Rice based dishes are remarkably easy to eat by hand (it is extremely common in South India, see http://migrationology.com/2012/01/how-to-eat-with-your-hands... for a video), but your point holds true for noodles.

I know people eat with their hands in south/central Asia (including Burma), as well as in Muslim areas (Malaysia/Indonesia), I just never saw that in Tai areas of SE Asia. Well, you learn something everyday I guess.

We usually eat using our right hand when it involves rice. Otherwise we use spoon & fork.

Nice to know! Too bad I'm left handed :(

Go to more rural areas and villages, such as north east thailand (Issan, etc).