As someone who has lived abroad for many years and who cares deeply about cultural understanding, I felt the need to share my thoughts on something that has gone viral in Thailand last week.
A controversial video involving Siranat “Sai” Scott—a Thai-Scottish marine conservationist—recently made headlines after he was filmed confronting a tourist who greeted him with “Ni Hao.” The moment sparked heated debate across social media, and as a Thai person living in Sweden, I just wanted to share my personal perspective.
Let me be clear from the start:
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This blog is only about this one controversial video and the specific situation shown in the clip.
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I’m not commenting on the rest of Sai’s work or content—only this incident.
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And most importantly: I’m not here to offend anyone or spread hate.
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My intention is simply to reflect on this topic from a calm and honest place—and to share my thoughts with kindness and respect.
I Respect Sai and the Work He Has Done
First and foremost, I truly admire the work Sai has done for Thailand’s environment. He studied animation at the California Institute of the Arts and later returned to Thailand to dedicate himself to marine conservation and protecting national parks. That’s something to respect and celebrate.
What Happened
In the video, the tourist greeted Sai with “Ni Hao,” and Sai was clearly upset. Sai later posted a video and wrote on social media, saying:
“To come into Thailand, and not even have the respect to know the difference between Thailand and China is extremely racist. You cannot plan a vacation here to enjoy our natural resources and ignore the Thai people who live in the country. Something as small as saying "Ni Hao" to a Thai person, it's not only disrespectful to Thais, but to Asians as Asia is not one Nationality. It would be like me going to England and thinking it was the same as Russia.”
Now, I do understand where that frustration comes from. It’s true—Asia is not one country, and people often forget that. But calling it “extremely racist” might have been a bit too strong, especially if the tourist genuinely didn’t mean harm.
Some people just don’t know any better. That doesn’t excuse it, but it doesn’t always come from hate either.
I also understand why some authorities felt Sai’s response was too strong. At that moment, he wasn’t just representing himself—he was also representing a national institution. What you say carries weight, and that’s why tone and delivery are so important.
Sai later said on the program āļāļĢāļĢāļĄāļāļĢāļ่āļēāļ§āļุāļĒāļāļāļāļāļ that he wished to demonstrate how to handle a situation like this.
While I appreciate that intention, I still believe there’s a better way to educate—especially when emotions are running high. Even if someone behaves disrespectfully, publicly shaming them, pointing fingers, recording their face, and posting the clip online isn’t always the best approach.
Sometimes, it can do more harm than good.
It might be common in Thailand to share videos of others online, but in Sweden, this is seen as inappropriate and disrespectful—unless you’ve asked for permission and obtained their consent beforehand.
Asia Is Not One Country—But Some People Don’t Know Better
Yes, it’s frustrating when someone assumes that all Asians are the same. But not everyone means to offend.
Some people simply don’t know any better—they may only be familiar with Chinese people, so they assume “Ni Hao” is the appropriate greeting. That doesn’t make it right, but I believe intention matters too.
And in this case, the tourist may not have meant any harm—just poor judgment or ignorance. We’ve all made cultural mistakes before.
As an Asian woman—and a Thai person—I do understand why Sai felt offended. I’ve had people say “Ni Hao” to me before, assuming I’m Chinese just because of how I look.
And just to give more context—in Thailand, people are very proud of their cultural identity. So when someone assumes you’re from somewhere else—especially without asking—it can feel like your identity is being dismissed or overlooked.
Sai compared it to someone thinking England is the same as Russia—and I completely get that. It’s frustrating when someone ignores your actual background.
And it’s not always about being too sensitive—It’s about being seen and respected for who you truly are.
My Own Experience Living Abroad
I’ve lived abroad for many years. And I’ve had people say “Ni Hao” to me, laugh awkwardly, or try to guess where I’m from. Most of the time, it wasn’t meant in a racist way—it was just ignorance or poor judgment.
When I was in Portugal, I even greeted people with “Hola,” thinking they spoke Spanish. Of course, they speak Portuguese—but no one took offence. In France, I’d say “Hi” or “Hello” because I don’t speak French—and people were understanding.
Even in the US, someone once said “Ni Hao” to me in a clearly mocking tone. Yes, I knew it was racism—but I told myself:
“Don’t lower yourself to that level.”
Because honestly—at the end of the day, we’re all human. We make mistakes. We learn. We grow.
