereas Indonesia offers the opportunity to relax and unwind.
Thailand is in Asia. Asia is a continent and Indonesia is a country. Thailand is found in the continent of Asia, and so too is Indonesia.
Yes, the two countries are both in Southeast Asia. Thailand is further north of Indonesia with Malaysia and Singapore found between the two countries.
While Thailand has never been part of Indonesia, and vice versa, the relations between the two countries have always been strong. As they are both found in Southeast Asia, there are similarities in culture, cuisine, etc. in both countries.
Thailand has never belonged to any country other than itself. It’s one of only 8 countries in the world that have never been colonised.
Is Thailand in Indonesia: Conclusion
And there you have it, a complete guide to “Is Thailand in Indonesia?“. Remember, the answer is no, Thailand is not in Indonesia.
It never has been, and Indonesia has never been part of Thailand either.
The two destinations are pretty close to each other and have similarities, but they remain independent and two separate countries.
Is Thailand in Indonesia? No.
