The Traveler's Guide to Asian Customs and Manners: How to Converse, Dine, Tip, Drive, Bargain, Dress, Make Friends, and Conduct Business While Asia (Paperback)

by Elizabeth Devine (Author), Nancy L. Braganti (Author) "Until recently, China, home to a quarter of the world's population, was a vast mystery to most Westerners..." (more)
Key Phrases: Hong Kong, New Zealand, Business Practices (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
The clash of new and old has created a constantly shifting terrain of customs and cultures in Asia, making it difficult to determine what to expect or what is expected of you. For instance:

-The hitchhiker's gesture of raising one thumb means "Get lost" in Australia, and the V sign with the V sign with the palm held toward you is obscene.
-Even if you're not in India for business, bring business cards. People often exchange them even at social functions, since it helps the Indians pronounce Western names, and vice versa.
-There is almost no concept of privacy in China. Someone may grab a book or letter from you to get a better look at it. Floor attendants in hotels often come into rooms without knocking.
-At a formal even in Nepal, people may adorn the guest of honor with a garland of flowers called a mala.
-Be careful about complimenting people on a lovely piece of jewelry or an attractive object in the home in Pakistan. The host will feel obliged to give it to you.
-In the Philippines, don't' be surprised if people give you food to take home after a dinner party.
-In Vietnam, slurp as much as possible when eating noodles or soup, as it is polite to do so.

Business and pleasure travelers alike will find all the information they need in The Travelers' Guide to Asian Customs and Manners, including guidelines on greetings, conversation, telephones, dress, meals, tipping, holidays, transportation, legal matters, safety, health, and key phrases. The authors' concise, accurate tops will put every traveler at ease among the changing traditions of Asian culture.


From the Publisher
Includes Information on:

China
Hong Kong
India
Indonesia
Japan
Malaysia
Singapore
Nepal
Pakistan
The Philippines
South Korea
Sri Lanka
Taiwan
Thailand
Vietnam
Australia
New Zealand


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Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin; Revised edition (November 15, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312195311
• ISBN-13: 978-0312195311
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,022,614 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic all-in-one guide to Asian customs, January 24, 2001

By	jeffrey l guthery (K-16 Airbase, APO AP Korea (South)) - See all my reviews

I purchased an earlier edition of this book back in the late eighties, and since then have referred to it time and time again prior to traveling to an Asian country for the first time. The book covers almost all Asian countries from Japan to India, and for the most part has been right on the money in its descriptions of the countries where I have worked or visited (Korea, Thailand, Phillipines, China, Australia). A chapter is devoted to each country with sections covering public/private behavior, meals, table manners, general business practices, etc. There are lists of dos and don'ts for the reader to follow, and advice on hotels, restaurants, tipping, transportation, and dress as well. It makes for interesting reading on different cultures even if one does not intend to travel to Asia anytime in the near future. Although whole books could easily be written on this topic for each country, this one covers the most important items in a well-organized manner.

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Japan, April 25, 2006

By	Golden Lion "Reader" (North Ogden, Ut United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

Japan: No physical contact in greeting. For an informal greeting use a short nod. Now matter how many times you meet a person in a day make sure to bow. Topics to avoid: your profession, economics, comparision between countries, and prices. Japanese believe they are following the right way. Japanese people will want to practice their English in conversations, but if you have trouble communicating write down your question. Japanese are very pleased, if visitors are aware of the culture and customs. If you visit a Budhist temple make sure to take off your shoes, don't walk infront of the priests, don't sit on religious statutes, remove hats at shrines, never step on a tatami mat, and be careful not to touch a Japanese back or head. To say no, wave your hand back and forward infront of your nose. To attract someone's attention, hold your palm down and move it up and down. In Japan it is consider rude to approach a person aggressively while shopping and never attempt to bargin in a shop. Japanese consider it rude to count change in front of them. For business wear a suite and tie and conservative colors and many restaurants require a jacket. Never fold the right side of the Kimono over the left, never leave stabbed chopsticks into the food, instead, place the chopsticks at the top of the bowl when finished. Tipping is virtually unknown in Japan. At a persons home plan on spending the visit in a special room for visitors. When visiting a home with a garden don't use it for sunbathing or recreation. Bring small gifts, Japanese are embarrassed by big and expensive gifts. Japanese love chocolates.