Your Travel Guide to Asian Customs and Traditions

Asia is an amazing continent of diverse cuisines, languages, religions, traditions, and cultures. Many travelers consider the continent a new world filled with unforgettable and exciting experiences and landscapes waiting to be discovered.

However, everyone is reminded to follow and respect the local customs and traditions. Since Asian cultures are different from what you’re familiar with, you should learn more about them before traveling to popular Asian destinations.

Here’s a list of the most interesting Asian customs and traditions.

Different Greetings

You might be accustomed to handshakes, but it’s not always the best kind of greeting in Asia.

In Thailand, wai is the best way to greet someone. Put your hands in a prayer position and give a slight nod or bow while saying hello or goodbye. You also have to greet the elders in the room when you arrive and leave because this is a great sign of respect.

In South Korea and Japan, bowing is also used to symbolize respect. You bow by bending from the waist with your back straight and eyes down. Bowing also has a lot of etiquette rules that you should follow, including its duration and depth.

In Japanese culture, there are specific bows that are directly related to their angles, such as saikeirei (最敬礼), keirei (敬礼), eshaku (会釈), and dogeza (土下座).

Eshaku (会釈) is a 15° bow used around friends to thank or greet them politely. Meanwhile, Keirei (敬礼) is a 30° bow used in business gatherings or to show respect to someone of higher status.

Saikeirei (最敬礼) is the most formal kind and is used to show either respect to someone of very high status or a strong sense of guilt or apology.

Lastly, dogeza (土下座) is the least used bow. It’s only used in extremely serious cases, such as when you made a mistake that led to another person’s death.

Normally, deep bows are reserved for formal settings, so a simple 5° informal bow is perfect for foreign travelers during casual events or when interacting with family and friends.

Bowing is also a tradition in China. However, it’s usually done for formal events, such as religious ceremonies and funerals. And a slight head nod is used to express gratitude rather than a greeting.

If you still can’t avoid handshaking while exploring Asia, do it lightly instead. Avoid firm handshakes because Asians might take it as a sign of rudeness and aggression.

Mind Your Head and Feet

In most Asian cultures, the head is considered the body’s most sacred part. Therefore, you should avoid touching someone on the head — even on Buddha statues and children. On the other hand, the feet are considered the body’s dirtiest part because they always touch the ground.

Don’t point your soles at a sacred item or person because doing that is similar to giving them the finger. If you’re sitting down in a restaurant or temple, don’t forget to tuck your feet beneath you.

Public Displays of Affection

In Asia, it’s usually rude for the opposite sex to hold hands, kiss, and hug in public. Many, especially the elders, consider public displays of affection as acts that should only be done in private.

However, holding hands between people of the same gender is acceptable. Many Asian countries, like India, consider this act as a sign of companionship. Don’t be surprised if you see people of the same gender hugging, linking arms, or holding hands in public.

Tipping

Although most Western hotels and restaurants practice tipping, this is a custom you have to avoid when traveling to most Asian countries. For example, in Japan and China, tipping is considered offensive. However, tipping isn’t customary for other countries like Vietnam or Thailand; you’re still welcome to leave one.

Share Your Food

Most Asian households like to cook and prepare multiple dishes and share them around a big table. If you’re eating in a restaurant, it’s a custom to order a few main dishes and share them with your companions instead of ordering individual dishes.

You’ll also have to educate yourself on the dining etiquette of the country you’re visiting since each place has its own unique traditions. For example, don’t leave your chopsticks standing up in your bowl in Japan and China because this is considered a ritual for funerals. Instead, place your chopsticks on the side or on a chopstick rest if you’re done with your meal.

Squat Toilets

You might find squat toilets appalling if you’re accustomed to Western toilets. So, you’ll have to get used to them — most Asian countries use them because they believe they’re more helpful for bowel movements.

In public squat toilets, you’ll notice that the floors are always wet since bidets and water hoses are used instead of toilet paper.

Fun fact: Most Western travelers switch to bidets after using them in Asian countries.

If you find this tradition disturbing or you’re merely uncomfortable using a squat toilet, look for upscale hotels or restaurants that can provide Western-style (or sitting) toilet bowls.

New Year Traditions

In most Asian countries, New Year is a huge celebration. However, they don’t celebrate it in January. Vietnam and China celebrate Lunar New Year some time between January 21 and February 20, depending on the moon’s cycles, while Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand celebrate their Buddhist New Year on April 13 to 15 every year.

New Year is especially memorable in Thailand. They celebrate the Songkran Water Festival and splash each other with water to wish a year of blessings. During this period, the country turns into a huge wet battleground for a week, and no one is safe. Besides, it’s a great way to cool down under the Thai heat.

Gift–Giving

If you want to leave an Asian friend a present, learn first about the gift–giving traditions of their region.

In China, people will always refuse your present a few times before accepting it. And clocks as gifts aren’t acceptable in their culture.

In Singapore, you should also avoid wrapping your gift in white, black, or blue shades since these colors are usually used in their funeral customs.

Try to use gold or yellow colors when wrapping your gift in Thailand. Meanwhile, gold and red are considered the lucky colors in Indonesia.

In other countries, the host might not open your gift until you leave out of politeness.

Pouring Drinks

In many Asian regions, avoid pouring yourself a drink if you’re served a communal drink during meals. Instead, wait for your companions to pour a drink for you.

In China, the host will keep refilling your teacup or glass because it’s part of their hosting etiquette.

If you want to refill your drink, make sure to refill your companions’ cup first — a tradition you must follow when dining with elders.

Asia is full of fun activities for travelers who still haven’t experienced what the continent has to offer. The exotic cuisines, intriguing languages, and strange smells add to the culture shock factor that most Asian countries offer.