Cultural Etiquettes: Do’s and Don’ts in Different Countries

Nov 6

Are you considering wearing a purple dress to a party in London? Great idea! Purple is a welcomed color in British society, which symbolizes wealth and power. However, the same choice isn't appreciated for a party in Brazil, because purple is associated with death over there. Our world consists of diverse cultures, and each culture has its own superstitions associated with various objects, colors, and gestures. Whether you are a world traveler, or have a social circle encompassing people from different cultures, it's always a good idea to know respective cultural etiquettes to avoid any frowns. Here are a few do's and don'ts you should definitely keep in mind if you plan to visit any of these countries.

Indonesia

Indonesia, the world's largest archipelago nation, stretches across Southeast Asia and Oceania with over 17,000 islands. With a rich blend of cultures and religions, the country offers a fascinating tapestry of traditions, languages, and cuisines. Below are a few do's and don'ts to keep in mind when interacting with Indonesians.

Do's:

Respect Local Traditions - Indonesia is home to numerous ethnic groups, each with its unique customs. Always respect local traditions and participate when appropriate.
Dress Modestly - In many parts of Indonesia, particularly in areas where Islam is predominant, modest clothing is appreciated. Cover your shoulders and knees when visiting religious sites.
Use Your Right Hand - The right hand is considered more polite and cleaner. Use it for eating, shaking hands, and handing over money or gifts.
Learn Basic Bahasa Indonesia - While many Indonesians speak English, especially in tourist areas, learning a few basic phrases in Bahasa Indonesia goes a long way in showing respect and making connections.

Don'ts:

Avoid Public Displays of Affection - Public displays of affection, such as kissing and hugging, are considered inappropriate and disrespectful in many parts of Indonesia.
Don’t Point with Your Finger - Pointing with your finger is considered rude. Instead, use your whole hand or thumb to point.
Respect Personal Space - Indonesians value personal space. Avoid standing too close to others in public places.
Be Careful with Your Feet - Showing the soles of your feet or pointing your feet at someone is considered disrespectful. Always remove your shoes when entering someone’s home.

Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic, located on the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean, is known for its stunning beaches, lush tropical landscapes, and vibrant culture. Sharing the island with Haiti, it offers a unique blend of Spanish, African, and Taino influences, evident in its music, food, and festivals. Make sure to have certain do's and don'ts in mind before landing on Dominican soil.

Do's:

Greet Everyone Warmly - Dominicans are known for their friendliness. A warm greeting with a handshake and a smile goes a long way. A light kiss on the cheek is also common among friends and acquaintances.
Dress Appropriately - While the Dominican Republic is tropical, it's respectful to dress modestly, especially when visiting religious sites or rural areas. Swimwear is acceptable at the beach, but not in town.
Be Punctual, but Flexible - While it's good to arrive on time for formal events, be prepared for a more relaxed attitude toward time. Social gatherings often start later than scheduled.
Learn Basic Spanish - While many Dominicans speak English, especially in tourist areas, attempting to speak Spanish shows respect and willingness to engage with the local culture.

Don'ts:

Avoid Political Discussions - Politics can be a sensitive topic. It's best to steer clear of political discussions unless you know the people well and understand their viewpoints.
Don’t Assume Anything About Personal Space - While Dominicans are generally warm and friendly, personal space can vary. Be observant and adapt to how close others stand or sit.
Be Careful with Humor - Sarcasm and teasing are common among friends, but be cautious until you understand the local humor. What might be funny to you could be taken the wrong way.
Don’t Litter - Dominicans take pride in their environment. Dispose of trash properly, and if you can, participate in local cleanup efforts to show respect for the country’s natural beauty.

Pakistan

Located in South Asia, Pakistan is home to more than 200 million people, of which more than 96% are muslims. Pakistanis are known for their hospitality, big hearts, and diverse cultural backgrounds. Here you can find some do’s and don'ts to consider when visiting “the land of pure”.

Do’s:

Respect elders - Talking back to those significantly older than you is considered rude. In case a clash of opinion arises, leaving the argument with a smile is recommended.
Dress modestly - Modesty is a core value in Islam, especially for women. When traversing the city, wear clothes that cover your legs and torso completely. If you’re visiting a mosque, be sure to bring a scarf along to cover your head as a sign of respect.
Be hospitable - You can be considered rude if you deny invites or don’t welcome guests without a valid reason.

Don’ts:

Don’t criticize Islam - Islam is involved in all aspects of Pakistani culture and is deeply valued by its people. Don’t disrespect its teachings or restrictions and try to be as accepting of differing beliefs as possible.
Avoid PDA - Public displays of affection are considered distasteful and may lead to harassment. Keep PDA at a minimum even if you’re married.
Don’t refuse food or drinks - Pakistanis pride themselves on hospitality meaning refusing food or drinks at gatherings is considered rude.

South Korea

Popular for K-Pop and K-dramas, Korea is a multi-faceted country with a high emphasis on respect, hierarchy and confucian values.

