Are you planning to spend your vacation in the temple country this season? Well, I can’t blame you. Cambodia, a land filled with smiles and a rich cultural heritage, has recently become a sought-after tourist attraction. The Cambodian and Buddhist culture has attracted many foreigners from different corners of the world, making Cambodian society a prosperous tourist destination.
While Cambodian people are pretty friendly and welcoming, some unwritten rules will help you avoid accidental offenses from being made unintentionally. Thus, in today’s blog post, we will walk through some of the essentials Do’s and Don’ts in Cambodia to get acquainted with the code of communication and prevent cultural shock. We must remember that it is a traditionally equipped country still very restricted and reserved in its etiquette and manners. So, a few basic rules will surely become a great asset for you. If you are interested, let’s jump right into it.
Essential Do’s And Don’ts In Cambodia
Following some do’s and Don’ts is imperative as it will help you adapt to the local cultural customs, show respect for their beliefs and cultural differences, and let the locals act more warmly towards your presence. Cambodian people love when foreigners try their traditional rules and language. So, learning the subsequent unwritten rules will only bring kindness to your personality and avoid unintentional shocks.
First, we will go through all the Do’s in Cambodia that will help you do the right things. And later, we will discover the Don’ts that will let you realize what is wrong and what you should avoid. Let’s see what they are!
Do’s In Cambodian Culture
Here is a list of things you must follow strictly when you visit Cambodia. These local customs must not be disturbed.
1. Do Return A Smile
If you have researched Cambodian people, I am sure you have seen thousands of smiling faces on your web page. Well, that is the reason why Cambodia is known as the land of smiles. Cambodian people smile at each other as a sign of friendliness and respect. So, locals tend to smile whenever travelers and foreigners greet them and make them feel welcome. In such cases, it is expected that you return a smile for a smile instead of ignoring them and making things awkward.
2. Do Bow And Greet
When it comes to the traditional Cambodian greeting, you must remember the tradition of bowing. Known as Som pas, Khmer people greet each other with a slight bow and take their palms together in a prayer-like gesture in front of their chest. Unlike western cultures, where a handshake mainly follows a “Hi” or a “Hello,” Cambodians perform the Som pas as a gesture of respect and kindness. They believe the lower the bow, the more respect. Also, it is essential to remember that if you wear a hat or cap, remove them before going into a bow.
Som pas is practiced according to the hierarchical arrangements. The gesture is believed to be higher when greeting someone elderly or of excellent status, with the fingertips pointing higher and touching the chin or the nose. This tradition is also followed when apologizing or requesting a favor.
3. Do Dress Decently
One of the most important things to do once you reach the unique cultural land is to dress appropriately. Modest and decent dress is the rule in Cambodia, where you must avoid wearing t-shirts and tight pants with revealing patterns. Although the hot weather and extreme temperatures will keep long pants or dresses away from your wardrobe, you are expected to cover as much skin as possible.
Especially concerning women, a Cambodian person should dress conservatively without any provocative detail. When you visit temples or enter a government building, always try to wear decent clothing. Even though tourists wear shorts and short-sleeved shirts, and have caused the local dress to be flexible, keep decency in mind, especially while entering sacred grounds.
4. Do Take Off Shoes And Hats
As much as Southeast Asian houses are concerned, always take off your shoes before entering the house. Asian families either roam bare feet or wear in-house slippers inside the house. However, you can wear them if the family asks you to do so.
Another place that you must take your shoes and hats off is while visiting temples. Cambodians are deeply religious, and impure acts are not accepted when it comes to their temples and pagodas. Always keep them outside and remove your hats to show respect and maintain decorum. To make it convenient for yourself, try wearing flip-flops that are easy to remove and wear.
5. Do Learn The Language
If you want to have a native experience, it is important to go local. Cambodians appreciate when travelers learn their language and participate in local language conversations. Also, many Cambodians address people with native phrases when they see newcomers. They will likely be touched and welcome you more respectfully if you reply and engage with them in the Khmer language.
6. Do Manage Your Routine
Another essential tip for a local experience is to follow the local men routinely. And by that, we mean waking up early and resting mid-day. Since Cambodia is a hot and humid country, locals always wake up early to meet their ends because afternoons can be extremely humid and tiring. If you want the best of the country, make sure you wake up early so that by 8 am, you will have a full swing of market strolls, temple visits, sightseeing, and more.
7. Do Be Careful Around Buddhist Monks
Since Cambodia is a Buddhist country, it is necessary to follow this rule. Buddhist monks are deeply revered and respected in the state. You cannot touch them or share anything with them directly. Especially if you are a woman, keep your distance and never brush up against them. Even the monk’s mother is restricted from such actions. The point is always to show respect and ensure you follow the locals’ norms concerning monasteries and their traditions.
