Their national language is Thai, although many speak local and Chinese dialects. English is also widely spoken, espe cially in cities and towns. The weather is always cooler in northern and mountainous regions. Passports and visas All visitors to Thailand require valid passports, but visas are not necessary for most nationalities for a stay of up to 28 days, For a longer visit a tourist visa, issued by overseas Thai consular offices, is valid for a stay of up to 60 days. It must be used within three months from the date of issue and can usually be extended.
Strict restrictions apply against the import of weapons, narcotics, pornography etc.
It is not permitted to import more than 2,000 Baht per person, nor export more than 50,000 Baht per person in cash. Antiques and Buddha images require export licences. Health Certificates of inoculation against cholera and yellow fever are not required, unless arriving from an infected area. Some remote areas of Thailand are still malarial, so visitors should take appropriate precautions. Bangkok has excellent medical facilities and hospitals, with all hotels having doctors on 24-hour call.