Cultural Differences Between Asian Countries
A lot of travelers don’t think about the differences between Asian cultures when they travel, especially if they are taking their first trip out of their native lands. While it’s great for travelers to learn about the culture of the Philippines before they visit, they should not assume that all Asian countries share the same culture. The truth is that they often vary greatly, but travelers don’t always consider this when they bounce from country to country during their vacations.
Many travelers who visit the Philippines also decide to spend some time in China while they are in Asia. I always encourage people to check out other countries while they are in Asia, especially if they don’t get to visit the continent very often. A lot of people only get the chance to see Asia once in their lives, so they should make the most out of it and get all of the experiences that they can.
Viking River Cruises offers a Yangtze River trip that will give you the chance to see a large portion of China without spending a lot of time and money traveling throughout the country’s backlands. This is a good option for those that want to see several cities, experience Chinese boat travel, and get an all-inclusive package that take a lot of the guess-work out of traveling in a foreign country.
During the
Yangtze River cruise you will find that there are a lot of similarities between the Chinese and Philippines cultures. For instance, food in the Philippines has been heavily influenced by Chinese cuisine.
Notice, though, that for all the similarities that you encounter, there are just as many differences that you should be aware of. Please note also, though, that the cultural differences and similarities that you experience have a lot to do with which portions of the Philippines and China that you visit. China is a huge country. You can’t expect the culture to stay the same throughout. The traditions, foods, languages, mores, and other cultural attributes not only change from region to region, but also town to town.
One of the reasons that I often suggest options like the Viking River Cruise’s Yangtze River cruise is that you get to experience a wide variety of cultures as you travel from location to location, but you can also get comfortable with the people on your cruise ship. Most cruise companies teach their employees to respond well to standard American and European habits, so you can feel at ease while on the boat and then hop off at the next stop for an adventure.
Over my years as a traveler, I’ve learned that you can only anticipate so many culture changes throughout a voyage. If you learn some of the basic language, then you can certainly get along with the locals a lot better than those who have no knowledge at all. Even if you struggle with every word, most people appreciate it when foreigners at least try to communicate in the local tongue. There are actually two forms of Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese), and both are pretty difficult for most people from Western countries, but you only need a few words to get started. Master a few of the basics, and you will receive good treatment on and off the Yangtze River cruise boat.
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