The Thai Soft Power Thai Influences on CLMV neighbors

Presently, the word Soft Power is talked about a lot. You probably already know that Soft Power is a strategy for creating popularity by convincing others to follow. Soft Power is mostly developed from the charm of culture or a good image such as lifestyle, food, drink, and art in various forms became the main factor causing admiration that stimulates decision making and readiness for cooperation. The influencee does not feel the pressure.

Professor Joseph S. Nye, Jr., a political scientist from Harvard University, the owner of the concept of Soft Power, explains that 'Soft Power' is the ability to influence the victim to be willing to do what the person using power wants in a gentle way that invites you to follow, it is not coercion.

Soft Power from Thailand is quite unique. The Global Soft Power Index is an index from a survey of soft power potential in all dimensions in 121 countries around the world. In the year 2023, Thailand was ranked No. 41 with outstanding food culture, art historical heritage, natural resources. People are smiling and good-natured. Thailand is considered to have a good future, spoken of in a wider variety of languages because there is still a lot of hidden potential cultural capital.

Soft Power from Thailand is quite unique. The Global Soft Power Index is an index from a survey of soft power potential in all dimensions in 121 countries around the world. In the year 2023, Thailand was ranked No. 41 with outstanding food culture, art historical heritage, natural resources. People are smiling and good-natured. Thailand is considered to have a good future, spoken of in a wider variety of languages because there is still a lot of hidden potential cultural capital.

For Thailand, there is a policy to support Soft Power, aiming to promote the 5F culture to become an important cultural export product; Food, Film, Fashion, Fighting (Muay Thai) and Festival (Traditional festivals). Today, let's look at the power of Thailand Soft Power that influences neighboring countries in the CLMV group (Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Vietnam).

Thai drama "Prom Likhit" (Love Destiny 2) takes you in a time machine back to the Ayutthaya era.



At the end of last year, many people probably followed the trend. “Phrom Likhit Drama” (Love Destiny 2) which is a Thai series set in the period of Ayutthaya. The drama is a sequel to the story of Buppesanniwat (Love Destiny 1) that made an impression on both Thai and foreign viewers from the first part.

The drama's popularity has resulted in Vietnam that most Vietnamese neighbors visit the ancient sites in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province to follow in the footsteps of Puttan, the heroine of the story. It has stimulated the economy within the province vigorously. Even in the online world, there are discussions and exchanges about this drama including admiring the actors and screenwriters and learning Thai history as well. While in Cambodia, a statement from television station PNNTV has received exclusive rights to broadcast the drama "Prom Likhit" (Love Destiny 2) from Thailand, Lao PDR is known to have a language and culture like Thailand. It is easy to access Thai dramas. But it has been confirmed by local people that almost all Lao people can speak and listen to Thai.


Joe Rainforest: Behind-the-scenes look of celebrities’ weddings

In November 2023, pictures emerged of the wedding of the heirs of billionaires from Myanmar, Thoon Htet Win Swe and Thae Nu San, held in Mandalay, Union. Myanmar. The atmosphere at the event was extremely beautiful with flowers made by Joe Rainforest, a Thai florist who created works with 3 concepts: Imprint of love, Testimony of Faith and the Radiance of Neutron Stars. Previously, Joe Rainforest was behind the grand engagements and weddings of many actors and famous people, such as Choompoo Araya-Nott's wedding, Lydia-Matthew's wedding, Sririta-Korn Narongdej, Koi Ratchawin-Toon Body slam are considered another Soft Power ready to represent Thai products on the world trade stage.

Thai Food goes global.

Another important weapon in driving Thailand Soft Power is Thai food, which is loved by people all over the world. In December 2023, CNN Travel, a famous food website, ranked Thai food as the 8th best food in the world, and the Taste Atlas Awards 2023/2024 praised Thai food as 5th. Menus include stir-fried basil, khao soi, panaeng curry, tom kha chicken and massaman curry, ranked among the top 100 best foods in the world. and ranked Thai kitchen as number 17 among the 100 best in the world.

For neighbors in the CLMV countries, it is popular to choose Thai food as a special meal such as our Vietnamese neighbors with an outstanding image in terms of taste, appetizing look and meticulousness in cooking. The target group of the Thai food business in Vietnam is consumers with middle to high incomes. In addition, Thailand is a destination for many travelers who specifically aim to try Thai food. For example, a Vietnamese YouTuber from the Uyen Ninh channel with over 1.3 million followers posted a review of his trip to taste it. Thai food in Thailand and received very good response from the online world. People share the same point of view, praising Thai food as the best they've ever experienced.

Creating soft power goes beyond the quality of products and services. Conveying a beautiful image that is accepted by people around the world requires the right timing. The cultural identity of Thailand is quite strong but has adapted to the times. Therefore, conveying the 5F to the world's eyes is something that can be done If we get support from every sector.

