The following Do’s and Don’ts in Cambodia are for those (especially Filipinos) who plan to visit Cambodia either for pleasure or business for a temporary period of time.

Greetings/Courtesy/Manners

DO offer the sompiah to those who are of equal or higher social standing. The sompiah is the Khmer form of greeting where you hold your hands together as if praying and bow your head. Nowadays though, shaking hands is totally acceptable although you may also do the sompiah before doing so. With women who are close friends (and the operative word is close), DO kiss both sides of the cheek French style, or what we Filipinos call beso-beso.

DO NOT point directly at someone.

DO NOT touch anyone on the head or hair (considered a sacred part of the body). DO NOT pat little children on their heads.

DO take off your hats and shoes when entering pagodas. DON’T sit higher than a monk. If you’re a woman, DON’T touch a monk.

Read more in Toe’s Kurokuroatbp.