Do’s and Don'ts: The South East Asia

Cambodia• Never touch a Cambodian person on the head, even

children.• Never raise your feet higher than someone's head.• When seated on the ground, tuck your feet beneath

you so that they do not point at someone.• Unless told otherwise, always remove your shoes

before entering a home or business.• Do not use your left hand to touch, eat, or hand

someone something.• Pointing with your index finger is considered rude.

Instead, gesture with your right hand palm-up.

Vietnam

• It is impolite to flaunt off wealth in public. It is wise to not carry more money than you actually need when you are going outside. Wearing too much jewelry is also not advised.

• If you are an American, avoid bringing up topics especially about the Vietnam war. Vietnamese people have mixed feelings about this.

• Dress in a conservative way as much as possible. Vietnamese are generally modest when it comes to clothing.

Laos• Use your feet only for walking or for sports. It is considered

rude to have feet pointed to others or have them raised on top of tables.

• It is very impolite to touch someone on their head. It is advised to gently crouch a bit when passing someone who is seated.

• Although monks are very revered and respect in Laos, it is considered taboo for women to touch a monk or even their robe.

• People in Lao try to speak gently and softly. It is rude to raise your voice or shout.

Thailand • Related to the first point – for Thais, only fools and

people of poor upbringing lose their temper in public. Loud voices and angry talk can be extremely counterproductive in Thailand. Thais value keeping “face”, for themselves and each other.

• Remember the sacred and taboo parts of your body:head and feet. For Thais, the head is the most sacred part of the body, while the feet are the lowest and the filthiest. Don’t ever touch a Thai person’s head; at the same time, you must never show the soles of your feet to anyone, or use your feet to point to something.

• Before entering a house or office, it’s polite to leave your shoes outside.

• Public displays of affection are not encouraged in Thailand.

• Instead of shaking hands, Thais “wai” to greet people. The “wai” is a short bow done with hands held fingertips-together close to your chest or face. A proper “wai” is not as easy as you’d think, so practice a little to get the hang of it. Never “wai” someone of lower status – even it sounds like the egalitarian thing to do, you’ll only embarrass the person you’re “wai”ing.

• Buddhism is practiced by most Thais, so one must take extra-special care not to offend their religious sensibilities. Wear appropriate dress before entering a temple – avoid sleeveless shirts, flip-flops, and too-short shorts or skirts, for starters. Leave your shoes outside the temple as you enter.

• Show respect for the King and his family – Thais will not appreciate even the friendliest jest about their monarch. Thai people have a deep respect for their King, an affection that reciprocates his many accomplishments and sacrifices for the country.

Philippines

• Learn key phrases in Tagalog. Filipino people appreciate it when foreigners make an effort in learning about the language and may even reward them by teaching more.

• Eat food that are offered by the hosts. Locals will get offended if the guests refuse to eat. If you are cautious about it, just try at least a little of something.

• Travel through the local style. Jeepneys are a symbol of the country and the creativity of Filipinos

Fast facts

• Southeast Asia is made up of a large mainland peninsula, and a maritime area with 20,000 islands scattered through the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Much of the land in this region is mountainous and covered in dense, tropical forest.

HOW DOES DEFORESTATION AFFECT THE REGION?

• Deforestation in Indonesia, Thailand, Burma, and Laos has destroyed the habitats of many rare plants and animals, such as tigers and wild elephants. It has also caused flooding and soil erosion. Some trees, such as teak, are logged for their timber; others are felled to create farmland, and replanting is rare. Thailand took the step of banning commercial logging in 1989.

HOW IS RICE FARMING CHANGING IN THE REGION?

• In the last 20 years, rice farmers have been planting new species of high-quality rice, which produce a greater yield. These, along with new, intensive rice-planting programs and sophisticated machinery, have helped some countries, such as Indonesia, to become self-sufficient. Rice is a staple food of the region and grows well in the warm, humid climate

WHICH COUNTRY IS MADE UP OF 13,677 ISLANDS?

• Indonesia is the largest archipelago, or group of islands, in the world, spread out over 3,000,000 sq miles (8,000,000 sq km) of ocean. The country’s huge population, which is predominantly Muslim, includes 362 different peoples, speaking over 250 languages. Most people still live in small villages, but nine million live in the capital, Jakarta, on the island of Java.

WHAT IS THE MAIN RELIGION ON THE MAINLAND?

• Buddhism is the most important religion in mainland southeast Asia, and the area has thousands of monasteries and ornate Buddhist temples. In Thailand, 95 percent of the people are Buddhist, and nearly every village has its own temple or wat, which is the center of village life.

WHERE IS THE RING OF FIRE?

• The “Ring of Fire” is an arc of active volcanoes running through maritime southeast Asia and around the Pacific Ocean. The volcanoes sit along the edges of two plates that make up the Earth’s crust. When the plates move against each other, they cause earthquakes and volcanic eruptions on the islands of this region.

WHY DOES SOUTHEAST ASIA HAVE A RICH TRADITION OF PERFORMING

ARTS?• The music, dance, and drama of southeast

Asia derive from the region’s religious traditions. Cambodia’s highly stylized classical dances are based on 12th-century Hindu dances, while much of Indonesian drama retells Hindu myths. Indonesia is also famous for its shadow puppet shows.

WHO ARE THE LITTLE TIGERS?

• Many southeast Asian countries, such as Singapore, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia, are known as “Little Tigers” because of their fast-growing “tiger” economies and industrial enterprise. These countries benefit from cheap, plentiful labor, and export manufactured goods such as clothes and electronics.

Tourist spots

The Nature Conservancy has partnered with local villages and the parks authority to create an ecotourism program at Komodo National Park, Indonesia, which encompasses about 500,000 acres of land and sea, and is home to more than 1,000 animal and plant species.

The Boat Landing Guest House in Luang Namtha, Laos is an ecolodge certified by Green Globe, a company that rigorously evaluates a hotel's environmental practices. Rates range from $30 to $45 per night.

Taal Volcano, Philippines

Perhentian Islands, Malaysia

Halong on Land, Vietnam

Bunaken Island, Indonesia

Hawker Centers, Singapore

Angkor Temples, Cambodia

Bali, Indonesia

Mount Kinabalu, Malaysia

Petronas Towers, Malaysia

Bangkok's Shopping Scene, Thailand

Tubbataha Reef, Philippines

Vigan, Philippines