IC Information
Welcome to Siam!
ยินดีต้อนรับสู่สยาม!
Hello there esteemed guests, and welcome to our wonderful country for the biggest football tournament in the world! Here in the Republic of Siam, we value our tourists, and we hope the many, many players, team staff and fans will have a comfortable and enjoyable stay for the next month or so. To help you in your travels, here is some information about our country and the stadiums themselves, where matches will be taking place.
Overview: Siam is a medium sized country in Southeast Asia. It is comprised of 88 provinces and the capital, Bangkok, is located in the south of the country, bordering the Bay of Siam.
History: Siam is an ancient country, dating all the way back to the 13th century and the Sukhothai Kingdom. It has been a kingdom for many generations, but after the fall of the Rattanakosin Kingdom in 1982, the country has been in political turmoil. In 1984, a military coup was organized, and that went on for 12 years until, in 1996, the first democratically elected Prime Minister, Nonpawit Panichwit, was voted into power. More recently, in early 2019, a royalist coup failed after trying to reinstate a descendant of the last Rattanakosin Kingdom, Princess Mae-Pia Traivut, back into power as queen.
Cultural Notes: Some things to be aware of while in Siam:
Transportation: The main way to get around in Siam is by rail. For those coming up from Australia and Majapahit, why not take our new high speed rail project as far up as it goes to reack the capital, and there are other connections around major cities in the country, including a high speed line from Bangkok to Chiang Mai in only 3 and a half hours. The road connects between smaller towns and villages are spotty, with dirt tracks often being found between the villages. Even in bigger cities, colourful rickshaws and tuk tuks are a staple of traffic, and taxis are preferred over personal cars. Motorbikes are also often found in the more rural areas as the most reliable way to get around.
Ticketing and Visas: All visitors with a valid ticket will get a two-week visa that includes the match that they will be attending. For those attending multiple matches, they will be allowed to stay up to three days after the latest match or two weeks, whichever is longer. Tickets will be distributed as follows: 35% to each nation partaking in the match, 10% to Siamese people, 15% to people from other nations, and the remaining 5% to be included with any of the tickets that aren’t sold by a predetermined point in time (usually 3 days before the match).
For matches featuring the Siamese National Team, the distribution is a bit different: 45% for Siam, 30% for the visiting team, 20% to people from other nations, and the remaining 5% to be included with any of the tickets that aren’t sold by the predetermined point in time. Any press and dignitaries’ tickets will be counted among the residual 5%.
Also of note: ticket scalping (buying and selling tickets in front of the stadium to would-be buyers) is illegal in Siam. If you want to get a ticket in that fashion, make sure you are at least a mile away from the stadium, or don’t get caught. Otherwise, you will be fined and your ticket will be confiscated.
Laws:
Siam is quite strict on upholding the law, and this applies to international tourists as well. The Siamese Police, known as the SPD, are a well-trained group who prefer to work on reaction rather than prevention. For the best experience in Siam, we suggest you abide by these laws:
- The legal age for purchase of alcohol in public places is 20.
- Possession and resale of any drug is strictly prohibited, and punishable with a prison sentence.
- Importing alcohol without declaration is illegal. If items are declared, up to 2L of alcohol can be into the country.
- Possession of firearms is strictly prohibited.
- Foreign visitors can't bring more than $10,000 USD or ฿340900 SMB in cash into the country without proper paperwork.
- For any other questions about legal matters visit siamlaws.sm
Currency: The currency of Siam is the Siamese Baht, and the exchange rate is at 34.09 baht to a dollar. Exchange kiosks are available at the airports in Chiang Mai and Bangkok, and a bottle of water costs around 20 SMB, a good meal around 140SMB, with seafood costing a little more.
Climate: Siam is a warm nation, especially during the summer months when the World Cup takes place. Temperatures can soar to 40C (104F), but are usually around 37-38C (98-100F) during the day. It is normally sunny with little wind. Due to the warm temperatures, matches will take place in the evening in fully air-conditioned stadiums, and players and fans are encouraged to keep water at hand, use sunscreen and stay inside and out of the sun during the hottest hours from 11am to 3pm.