Customers interested in doing business in CLMV or countries in the Great Mekong Subregion (GMS) include Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam. Siam Commercial Bank has international branches ready to take care of and provide services. If interested, please contact

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Thank you for the good information from: Cambodia Commercial Bank, Siam Commercial Bank - Vientiane Branch, Siam Commercial Bank Myanmar and Siam Commercial Bank Ho Chi Minh City Branch

Reference

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2.สันทัด โพธิสา. Thai PBS. “Soft Power คืออะไร? รวม “ของไทย” ปังจริงในหมู่ชาวต่างชาติ”. Soft Power คืออะไร ? รวม “ของไทย” ปังจริงในหมู่ชาวต่างชาติ | Thai PBS NOW (ค้นหาเมื่อ 24/11/2023)

3.Set Source. “ธุรกิจ Soft Power ไทยในเวที Thailand Focus 2023”. ธุรกิจ Soft Power ไทย ในเวที Thailand Focus 2023 - ตลาดหลักทรัพย์แห่งประเทศไทย (set.or.th) (ค้นหาเมื่อ 24/11/2023)

4. DITP Think Thailand. “จุรินทร์ กับ เส้นทาง Soft Power ของไทย ผงาดในตลาดโลก”. จุรินทร์ กับ “เส้นทาง Soft Power ของไทย ผงาดในตลาดโลก” - DITP THINK THAILAND (ค้นหาเมื่อ 24/11/2023)

5.TNews. “กัมพูชา เตือนผู้ละเมิดลิขสิทธิ์ “พรหมลิขิต” พร้อมดำเนินการตามกฎหมาย”. กัมพูชา เตือนผู้ละเมิดลิขสิทธิ์ "พรหมลิขิต" พร้อมดำเนินการตามกฎหมาย (tnews.co.th) (ค้นหาเมื่อ 24/11/2023)

6.Creative Economy Agency. “Soft Power: The driving Force of Creative Economy”. Creative Economy Agency DATA & Statistics (cea.or.th) (Accessed 24/11/2023)

7.Champ Krissada. “เวียดนามคลั่งพรหมลิขิต แปลชื่อเต็มกรุงเทพฯ ตามนางเอก เกิดการสร้าง Soft Power มหาศาล”. เวียดนามคลั่งพรหมลิขิต แปลชื่อเต็มกรุงเทพฯตามนางเอก เกิดการสร้าง Soft Power มหาศาล - YouTube (ค้นหาเมื่อ 27/11/2023)

8.3 Plus News. “ทูตไทยเผยพรหมลิขิตฟีเวอร์ในเวียดนาม ทำคนแห่งเที่ยวไทย ยกเป็นซอฟต์พาวเวอร์ที่มีศักยภาพ”. 'ทูตไทย' เผย 'พรหมลิขิต' ฟีเวอร์ในเวียดนาม ทำคนแห่เที่ยวไทย ยกเป็นซอฟต์พาวเวอร์ที่มีศักยภาพ (ch3plus.com) (ค้นหาเมื่อ 27/11/2023)

9. กฤตภาส ศักดิษฐานนท์. “Global Soft Power Index 2023 ประเทศไทยอยู่ตรงไหนในแผนที่ซอฟต์เพาเวอร์โลก”. Global Soft Power Index 2023 ประเทศไทยอยู่ตรงไหน ในแผนที่ซอฟต์เพาเวอร์โลก - มติชนสุดสัปดาห์ (matichonweekly.com) (ค้นหาเมื่อ 27/11/2023)

10.TPSO. “สนค. หนุนร้านอาหารไทยในต่างแดนสร้างโอกาสเผยแพร่ Soft Power เสริมอุตสาหกรรมเกี่ยวเนื่องของไทย”. สนค. หนุนร้านอาหารไทยในต่างแดน “สร้างโอกาสเผยแพร่ Soft Power เสริมอุตสาหกรรมเกี่ยวเนื่องของไทย” | สำนักงานนโยบายและยุทธศาสตร์การค้า (tpso.go.th). (ค้นหาเมื่อ 9/1/2024)

11.Teste Atlas. “100 Best Dishes in the World”. 100 Best Dishes in the World - TasteAtlas Awards 23/24 . (Accessed 9/1/2024)

12.Teste Atlas. “100 Best Cuisines in the World”. 100 Best Cuisines - TasteAtlas Awards 23/24. (Accessed 9/1/2024)

13.Uyen Ninh. “What I eat in Bangkok: Thai food that stole my heart”. What I eat in Bangkok: Thai food that stole my heart (youtube.com). (Accessed 9/1/2024)