Do’s:

Bow for greetings - It's customary to bow as a greeting. The depth of your bow depends on your relationship with the person and the setting you’re in.
Respect the age hierarchy - Korea has an age based hierarchy meaning respecting any individual older than you is necessary. Try not to talk back to older individuals and speak in a humbled tone.
Take off your shoes - Koreans take pride in cleanliness. Take off your shoes in residential homes as well as in restaurants where customers sit on the floor.

Don’ts:

Avoid refusing drinks - Korea has a prevalent drinking culture. Refusing drinks, especially in a work gathering and when offered by a superior, can make you seem disrespectful. If you have a valid reason like religious restrictions, they should be disclosed beforehand.
Don't write names in red ink - Red ink is associated with death due to its use in funerals. Writing someone’s name in red ink can be considered a curse and is generally seen as rude.
Don’t stick your silverware straight up - During funeral and memorial processions, mourners stick two vertical chopsticks into the rice served to the spirits. Sticking your silverware mimics this tradition and can be seen as a curse or ominous.

Thailand

Thailand is a very popular destination for tourists in Southeast Asia. It is important to be mindful of the rich culture and traditions when visiting the “Land of the Smiles”. The Thai people are generally forgiving when mistakes are made, but it is still important to respect their customs. This list gives a good overview of things to keep in mind on your next trip.

Do’s:

Dress Modestly - Thai culture encourages modest dressing. The dress code in temples is more strict (where shoulders and knees must be covered). Comfortable airy clothes (avoiding tank tops and short shorts) are a good choice to wear on your visit.
Respect the Monks - Buddhism is the predominant religion and the monks are very highly regarded. Do not make physical contact with monks, especially if you are a woman (they can’t have physical contact with women). If giving them something, don’t hand it to them directly, but set it on the ground in front of them.
Remove your Shoes - Feet are seen as the dirtiest part of the body. It is customary to remove shoes when entering a home, temples, and sometimes restaurants and other businesses.
Return a Wai - The wai is the typical Thai greeting, where you press your hands together and do a slight bow. Typically the higher you press your hands together the more respect you are showing. It is impolite to not return a wai, and the person of lower status usually initiates.

Don'ts:

Disrespect the Monarchy - It is best to avoid political conversations and conversations about the monarchy. The monarch, its symbols, and customs are deeply important to the Thai people.
Point at Someone - Pointing at someone with your index finger is considered disrespectful. If you want to indicate something or someone, you should use your whole hand or lift your chin in that direction.
Public Display of Affections - PDA is likely to make people very uncomfortable. It is best practice to avoid kissing and hugging in public and save it for when you are somewhere private.
Point or Raise Your Feet - As previously mentioned, the feet are considered the least clean part of the body. Putting your feet on anything but the ground or raising them higher than absolutely necessary is considered to be insulting, and don’t show the bottom of your feet. Also keep in mind that it is prohibited to point your feet at Buddhas.

United States

The United States is well known throughout the world for its pop culture. It is home to many diverse groups within its 50 states. Just like any country, the United States has certain etiquette that you should follow on your visit.

Do’s:

Initiate Conversation with Strangers - It is common in the United States to initiate conversations with strangers without a proper introduction.This often happens when waiting in line for something or when sitting next to someone at an event. If someone is not open to this they usually indicate so with their body language.
Tip Appropriately for Services - It is typically expected for you to tip for services in the U.S. At restaurants and bars it is standard to tip 15%-20% depending on the quality of the service (if it is especially unpleasant a lower tip of 10% or even no tip). Wages for waitresses and other service staff can be very low, so some of them depend on tips (which is definitely a reason tipping is widespread). Other services like getting your hair or nails done often expect tips as well.
Make Eye Contact - When having a conversation, make eye contact. This helps to show you are listening and care about the conversation. Nodding and smiling are also good ways to show this.
Maintain Personal Space: Americans highly value personal space. When having conversations, try to leave a bit of space between you and the person you are speaking with. When standing in line, you should not stand right behind someone, but leave a bit of space in between.

Don’ts

Ask about Someone’s Weight - It is considered inappropriate to ask someone about their weight. With things from the obesity epidemic to diet culture, it can be a very sensitive topic.
Talk about Someone’s Personal Finances - Asking questions about someone’s salary, wealth, or other related things is considered to be rude and an invasion of privacy.
Assume all Stereotypes are True - With the abundance of media and pop culture, American culture has spread throughout the world, and is often easily recognizable. However, it is important to keep in mind that just because you see something in media or pop culture does not mean it accurately represents Americans (all or some).
Arrive Late (Without Notice) - Unlike in other cultures, it is not common to arrive hours after the stated start time of a gathering. Sometimes a host will give you a window of arrival that suits them. If you realize you will be late, the best practice is to send a quick message to the host to let them know to expect you later.

