Several tourists in southern Thailand recently found themselves in an unexpected heartwarming situation after mistaking a funeral for an eatery.
Instead of being turned away, they were warmly welcomed by the host family and invited to sit down and eat alongside other guests.
Foreigners walk into funeral
The incident took place in Nakhon Si Thammarat and was shared online by a Thai man named Charantorn Chareomkiad, who posted videos from his family’s funeral ceremony held on Jan 31.
In his Facebook post, he jokingly wrote that a group of foreigners had walked into a funeral, thinking it was a buffet.
According to Charantorn, the funeral was held near a night market and as per local customs, long tables of food were prepared to serve relatives, friends, and members of the community who came to pay their respects.
When the tourists approached the tables, they assumed the setup was part of a nearby eatery and politely asked if they could have a meal.
The organisers then explained that the gathering was actually a funeral, leaving the tourists visibly surprised. While they immediately apologised, they asked politely if they were still allowed to remain seated.
Without hesitation, the host family agreed and continued serving food and drinks as usual, including Thai milk tea and local snacks that are commonly offered at community funerals.
Happened again the next day
In an unexpected coincidence, a similar situation occurred again the following day.
Three siblings from the Netherlands reportedly wandered into the same funeral, once again mistaking it for a eatery and asking if they could order drinks.
After realising their mistake, they apologised repeatedly but were once again met with smiles and an open invitation to join the meal.
Foreigners came again, haha. This is a funeral! They asked us whether it is a restaurant or not. Anyway, we served them food. They were surprised and happy.” Charantorn wrote in the caption.
The tourists were said to be both shocked and deeply touched by the kindness shown to them, describing the experience as something they never expected to encounter while travelling.
After the videos went viral, netizens flooded the comment section with praise, saying the incident reflected the warmth, empathy, and strong sense of community often associated with Thailand.
Many added that such simple acts of hospitality were powerful enough to transcend language and cultural differences.
