Cambodian Culture

When we visit a country it is always in our best interest to observe local customs or beliefs. By doing this we are mindful travelers and do not make our lives unknowingly difficult.

Below is some information regarding Cambodian culture, as well as some social dos and don’ts one should follow.

Hierarchy
Cambodia has a strong sense of hierarchy within it’s’ people. All relationships, personal or professional respect this social system. The practice of Buddhism reinforces the sense of a hierarchal society.

Person to person communication is based on the relationship of those involved. For example: parents have superiority to children, teachers to students and manager to staff.

Buddhist monks will also walk in rank order, with the highest qualified leading and the most junior bringing up the rear.

You may find as a foreigner that people ask you personal questions. This is the Cambodian way to work out your rank in society, rather than just being nosy. You may also find that people may change the way they communicate with you following finding out this information.

Collectivism
Cambodia also has a very strong sense of collectivism within society. Individuals will always take second place to the group, be that the family, neighborhood or company.

The concept of face is a large part of the collective society. Cambodians place a great deal of importance to protecting face.

Face can be described as combination of reputation, honor and esteem held by each person. As a visitor to Cambodia you need to be aware of this concept, so as not to cause anyone to lose face unknowingly.

So if annoyed, try and keep your calm, smile and deal with the situation as “happy” as possible. This will get you much farther than any other approach.

What not to do
Don’t point directly at anybody, touch somebody on the head or hair, or point the soles of your feet at a person. All of these actions are seen as extremely rude and aggressive.

In Khmer culture a person's head is believed to contain the person's soul--therefore making it taboo to touch or point one's feet at it. It is also considered to be extremely disrespectful to use the feet to point out a person, or to sit or sleep with the soles of the feet pointing at a person, as the feet are the lowest part of the body and are considered to be impure.

If you visit a temple, all should wear long pants and a shirt. Do not enter a temple in shorts or have your shoulders showing – show respect.

Women should never come in contact with monks.

Do not pass or receive anything with your left hand. To properly pass an item, hand it over, palm up with your left hand on your right elbow.

Public displays of affection are very likely to be frowned upon.

Many working class Cambodians will be offended by tourists giving money to beggars. This is considered as a reward for being lazy.

In Cambodia it is not polite to make eye contact with someone who is older or someone who is considered a superior.

Teachings of the Chhbap

Customary Cambodian teachings are laid out in verse form in long works from the 14th to 18th centuries collectively called Chhbap ("rules" or "codes").

Works such as the Chhbap Pros ("Boy's Code"), Chhbap Srey ("Girl's Code") and Chhbap Peak Chas ("Code of Ancient Words") gave such advice as: a person that does not wake up before sunrise is lazy; a child must tell parents or elders where they go and what time they will return home; always close doors gently, otherwise a bad temper will be assumed; sit in a chair with the legs straight down and not crossed (crossing the legs is a mark of an impolite person); and always let the other person do more talking, amongst many others, so just be mindful.

Meeting & Greeting Etiquette
Greetings between Cambodians are dependent on the relationship/hierarchy/age between the people.

When greeting people or to show respect in Cambodia people do the traditional “sampeah" gesture, identical to the Indian namaste and Thai wai. A bow combined with the bringing of the hands together similar to a prayer gesture. A Sampeah, and should be accompanied by saying a polite “Chumreap Suor”.

To show greater respect the bow is lower and the hands brought higher.

With foreigners Cambodians have adopted the western practice of shaking hands. Women may still use the traditional Cambodian greeting.

The simple rule is to respond with the greeting you are given.
In Cambodia people are addressed with the honorific title "Lok" for a man and "Lok Srey" for a woman followed with the first name or both the first and surname.