Use the right hand
The left hand is considered unclean. Give, receive, eat, and point with your right hand. Pointing with the index finger is rude — use your thumb instead.
🤝 Etiquette in Indonesia
Etiquette in Indonesia is mostly invisible until you break it. Greetings, gestures, dining manners and the social cues locals expect are worth learning before you arrive.
In Indonesia, etiquette comes down to a few things: use the right hand, dress modestly at sacred sites, and smile is the default.
Dress modestly at sacred sites
Sarongs are required at Balinese temples and Javanese mosques. Many provide them. In daily life, Bali is relaxed about dress; Java and Sumatra are more conservative.
Smile is the default
Indonesians smile through discomfort, disagreement, and awkwardness. A smile doesn't always mean agreement — read context. Confrontation is avoided; indirectness is the communication style.