Traditional Thai body massage.

Traditional Thai body massage (Ab ob nuat ) in Thailand most often consists of either an oil massage, assisted bath and/or bodyslide treatment ("soapie") followed by sexual services. These latter may or may not be included in the price paid to the house. If not, they are negotiated with the masseuse. Some of these establishments cater mainly to locals and Asians, but will accept Western customers simply. In most, the masseuses wait behind a one-way glass window ("fish bowl"), usually watching television, as the men have a drink and carefully choose a woman.

Such massage parlours can be found in all larger cities, and are often combined with hostess bars, karaoke bars and a restaurant. Chuwit Kamolvisit, then prominent owner of several up-scale massage parlours, created a commotion in 2003 when he publicly accused hundreds of police officers of having accepted bribes from him. He later ran for public office and eventually became a member of Parliament.

It should be noted that Thailand is also known for a traditional style of massage, completely unrelated to the erotic body massage. Traditional, "ancient", or "therapeutic" Thai massage (Nuat Phaen Boran, Thai: นวดแผนโบราณ) is very relaxing and beneficial. The masseuse or masseur is well trained, often at temple academies such as Wat Pho in Bangkok.