Do, -Keep your smile and greet strangers with “ sa bai dee”. -Remove your shoes when entering Wat or Lao home. -Take care when driving. Traffic is undisciplined. At night, cyclists use no lights. Be vigilant at traffic lights. Vehicles and cyclists often stop in the right lane to turn left and vice versa. They may do so directly in front of you without looking and without signaling. -Attempt to learn some Lao -If you display a Buddha image for decorative purposes (it’s better no to do so), place it at a lofty height and definitely not in a stairwell. -Cultivate patience, remember to reinforce requests if something is required on a routine basis; otherwise, the assumption is that you wanted it once only. -If you’re a woman, keep your shoulders covered and make sure that clothes have at least cap sleeves if meeting Lao people or going to the market. -Kneel when putting money into the “ donations box” in a wat. Don’t -Shout and rage at a Lao, you lose face. -Reprimand a Lao in front of others. He loses face -Place your feet, the least respected part of the body, on a table in the company of Lao. This is insulting. -Indicate with your foot. When seated on the floor in company or wat (temple) of Lao, keep feet tucked below or behind you. Try not to have the sole of your foot directed to ward anyone. Take care when sitting cross-legged. -Pat a child on the head or abuse a Lao’s head in any way. The head is the most sacred part of the body. -Wear scanty clothes in public. No matter how hot the weather, shorts of any kind are inappropriate as office attire. -Be irritated by giggles when you consider the occasion to be anything but a laughing matter. They often hide embarrassment or shyness.-If you’re a woman, attempt to shake the hand of a monk, hand anything to him directly or sit beside him. Monks are not allowed to touch women. If you wish to hand something to a monk, do so through a male, offer it on a tray, or place it on a table or on the ground in front of him.
