Travel Etiquette Guide
Local etiquette for travellers to Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Italy and Turkey: greetings, tipping, dress, dining and temple manners.
About this tool
Travel Etiquette Guide
Local etiquette for travellers to Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Italy and Turkey: greetings, tipping, dress, dining and temple manners.
Avoid awkward moments abroad. Pick the country and read the dos and don'ts locals actually care about. This page brings together 6 separate travel etiquette guide pages (Italy, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam) so you can compare them without hunting for the right one.
How to use Travel Etiquette Guide
- 1
Open Travel Etiquette Guide on AltFTool — it loads instantly in your browser.
- 2
Choose your country at the top: Italy, Japan, South Korea, Thailand and 2 more. On a phone it is a drop-down list.
- 3
Fill in the travel etiquette guide for that country; each of the 6 options keeps its own rules, data and defaults.
- 4
Read the result, then switch country to compare. The page link keeps your country (?v=italy), so you can bookmark or share it.
Why use Travel Etiquette Guide
All 6 in one place
Italy, Japan, South Korea and the rest sit behind one picker, so switching country takes a tap instead of a new search.
Built for each option
Every country keeps its own rules, numbers and defaults rather than one generic template.
Shareable view
The link remembers the country you picked, so a bookmark or a shared link opens straight on it.
Common use cases
- Planning a driving holiday and checking how the ZTL zones in Florence, Siena and Bologna work before the hire car is picked up.
- A first visit to Kyoto and Tokyo, sorting the rules that matter at shrines and on trains from the ones that only apply in a private home.
- A first work trip to Seoul, where the business-card exchange, the use of titles and the pouring rules at a hoesik dinner all have to be right on day one.
- A first trip to Bangkok and Chiang Mai, checking the Grand Palace dress code and the temple sitting posture before turning up at the gate.
Frequently asked questions
Which country options does this tool cover?
6: Italy, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam. Pick one at the top of the tool; the page link updates (for example ?v=italy) so you can bookmark or share that exact view.
What is a ZTL in Italy and what happens if you drive into one?
A ZTL is a Zona a Traffico Limitato, a camera-enforced restricted zone covering the historic centre of most Italian towns. Every pass through generates a separate fine, delivered months later through your hire company with an administration charge added. The safe approach is to park outside the zone and walk in, and to give your registration to a hotel inside the zone in advance so they can register it.
Do you tip in Japan?
No. Tipping is not part of the system and leaving money on a table often causes confusion, with staff following you out to return it. Service is included in the price everywhere, from a ramen counter to a taxi. The one recognised exception is kokorozuke, a gratuity for a ryokan attendant, which is given quietly in an envelope rather than as loose notes.
Do you tip in South Korea?
No. Tipping is not part of the system: restaurant prices include service, taxis are metered, and leaving change on a table may result in staff bringing it out to you. The narrow exception is a porter at an international hotel chain. Instead of tipping, the Korean equivalent of generosity is paying for the whole table and letting someone else pay next time.
What should you not do in Thailand?
Never insult or joke about the monarchy, never touch anyone's head, and never point your feet at a person or a Buddha image. The first is a criminal matter: Section 112 of the Thai Criminal Code sets a penalty of three to fifteen years' imprisonment per count for defaming, insulting or threatening the King, Queen, heir-apparent or regent, and foreigners have been prosecuted under it.
What should women wear to visit a mosque in Turkey?
A scarf covering the hair, plus shoulders and knees covered, and shoes removed at the door. Men need covered shoulders and knees too — no shorts or vests. Most large mosques lend scarves and wraps free at the entrance. Hagia Sophia has been a working mosque since 2020, so the same rules now apply there rather than museum rules.
Do I need a helmet and a licence to ride a motorbike in Vietnam?
Yes to both. Helmets have been compulsory for riders and passengers on all roads since 15 December 2007, including on short xe om rides. Riding anything above 50cc requires a Vietnamese licence or an international permit Vietnam recognises, and police checks are routine. Most travel insurance is void if you were riding without the right licence, which matters far more than the fine.