Philippines: carry ID
Do
- When your passport is in the safe, carry a copy of its photo page
Don’t
- Going out without any ID
You must show ID when police ask for it.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: Philippines travel advice
Etiquette & taboos
Etiquette & taboos
Understanding local customs is where a journey begins. Find the topics that matter to you and feel at ease wherever you go.
7 rules found
Philippines: zero tolerance for drugs
Do
- Stay away from drugs of any kind
Don’t
- Possessing even a small amount of drugs
Even small amounts of drugs bring mandatory prison sentences.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: Philippines travel advice
Cambodia: drugs, including cannabis, are a serious crime
Do
- Stay away from drugs of any kind
Don’t
- Possessing or trafficking any drugs
Can lead to a long prison sentence, up to life imprisonment.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: Cambodia travel advice
Nyepi in Bali: a whole day of island-wide silence
Do
- Stay in your accommodation all day, lights off and quiet
- Adjust flights and check-in or check-out dates in advance
Don’t
- Going out into the street or to the beach
- Booking flights in or out of Bali on that day
Everyone on the island, including tourists, must comply; I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport closes for the whole day.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: Indonesia travel advice
Never insult the Thai royal family
Do
- Treat portraits of the royal family and related topics with respect and care
Don’t
- Posting or sharing any criticism of, or jokes about, the royal family, online included
The lèse-majesté law is interpreted very broadly and can bring long prison sentences; it applies to past and present members of the royal family.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: Thailand travel advice
Philippines: avoid too much intimacy in public
Do
- Behave appropriately in public
Don’t
- Overly intimate behaviour in public
It may be treated as 'grave scandal', punishable by a fine or 6 months in prison.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: Philippines travel advice
Malaysia: pass things and eat with your right hand
Do
- Use your right hand to eat with your fingers, to pass and receive things, and to shake hands
- To point the way, make a loose fist and point with your right thumb
Don’t
- Pointing at people or things with your index finger
Not illegal, but seen as rude.
Not yet verifiedSource: Tourism Malaysia: travel guide