I’ve made cultural mistakes in the past too, probably without realising. But what really matters is how we choose to respond when something doesn’t feel right.
If someone says something racist or ignorant to me, I try to pause and think:
What’s the most helpful way to respond?
If the moment feels safe and appropriate, I might say:
“Actually, I’m Thai—just so you know, assuming someone’s background like that can come across a bit rude.”
And I say it calmly, kindly—not to shame them, but to help them understand.
Because some people genuinely don’t know better. And if we teach with kindness, there’s a better chance they’ll remember.
That’s why I always come back to something my Swedish friends often say to me:
“Kill the madness with kindness.” ð
Kindness shows strength. It shows maturity. It shows that you’re in control of your values—not just your emotions.
Living in Sweden has really shaped how I respond to conflict. People here tend to handle things more calmly—and most of my friends always say:
“Anne, respond with kindness. That’s how you show someone there’s a better way.”
And that’s something I’ve really taken to heart.
The Problem with Public Shame
Sai later explained in several interviews — for example, one with Channel 3 (āļāļĢāļĢāļĄāļāļĢāļ่āļēāļ§āļุāļĒāļāļāļāļāļ) and another reported by the Thai Examiner (2025) — that his intention was to show others how to handle situations like this.
While I
understand the importance of standing up for yourself and for Thailand, I also
believe there’s a way to do it that brings more understanding — not more anger.
When you point fingers, raise your voice, and publicly shame someone online,
you may lose the chance to actually educate them. It can make people defensive
— or worse, scared to engage at all.
Now, maybe
this is just my way of handling these situations. Maybe for Sai, expressing
himself strongly in that moment felt like the right thing to do. And if he
truly feels that he stood up for something important, then that’s his path —
and I respect that.
But there
was a part of the video where he pointed his finger at the tourist. At the end
of the exchange — after the tourist had walked away — Sai said:
“Try that again and I will have you deported.” (South China
Morning Post, 2025)
To me, that
part felt a little too intense and could be interpreted as threatening.
Realistically, that’s not a power he holds — and when you’re in a public-facing
role, especially at a national park, how you handle situations reflects not
just on you, but on Thailand as a whole.
And this is
where I think it gets more delicate. There are people watching this clip who
may have never been to Thailand. They may not know Thai people personally, or
how warm, respectful, and kind the majority of us are. So when they see someone
reacting with anger, pointing fingers, and threatening deportation, they might
get the wrong impression — and think this is how Thai people treat tourists.
Which,
honestly, couldn’t be further from the truth.
Yes, I
understand that some tourists behave badly and do deserve to be called out. But
at the same time, I believe there’s more power in solving things with calmness
and diplomacy. When you approach someone with respect — even if they’ve been
disrespectful — you stand a better chance of earning their respect, and maybe
even changing their thinking.
And maybe,
if Sai ever has a chance to reflect on this again, I hope he sees that there
might’ve been a gentler way to still make a powerful point — without letting
the anger lead.
I’m Still Grateful for the Awareness Sai Brought
Even though
I don’t agree with how the situation was handled, I’m still grateful that Sai
raised awareness about this issue.
He reminded
people that Thailand is not China, and that Asia is not one country.And that’s an important message. So for that — thank you, Sai.
Additional
Thought:
The Role of Social Media and One-Sided Judgment
Before I
end this, there’s one more thing I think is worth mentioning — something
we’re seeing more and more in today’s world: The power — and the potential harm — of social media.
When a
video goes viral, it’s easy to jump to conclusions without knowing the full
story.
In the recent case we’ve all seen, the tourist never had a chance to explain or
defend himself.
We saw only a short clip, from one angle, and with no context.
Yes —
people should be held accountable for their actions. That matters.But we also need to pause and ask ourselves: Are we judging fairly — or are we reacting to a viral moment without
understanding the full picture?
Public
shaming online can feel like justice in the moment. But what if the person simply made a cultural mistake, without any bad
intentions? Once a video spreads, it’s almost impossible to take it back.
And now that tourist may carry the label of “racist” — all based on 30 seconds
of footage with no background or explanation.
As someone who has been misunderstood before, I know how painful that can be.That’s why I believe context matters. Dialogue matters.We don’t need to cancel people over every mistake. Sometimes, what people truly need is the chance to learn — not a lifetime of shame.
