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.
15 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
Vietnam: don't take photos near military bases
Do
- Put your camera away when you see a military area
Don’t
- Taking photos near military bases
Travel near military bases is also restricted.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: Vietnam travel advice
Vietnam: helmets are compulsory on motorbikes
Do
- Riders and passengers must both wear helmets
Don’t
- Riding or being a passenger without a helmet
- Drink-driving
Riding without a helmet is illegal; drink-driving can bring a fine or even prison, and after an accident you may be barred from leaving the country.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: Vietnam travel advice
Vietnam: e-cigarettes are banned
Do
- Leave your e-cigarette at home before you travel
Don’t
- Bringing in or buying e-cigarettes
E-cigarettes and related products are banned.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: Vietnam 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
Singapore: chewing gum, e-cigarettes and littering
Do
- Clear chewing gum out of your luggage before arrival (except medical and dental gum approved by the Health Sciences Authority)
- Put rubbish in the bin
Don’t
- Carrying or using e-cigarettes; bringing them in for personal use is also illegal
- Littering
E-cigarettes are completely illegal; police can fine you on the spot for littering.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: Singapore 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
Cambodia: ask before photographing monks
Do
- Ask before photographing people, especially monks
Don’t
- Photographing monks and religious figures without permission
Respect local customs.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: Cambodia travel advice
Cambodia: cover shoulders and knees at Angkor Wat and other religious sites
Do
- Cover your shoulders and wear trousers or a skirt below the knee
Don’t
- Wearing shorts or a skirt above the knee
You may be refused entry to Angkor Wat and other religious sites.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: Cambodia travel advice
Vietnam: cover shoulders and knees at temples and cultural sites
Do
- Cover your shoulders and knees when entering religious and cultural sites
Don’t
- Wearing a vest or shorts into a temple
Respect local customs.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: Vietnam 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
Temples and the Grand Palace: cover shoulders and knees
Do
- Wear sleeved tops and long trousers or skirts below the knee
- Take off your shoes before entering a hall
- When seated, don't point the soles of your feet at a Buddha image
Don’t
- Entering in a vest, shorts or see-through clothes
- Covering a sleeveless top only with a shawl may not be accepted at the Grand Palace
You will be refused entry and will need to rent or buy a sarong at the gate.
Not yet verifiedSource: Grand Palace dress code and visiting rules (travel guide)