8. Do Take Permission Before Photos
Once you reach the land, you will be awe-struck by the people and architecture. In such cases, your camera will become your best friend. However, it would help if you asked for permission before photographing anything, whether people or houses. Especially in places like Ratanakiri, people are likely to let you click pictures of them only if there is consent.
Don’ts In Cambodia
Now we will go through the list of things you should avoid doing while visiting Cambodia. Following these will keep you away from any trouble.
1. Don’t Use Your Left Hand
The first and foremost thing is to avoid using the left hand to receive or provide stuff to the locals. According to Cambodian culture, the left hand is considered the hand used for dirty duties. So, using it for any purpose, like handing out or accepting things, is considered rude.
2. Don’t Behave Provocatively
Cambodia is a conservative society, and provocative public displays like kissing and dancing are still taboo. So, if you meet your better half in the country or travel with them, keep your distance in the streets and in front of locals. Especially kissing, hugging, putting your around someone’s waist or shoulder, or even holding hands can make the locals uncomfortable.
3. Don’t Show Frustration
While traveling can be all fun and games, a new society can bring frustration to its peak. However, you must keep your calm and avoid showing anger and frustration on your face. In Cambodia, a person’s face is a personification of their dignity. Hence, keeping a quiet and peaceful face is essential to keep the local’s respect towards you. Even when you feel betrayed, you are more likely to get help if you stay calm than throwing slurs and frustration at people in the country.
4. Don’t Attain To Beggers
Being a third-world country, Cambodia is full of child beggars and orphans trying to sell small products and begging in the streets. However, never attain pity when you see them. They might seem quite convincing, but by helping them, you will only motivate them to beg more and sidestep economic growth. In fact, many orphanages are opened only to receive tourist donations. So, please do not fall for their trap.
5. Don’t Shout And Misbehave
As mentioned earlier, always keep your temper under control and avoid shouting in Cambodia. No matter how uncomfortable a situation gets, speaking excessively loudly or criticizing someone in public is considered rude and unacceptable, especially when you are not a native. Always try to talk peacefully and in a calm manner. People who remain calm in rough situations are highly respected and are likely to receive more help.
6. Don’t Bargain Excessively
As you visit Siem reap, you will surely start bargaining to get the best gifts at the lowest price. However, you must be aware of when to bargain and when not. Products that are for daily use are rarely subject to price change. So, be mindful of the products with flexible prices and products not aimed at tourist attractions. Moreover, always bargain with a smiling face with the vendor because the aim is to reach a mutually beneficial price and not incur a loss for the other party.
7. Don’t Touch A Person’s Head
In most Asian cultures, the head is the most sacred part of the body. While touching or patting on heads is entirely normal, Cambodians can never stand such disrespectful actions. For them, all the spiritual forces reside in a person’s head; thus, one can only touch another’s head or hair for important reasons.
8. Don’t Point Anything With Your Feet
Another important rule is to keep your feet to yourself. Never touch anything with your feet, and when you visit temples, never point your feet toward a Buddha statue; even exposing your feet while sitting is rude. As it goes, the head is the most sacred part of the human, and the feet are the dirtiest. So, never gesture with your feet or let your feet touch anything that may call for offensive action.
9. Don’t Joke About The Past
No matter how funny a joke is, you must never joke about Cambodia’s war-torn history. It would help if you tried to avoid any topic that concerns the past or the history of the war in Cambodia. Issues such as violence or the Khmer rouge should be kept off the table, or you can seriously hurt the sentiments of the locals. Also, it is best to avoid wearing t-shirts that depict war or have images resembling anything close to Khmer’s past tragedy.
In Summary
In conclusion, do’s and don’ts in Cambodia are pretty simple, and once you know it, it is easy to remember. And if you want to learn more about general Cambodian etiquette and vocabulary, check out the previous post, Manner and Etiquettes In Khmer.
Now that you know the culture of Cambodia, I am sure you have found an excellent reason to learn its language. So, to get on with it, I have the best recommendations!
Learn With Ling App
Ling app is the best choice for you to get acquainted with the language. From food and weather to sports and greetings, you will learn about everything with proper word pronunciations and translations. Ling covers more than 60+ languages with the help of expert writers and native speakers who also puts up audio to ensure that you pick the proper accent. The most thrilling part is the AI chatbot that lets you engage in interactive exercises, preparing you for smooth local conversations. So, if you want to equip yourself with the best language resources before your journey, Download Ling from Appstore or Playstore now and start learning Khmer today!