That
doesn’t mean we should excuse harmful behaviour. But we can hold people accountable without attacking them. And honestly, I think that’s where real change begins when we lead with empathy instead of anger.
I actually have a lot more to say on this — especially about how social media can encourage one-sided storytelling and snap judgments. But I think I’ll save that for another time.
Final Thoughts
This post
is simply a reflection — my personal thoughts, shaped by my own experiences. I know others may see things differently, and that’s completely okay.We all come from different backgrounds, and we all respond to situations in our
own way.
While Sai’s frustration is totally understandable—and many Thais supported his message—there’s also a large group of people, both in Thailand and abroad, who felt that his tone and method of confrontation might’ve been too intense for a tourist who may have simply made a cultural mistake.
If you’re
travelling anywhere in the world, here’s one small piece of advice:
"Take five minutes to learn how to say “hello” in the local language."
It shows respect — and it’s such a simple way to build a better connection. And if you’re ever unsure, a kind smile and a simple “hello” is always a safe
and respectful start.
Let’s keep
the conversation open.
Let’s listen more, assume less, and lead with kindness.
Thanks so much for reading. ð
ð Sources & References
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South China Morning Post
Thailand park ranger sacked after ‘ni hao’ tourist clash video: ‘we’re Thai, not Chinese’
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3307434/thailand-park-ranger-sacked-after-ni-hao-tourist-clash-video-were-thai-not-chinese -
Khaosod English
Thai National Park’s Advisor to Be Dismissed After ‘Ni Hao’ Controversy
https://www.khaosodenglish.com/politics/2025/04/21/thai-national-parks-advisor-to-be-dismissed-after-ni-hao-controversy/ -
Bangkok Post
Parks adviser sacked after viral video
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/3007884/parks-adviser-sacked-after-viral-video -
Thai Examiner
Ranger Sai resigns but defiantly insists that he was right to teach a Western foreign tourist a lesson
https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2025/04/20/ranger-sai-resigns-but-defiantly-insists-that-he-was-right-to-teach-a-western-foreign-tourist-a-lesson/ -
Thai Examiner
Sai Scott National Park Ranger to be formally removed from role by Director-general’s order this week
https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2025/04/21/sai-scott-national-park-ranger-to-be-formally-removed-from-role-by-director-generals-order-this-week/ -
Thai News
Language and Intent: Siranudh Scott’s ‘Ni Hao’ Incident Sparks Cultural Debate in Thailand
https://thai.news/news/thailand/language-and-intent-siranudh-scotts-ni-hao-incident-sparks-cultural-debate-in-thailand -
Wikipedia
Siranudh Scott
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siranudh_Scott -
YouTube – āđāļĢื่āļāļāđāļĨ่āļēāđāļ้āļēāļี้ (Rueng Lao Chao Nee)
āđāļĢื่āļāļāđāļĨ่āļēāđāļ้āļēāļี้ (Rueng Lao Chao Nee) Thai news program
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EL5ZEkJMRJ8&t=6s -
Facebook – The Nation Thailand
Sai Scott calls out racist tourist in viral boat incident
https://www.facebook.com/TheNationThailand/videos/sai-scott-calls-out-racist-tourist-in-viral-boat-incidenta-viral-clip-shows-sira/1183252222915907/ -
Instagram – The Nation Thailand
Sai Scott calls out racist tourist in viral boat incident
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DIk6jTMqLz8/ YouTube – Daily Mail World
Park ranger 'cancels family's holiday trip' over 'racist Ni Hao' greeting
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2VyN7TCOBY
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Tourism Row Erupts After Park Advisor's "Ni Hao" Response
Source: Khaosod English
Link: https://www.khaosodenglish.com/life/socialmedia/2025/04/19/tourism-row-erupts-after-park-advisors-ni-hao-response/ -
A Message to Foreigners Visiting Thailand from Sai Scott!
Source: Khaosod (YouTube)
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50Dvuyc0VrY - Siranat "Sai" Scott Resigns After Exposing Corruption and Environmental Violations
Source: The Nation Thailand
Link: https://www.nationthailand.com/sustaination/40048923 -
Thai National Park's Advisor to Be Dismissed After "Ni Hao" Controversy
Source: Bangkok Post
Link: https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/3007884/parks-adviser-sacked-after-viral-video
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