The Grace of Local Traditions Across Asia
At Secret Retreats, our journeys across Asia share with our travellers its landscapes, its architecture, its flavours, and, just as importantly, its customs.
The saying holds true everywhere, when in Rome, do as the Romans do. Travel is not only about where you go, but how you participate, how you sit, eat, greet, share, and engage with your surroundings. Across Asia, everyday rituals carry centuries of meaning and understanding them adds depth to every experience.
Below are a few cultural nuances that you may encounter on your travels with Secret Retreats, subtle, fascinating, and deeply revealing of place.
Thailand: The Art of Sharing at the Table
In Thai culture, meals are communal. Dishes arrive together and are meant to be shared, placed at the centre of the table. Rice anchors the meal, while curries, stir-fries, soups, and relishes act as companions.
Utensils tell their own story. Thais eat primarily with a spoon and fork, not a knife. Meat is already cut into bite-sized pieces, making knives unnecessary. The fork guides food onto the spoon, it is not meant for the mouth. Chopsticks appear only with noodle dishes.
Do not be surprised if soup or salad arrives alongside the main course, these dishes are not starters on a Thai table but side elements meant to be eaten with rice. Many dishes have their own dipping sauce too that is carefully balanced to complement and not overpower the dish.
Vietnam: Freshness, Balance, and Participation
Vietnamese meals celebrate contrasts, hot and cool, cooked and raw, soft and crisp. Plates of fresh herbs and vegetables arrive generously, not as garnish but as essential components.
In many regions, you assemble your own bites wrapping grilled meats, herbs, and noodles in rice paper, dipping them into fish sauce vinaigrettes that are bright, tangy, and unexpectedly refreshing.
Street dining is a part of daily life. Sitting on low stools close to the ground is not casual, it is tradition, a way of slowing down and sharing space with the city itself.
Japan: Precision, Politeness, and Quiet Awareness
In Japan, etiquette governs daily life with remarkable consistency. Shoes are removed when entering homes, ryokan, temples, and sometimes restaurants. Slippers are often provided and it is considered a serious faux pas to step onto tatami mats while wearing them.
Bowing is central to Japanese interaction. The depth and duration of a bow reflects the respect and social hierarchy between the two people meeting. A slight bow suffices for casual greetings, while deeper bows are reserved for apologies or formal occasions.
Unlike many cultures, slurping noodles is encouraged, it signals enjoyment and appreciation, particularly with ramen or soba. When drinking, one never pours for oneself. Instead, glasses are refilled attentively for others, reinforcing group harmony.
South Korea: Hierarchy, Honour, and Social Sensitivity
Korean etiquette is strongly influenced by Confucian values. Age and seniority shape interactions, from seating arrangements to who begins eating first.
When greeting elders or superiors, a slight bow accompanies a handshake. At the table, pouring drinks follows a strict etiquette, one should always pour for others using both hands, and turn your head slightly away when drinking in front of seniors.
Chopsticks should not be left standing upright in food, nor should they be used to point. Meals are communal, and shared dishes reinforce togetherness rather than individual preferences.
China: Harmony, Hierarchy, and Symbolic Gestures
In China, etiquette prioritizes collective harmony. Shoes may need to be removed in private homes, and seating is hierarchical with the seat facing the door traditionally reserved for the most honoured guest.
Chopstick etiquette is particularly important. Sticking them upright in rice, tapping bowls, or pointing with chopsticks is considered impolite.
During meals, dishes are shared, and it is courteous to sample a little of everything. Toasting follows hierarchy, and it is polite to lower your glass slightly when clinking with elders or senior hosts.
India: Sacred Bodies and Sensory Eating
In India, the body itself carries symbolic meaning. The head is considered sacred, while the feet are regarded as unclean. Touching someone’s head, especially a child’s, or pointing feet at people, books, or religious objects should be avoided.
Shoes are removed before entering homes, temples, and sometimes shops. Eating with the right hand is customary as the left hand is traditionally associated with hygiene and should not touch food or be used for serving.
Hospitality is deeply ingrained. Guests are often urged to eat more, and refusal may require gentle insistence to be accepted by your hosts.
Laos: Spiritual Sensitivity and Quiet Respect
In Laos, Buddhist beliefs shape everyday etiquette. As in many Southeast Asian cultures, shoes are removed before entering homes and temples.
One of the most important cultural considerations involves monks. Women should avoid touching Buddhist monks, including handing items directly. Instead, objects should be placed on a surface or passed via a male intermediary.
During ceremonies such as the Baci (Bai Si), respect and stillness are valued. Participation is welcomed, but observing quietly is equally appropriate.
Philippines: Warmth, Respect, and Subtle Signals
Filipino culture is relaxed yet deeply respectful. Shoes may be removed in homes, though hosts often guide guests.
Pointing with fingers is avoided, lips or an open hand are typically used to point or indicate instead. Public confrontation is rare, as maintaining smooth interpersonal relationships is important.
Communal dining traditions such as kamayan (means by hand) reinforce equality and togetherness. Eating together is considered an act of bonding, not merely nourishment.
Sri Lanka: Discipline, Devotion, and Body Awareness
In Sri Lanka, shoes must be removed when entering temples and homes. As with much of South Asia, feet should not be pointed toward people or religious objects.
Eating with the right hand is common, particularly for traditional meals. Visitors should observe how locals mix rice and curries, replicating the rhythm rather than rushing.
Respect toward monks mirrors that of other Buddhist cultures, with physical contact, especially by women, avoided.
Nepal: Humility and Quiet Courtesy
The head is respected and touching it casually is discouraged.
Food sharing follows strict customs, once food has touched someone’s mouth, it should not be offered to others. Eating with the right hand is customary, particularly outside urban centres.
Hospitality is sincere and understated, guests are welcomed without extravagance but with genuine care and sincerity.
Travel with Awareness
Across Asia, etiquette is less about memorizing rules and more about observing carefully. Watching how locals behave, how they sit, serve, speak, and interact offers the clearest guidance.
At Secret Retreats, we believe that understanding these unspoken codes transforms travel into something far richer, a journey shaped by respect, curiosity, understanding and quiet connection.
