Iranians in Thailand
Encyclopedia
Iranian migration to Thailand began as early as the 17th century, during the Ayutthaya Kingdom
period. They consisted primarily of merchants. They are recorded in some memoirs of their fellow merchants, the Dutch East India Company
, as well as in the Ship of Sulaiman, an account of a Persian embassy to King Narai
. Some descendants of Iranians from the Ayutthaya period converted to Buddhism, and continued to retain influence in Thai public life down to the present day; one prominent example is the Bunnag
family, whose ancestor "Shaykh Ahmad" is said to have come from Qom
and arrived at Ayutthaya in 1602.
In recent years, Thailand has become a popular destination for Iranian medical tourists
. However, due to numerous incidents of methamphetamine
smuggling, Iranians coming to Thailand fall under heavy suspicion from police.
Ayutthaya kingdom
Ayutthaya was a Siamese kingdom that existed from 1350 to 1767. Ayutthaya was friendly towards foreign traders, including the Chinese, Vietnamese , Indians, Japanese and Persians, and later the Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch and French, permitting them to set up villages outside the walls of the...
period. They consisted primarily of merchants. They are recorded in some memoirs of their fellow merchants, the Dutch East India Company
Dutch East India Company
The Dutch East India Company was a chartered company established in 1602, when the States-General of the Netherlands granted it a 21-year monopoly to carry out colonial activities in Asia...
, as well as in the Ship of Sulaiman, an account of a Persian embassy to King Narai
Narai
Somdet Phra Narai or Somdet Phra Ramathibodi III was the king of Ayutthaya from 1656 to 1688 and arguably the most famous Ayutthayan king. His reign was the most prosperous during the Ayutthaya period and saw the great commercial and diplomatic activities with foreign nations including the...
. Some descendants of Iranians from the Ayutthaya period converted to Buddhism, and continued to retain influence in Thai public life down to the present day; one prominent example is the Bunnag
Bunnag
The House of Bunnag was a powerful Siamese noble family of the Persian descent of the early Rattanakosin. By the nineteenth century, its power and influence reached its zenith. The family was favored by Chakri monarchs and monopolized high-ranking titles. Three Somdet Chao Phrayas came from the...
family, whose ancestor "Shaykh Ahmad" is said to have come from Qom
Qom
Qom is a city in Iran. It lies by road southwest of Tehran and is the capital of Qom Province. At the 2006 census, its population was 957,496, in 241,827 families. It is situated on the banks of the Qom River....
and arrived at Ayutthaya in 1602.
In recent years, Thailand has become a popular destination for Iranian medical tourists
Medical tourism
Medical tourism is a term initially coined by travel agencies and the mass media to describe the rapidly-growing practice of travelling across international borders to obtain health care...
. However, due to numerous incidents of methamphetamine
Methamphetamine
Methamphetamine is a psychostimulant of the phenethylamine and amphetamine class of psychoactive drugs...
smuggling, Iranians coming to Thailand fall under heavy suspicion from police.