Language: The official language is Siamese, although signs on main roads and most places in big cities will have the English translation underneath. However most Siamese natives can't speak English, and so a translator may be necessary.
Cuisine: Siamese cuisine is spicy, warm and filling, with traditional curries and stir fries. Rice is a staple of Siamese culture, and is incorporated into nearly every dish. And if there's not rice, there's probably noodles. There is also a lot of cold food, such as spring rolls, noodle dishes and seafood. Vegetarian and vegan options are almost always available at any restaurant.
General Populace: The Siamese people pride themselves on their hospitality and are very friendly and eager to help out, generally. Just don't bring up the political situation and you will be all set.
I wish you well on your travels in Siam, and hope you have a pleasant visit.
Tourist Board of Siam, 2020
Host Cities and Venues
Bangkok
Known to the Siamese people by it's traditional name, Krung Thep, Bangkok is the capital city of Thailand and home to most of the major football stadiums in the country. A bustling capital with a mix of modern and ancient culture, it is a melting pot of cultures from all over Siam, and boasts stunning temples and impressive technology.
Venue 1: Rajamangala National Stadium (cap. 50,000)
Siam's biggest stadium, Rajamangala is located in the heart of Bangkok, and is home to Emerald Buddha, one of the more royal Siamese football clubs. They are expected to finish midtable, but this impressive stadium still draws crowds at every game. It is the venue of the opening and closing ceremonies, and, being the most important stadium in the country, will host the final and third place playoffs.
Venue 2: Golden Stadium (cap. 25,000)
The Golden Stadium in the western suburbs of Bangkok is the home of Golden Chedi, one of the best top-flight teams out there. It is an imposing stadium of blue and gold, and is reminiscent of ancient Siamese temples in its architecture.
Venue 3: Blue Elephant Stadium (cap. 10,000)
Image coming soon!
Description coming soon!
Udon Thani
Located in the north east of the country, Udon Thani is a city known for its vibrant culture and rich history. It is a commerce and trade hub, and has a bustling downtown area crammed with markets, shops and restaurants. As well as the new, Udon Thani is also home to the old, with stunning old temples, including the ancient ruins of Ban Chiang, which date back over 5000 years.
Venue: Basilica Stadium (cap. 30,000)
The Basilica Stadium in the heart of Udon Thani was built in 2005 for Siamese Basil, a Siamese League 1 team. The atmosphere here on matchdays is electric, with the green terraces often being filled to the brim with Siamese Basil supporters cheering and waving. The sound system is state of the art, having been revamped in late 2018.
Chiang Mai
Known as the "Rose of the North", Chiang Mai is a beautiful city in the northern provinces of Siam. Surrounded by mountains, it boasts an incredible fusion of sweet-smelling night markets and cool, clean shopping malls, to wild mountains and ancient Buddhist temples. There is so much to see in this beautiful city, which holds two venues for the World Cup.
Venue 1 700th Anniversary of Chiang Mai Stadium (cap. 20,000)
This low-lying stadium is the home of Siamese Phoenix United, newcomers to the top-flight of Siam. With it's distinctive flat stand design, it looks rather like a scaled down version of the National Stadium down south in Bangkok. When it's not being used for a matchday, the local schools use it during the week for running and football PE lessons, and it is the venue of Sports Days for several of the schools in the area.
Venue 2 The Thunderdome (cap. 25,000)
THe home of Chang Mai United, the Thunderdome is a newer stadium in downtown Chiang Mai, famed for its distinctive blue exterior. An icon of football in the city, itis the pinnacle of class and elegance in the city. On matchdays, people flock to the ground, away fans straining to be the first to get a glimpse of the blue rooves of Chiang Mai.
Krabi
Venue: Krabi Provincial Stadium (cap. 10,000)
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