Dan Wilbur
Every sovereign country has its own laws. Relatedly, each country also has unwritten rules that everyone who lives there understands.
Sadly, you will never find these rules written down in any guidebook. True rules are never are.
Fortunately, someone on Reddit found a way to compile these rules by simply going on r/AskReddit and asking: “What are some ‘unwritten’ rules in your country that a tourist wouldn’t know about?”
People from literally all over the world answered.
Here are the best “unwritten rules” you might not know from several different countries:
1. Vietnam
“Commit to crossing the road. I know it looks scary due to the endless scooter stampede but if you just cross at a steady pace, they’ll avoid you. Do not try to dodge or make sudden movements, you will get your ass hit and there will be no sympathy.” –ricehatwarrior
2. China
“Mainland China: Do not buy traditional Chinese silk clothes and from a shop also sells wreath. (no matter how beautiful they are) Those clothes are for dead people, and that shop is a shroud shop. You have no idea how horrifying to see a foreigner wearing them and walking down the street.” –rustyhalo93
3. Finland – Don’t invade anyone’s personal space.
“What’s the difference between a Finnish introvert and a Finnish extrovert?
A Finnish extrovert will look at your shoes when he’s talking to you.” –Dingbat92
4. Malaysia is politically incorrect.
“In Malaysia, it is absolutely normal for someone to ask you what race you are. It’s not meant to be offensive, just general curiousity.” –Hedgehog_amputee
5. Denmark
“DO NOT STAND OR WALK IN THE BIKELANE! You will get yelled at and/or run over.” –Tiralina
6. Rules for visiting southern Italy.
“Be loud
If someone is doing it, you can do it too.
Whatever you need, most people would love to help you, but usually have no clue on how to communicate with you. Make sure you appreciate the effort, no matter how clumsy.
Both guys and girls say hi with a kiss on each cheek.
No such thing as personal space.
If you’re driving, be extremely careful. Everything is supposed to be an advice, not actual laws. (I mean everything is supposed to be laws, is just taken as an advice).
If you happen to have some friend’s mother or grandmother cook for you, make sure you compliment her thoroughly and clearly state that you never had such an amazing meal wherever you’re from (there’s a reasonable chance that could actually be true).
If you’re clubbing, don’t randomly approach girls, unless you really know what you’re doing. Guys tend to be overprotective with the girls that “belong” to their group.
If you’re a girl, you’re gonna get hit on no matter what. Try not to be too rude and just dismiss the guy laughing about it.
We wear shoes in the house. Unless you’re hanging out with a younger crowd (then it’s completely fine to get your shoes off) keep your shoes on.
You can drink wherever you please
Don’t wear white socks with sandals, you’re gonna be laughed at. Either wear shoes or sandals with no socks.
If you show any sort of effort of speaking Italian, you’re gonna be loved for it.” –escaday
7. Japan
“When riding an escalator, everyone stands on the left if they’re going to stand so that people that want to walk can pass by on the right.” –julianjalapeno
8. Singapore
“In fast food restaurants and food courts, there’s a common practice known as “chopeing”, where one can “chope”, or reserve a table by placing a packet of tissues on the table. Tourists who have no idea of this usually take the table obliviously and gets dirty looks from the local who “choped” the table.” –RadioactiveNewt
9. Amsterdam
“Ride your rentabike bike carefully. At first glance it seems there aren’t any rules, but there are lots of them. One is not to get yourself or others killed.” –Extraordinarliy
10. Yes, this is a rule I didn’t think about for America.
“Do not pick up babies. Anywhere. I went to costco with a few Korean foreign exchange student friends and one of them picked up a baby from the cart. The mother was looking away and when she turned back I saw the instant fear in her eyes. I told my friend to put the baby down and explained to the mom that they were foreign and its okay to touch babies in Korea.” –dara-princess
11. Korea
“People are going to touch / gently push / bump into you in public places, without saying anything like “excuse me” or the Korean equivalent – this is a crowded place, get used to it.” –waynefoolx
12. Iceland
“Don’t be fooled, we are really quite rude, and semi unhappy. Not all of us, but since just recently we have never been known for being the “happiest nation” ever.
The women are not as easy as you think.
There is no such thing as a traditional Icelandic restaurant. Today we eat a lot hamburgers.” –dingdongdobie
13. The UK
“You never, ever, jump a queue.” –Aliktren
14. Australia
“Most Australian’s really don’t talk in the typical ‘Australian’ way, some do, and plenty of people use a couple of the words, but you’ll stand out and seem like an idiot if you try it.” -anonymous
15. Turkey
“Drink that bloody tea. It is the sign of hospitality.” –viennahighflyer
16. Mexico
“Don’t talk shit about someone’s mother/daughter/sister/girlfriend because people have been killed/maimed over that here.” –eccentricrealist
17. France
“French waiters might seem rude to some, but they’re just doing their job, and that doesn’t include the whole dog and pony show pretend to be your friend thing. They want to know what you want, they want to bring it to you, then they want to collect your money.
In fancy restaurants it’s a little more formal but in cafés don’t be offended if you have to flag them down to get another coffee. They don’t have time to hover around twice or three times while you make up your mind on what you want. It’s not personal, they’re just busy and don’t see making friends as part of their job.” –Extermikate
18. Another thing to be wary of in Australia besides their wildlife.
“If someone calls you a ‘cunt’ in a pub you’ve made a friend, they start calling you mate, however, you probably should leave.” -anonymous
19. Germany
“It is common to encounter nude people of all ages in the sauna or at some lakes or even at some few parks in the city. Don’t stare and for god’s sake don’t comment on this.” –ABoutDeSouffle
20. Canada
“If you stop on the highway in a park, and get out of your car and try and screw with the wildlife, no one will help you if you get mauled.” –BBOY6814
21. Driving in India
“Traffic rules are more of guidelines, follow them only if you want to.
If you cut a lane, and get yourself scraped (or even rear ended for that matter), it’s their fault, not yours. And aggressively cutting lanes is very common.
There are no lanes.” –samratpatil
22. Greece
“Don’t get offended when someone lights up a cigar without asking for your permission to smoke.” –masongr
23. Thailand
“You can pay the policemen to get out of minor traffic stuff.” –damn_jexy
24. Brazil
“Don’t be an asshole, as long you’re cool we will party with you and help you with anything. Don’t be ashamed to start a random conversation in elevators and queues. Tips are not expected because they’re already billed when you’re paying the service.” –cptmacjack
25. Cuba
“It often looks like there’s no line, but there is. It’s called “el ultimo”. When you arrive somewhere you ask “el ultimo?” and whoever is last in line raises their hand. You are now “el ultimo” and you just know who is in front of you.” –mmmkeyboards
h/t Reddit: r/AskReddit
