Don’t leave your chopsticks sticking up in Japan
If you travel to Japan, never stick your chopsticks vertically in a bowl of rice. “It’s considered extremely taboo because it reminds people of funerals where a bowl of rice is offered with two chopsticks standing vertically in the center as an offering to the deceased,” explains Bonnie Tsai, manners expert and founder and director of Beyond Etiquette.
Instead, put them across the top of the bowl or next to the bowl if you’re still eating.
Remove your shoes before entering a home in Vietnam
If you travel to most Asian countries you should be prepared to remove your shoes before entering a home, says Lori Whatley, PhD, a human behavior expert and clinical psychologist. “It is considered a major cultural mistake not to do this as the interior of a home represents personal space,” she explains. Show that you respect their traditions by leaving your shoes outside the door (yes, even overnight) and make sure your feet are clean.
