The Best of Cambodia & Laos

28
CAMBODIA IN DEPTH
2
ETIQUETTE IN CAMBODIA
Cambodian reaction to uncertainty or
embarrassment is to giggle or laugh. So if
you ask a moto-taxi driver to take you to a
destination and it turns out he has absolutely
no idea where he is going and giggles
when you point it out, don’t get angry.
He is not laughing at you; it’s just the
Cambodian way of diffusing tension.
Smile and joke as much as you can. It’s
the Cambodian way and people will be
more willing to help you.
When you beckon someone, don’t do it
the Western way. Flap your whole hand
downward with your palm flat. If you do
it with your hand or finger pointing up, it
is interpreted as either very rude or as a
sexual gesture.
As in all Buddhist countries, the head is
considered holy while the feet are considered
dirty. Don’t go around touching people’s
heads, even if it’s just patting a child
on the head. Likewise, don’t point the
soles of your feet at anyone and certainly
not at a Buddha image. Cambodians tend
to sit on the floor with their feet tucked to
the side. Don’t step over someone and
don’t step over food. It’s considered very
rude.
If you are in a temple, dress modestly.
Have respect for monks in general.
Women should never touch them.