Brazil

Welcome to the land of Samba! Brazil is located in South America. Home to diverse ethnicities and known for its vibrant festivals, Brazil can be a travel destination for ones looking to form life-long memories and connections.

Do’s:

Welcome! Cafezenho? - Coffee is considered a symbol of hospitality in Brazil, therefore, if someone offers you a complimentary cup of ‘cafezenho’(black coffee), accept it, unless you have a good reason to refuse it. Also, offer cafezenho to your Brazilian guests, where possible.
Gift for Hostess - When invited to a Brazilian home, considering taking flowers or a small gift(avoiding anything purple, ofcourse) for the hostess is seen as a gesture of appreciation. A small gift for the hostess’s children will also be a great idea.
Refuse Thrice - Are you a straightforward person? Me too, but better rehearse saying things that you actually mean but in a way you don't mean them. If someone offers you something to eat, for example, and you are full, get ready to say ‘no’ at least 2-3 times. Here's the drill: your friend Maria offers you a cupcake, but you’re already stuffed with brownies, say ‘no’ as if you don’t mean it. As she continues to insist, assure her that you don’t want it still like you don’t really mean it. However, at the third Insist, you can assure her in a way you really don’t want it, instead of refusing her abruptly when she first offered.
Talk About Their Interests - Instead of discussing or debating on topics like politics, religion or poverty, engage in discussions on topics like soccer or the natural beauty of Brazil. These latter ones are welcomed topics of conversation.

Don’ts:

Bragging about Argentina - Brazil’s neighboring country, Argentina, is considered a rival to Brazil, like Australia and New Zealand, and Pakistan and India. So avoid swanking about Argentina on Brazilian soil.
Offended by the Word “Gringo” - Gringo, is a term in Spanish and Portuguese used to refer to a foreigner, or anything foreign in general, regardless of how it looks. Therefore, don’t be offended if you are called a “gringo”.
Wearing Anything Purple - If you’re looking forward to taking a hostess gift along with you, avoid wrapping it or gifting anything in purple color, Because purple is associated with mourning in Brazilian culture. On the contrary, gifts wrapped or in vibrant colors, specially in their national colors; yellow and green, will be a source of pleasure for them.
Leaving Food in Your Plate - Ever seen an unfinished plate and assumed the person might have gotten full and left some food behind? Well, that’s something not assumed in Brazilian culture. Instead the host considers this gesture as if the guest didn’t enjoy the food. So, consider putting as much food on your plate you think you can finish.

Maldives

If you're looking for sun, sand and beaches, Maldives is a go-to holiday destination for you. Although being a very conservative nation, resorts offer flexibility and leniency in rules within its premises. If Maldives is in your travel bucket list, check out these dos and don’ts to avoid any faux pas.

Do’s

Learn Basic Maldivian Greetings - In Maldives, knowing some greeting cultural etiquettes is important for respectful interactions. Consider saying “Asalam-u-alikum”, which means “peace be upon you”, as you interact with the locals. There are some gender specific greeting manners in Maldives as well. Men shake their right hands when they first meet, while women don’t engage in handshakes with unfamiliar individuals and usually prefer verbal greetings when first meeting someone.
Be Flexible for Prayer Times - Muslims in Maldives pause their daily activities when it's time to pray. In Islam, muslims pray multiple times a day, and to fulfill that obligation, most Maldivians keep other daily activities at a lesser priority. The act of organizing your outdoor activities, which would engage them, accordingly, and having a flexible attitude towards delays incurred due to their prayer will be a great way to show respect and sensitivity towards their culture and religion.
Eat with Right Hand - Maldivians, according to their traditions, eat with their right hand as their local customs view the left hand to be unclean. So, When dining in Maldives, it is customary to use your right hand to eat to show respect to their traditions.
Appropriate Gifts - Gifts please everyone. Feel free to present a gift to your Maldivian companion, however, it is important to consider their religious beliefs and customary views beforehand,which means things like idols, wine, and other forbidden items in Islam are to be avoided. In Maldivian culture, gifts of practical use are more valued than extravagant or costly ones.

Don’ts

Immodest Dressing - While in Maldives one should be mindful of the dress code there, because as a muslim country people dress up according to islamic teachings which is a little more modest than usual. Therefore, ensure you’re wearing covered clothing especially around knees, shoulders, abdomen, chest, and elbows. You can later jump in your swim suit within the resort premises.
Disrespecting Ramadan - Ramadan is a holy month in Islam during which muslims abstain from eating, drinking, smoking, and sexual pleasure from dawn till dusk every day. So, if you visit Maldives during the month of Ramadan, abstain from eating, drinking or smoking in public to show respect to their culture and principles.
Public Display of Affection - Early apologies to lovebirds, because no PDA. Respecting islamic culture and traditions, public display of affection in public areas is a no no. Save that love for once you get back to the resort to avoid any frowns in public.
Alcohol Consumption - Consumption of alcohol within a muslim community is also a ‘don’t’ to be added in the list.