Do’s

• Friendly, helpful, honest, but proud
• Treat everyone with respect and you will be respected
• Speak slowly and clearly
• Accept or give things with your
• For hygiene reasons, eat only in decent restaurants
• Drink only bottled water and soft drinks that haven’t been opened yet
• Let the oldest be served first
• Chinese food is common and suggested
• To try good Myanmar food, go to decent restaurants in Yangon area, where they cook Myanmar food according to international standards
• When buying gems, sculptures, or any expensive souvenir, make sure it comes with an export permit
• Buy arts from authorized dealers only and get a certified receipt
• Beware of cheats, swindlers, imposters
• Carry some medicines for diarrhea
• Accept that facilities may not be the best
• On trains, keep windows shut
• Speed or distance descriptions are in miles, not kilometers
• Carry toilet paper in your bag
• Most Myanmar do not wear shoes in their homes, take off when visiting

• if driving, city speed limit is 30 mph
• Drive on the right side
• Tread Buddha images with respect
• Leave a donation when possible
• Show respect to monks, nuns, and novices ( even if they are children)
• Sit lower than a monk and elders

Don’ts

• Not always necessary to shake hands
• Don’t hug or kiss in public
• Don’t touch any adult on the head
• Don’t step over any part of a person, as it is considered rude
• Don’t eat food purchased from street vendors
• Don’t drink tap water
• Drink only bottled water and soft drinks that haven’t been opened yet
• Don’t leave expensive items in your room, use safe deposit box

• Stay away from narcotic drugs
• At religious places, remove footwear, but to remove headwear is not necessary
• Avoid shouting or laughing
• Avoid being a nuisance when taking photographs
• Do not put Buddha statues or images on the floor or somewhere inappropriate
• Don’t offer your hand to shake hands with a monk
• Don’t offer food to a monk, nun, or a novice after noon time
• A woman should not touch a monk