NAME: JOHN PAUL N.

CAMOC BSHM III-B

MULTICULTURAL DIVERSITY IN THE WORKPLACE FOR THE TOURISM PROFESSIONALS

INTRODUCTION TO CULTURAL DIVERSITY BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT 3RD
YEAR
ENRICHMENT ACTIVITY 01

Research 10 Asian countries, identify their culture in terms of beliefs, language, behavior, values &
ceremonies, stories, myths & legends and celebrations/events, attach photos on each of the elements.

1. THAILAND

LANGUAGE IN THAILAND - The Thai language is comprised of 44 consonants, 32 vowels and five tones in
Thai pronunciation, along with a script that has Indian origins.The Thai language, belonging to the ‘Tai’
family, is the standard spoken language in Thailand and is used for governmental and administrative
purposes across the country. Regional dialects are particularly distinct depending on whether the
speaker is from the North or South of Thailand.Other languages spoken in Thailand are Chinese, Lao,
Malay and Mon-Khmer.

THAI CULTURE & SOCIETY (Religion & Beliefs) - With 93% of adherents, Buddhism is the official religion
in Thailand with Islam as the largest minority religious group at 5% of
adherents. Christians account for 1.2% of the Thai population and those
in the ‘other’ or non-religious category account for 0.8%.

MAJOR CELEBRATIONS/SECULAR CELEBRATIONS- Thais, from across both

the public and private sector, typically enjoy upwards of 16 public
holidays a year. Whilst some occur on the same day each year, others are
based on the lunar calendar and dates are as such open to change. Let’s
look at some of the most popular:

 New Year (31st December to 1st January) – The day typically starts with offerings and worship at
the local Buddhist temple. As with most other countries, the time is then celebrated with family,
friends, food and drink.
 Magha Puga (Falling on the third lunar month of the year) – Magha Puga (also transliterated as
Makha Bucha or Magha Puja) is an important Buddhist celebration which is celebrated
throughout the Buddhist wold – including, but not limited to, Laos, Cambodia, Nepal and
Myanmar. The occasion celebrates the special event in which Buddha transmitted the principles
of Buddhism to over a thousand ‘Arahants’ or ‘Enlightened Ones’. Buddhists strive particularly
on this day to avoid sin, carry out good actions and to purify one’s mind. Thais refer to these
three principles as the ‘heart of Buddhism’.
 Chakri Day (6th April) - This holiday is celebrated within the public sector but less so within the
private sector. Although Chakri Day celebrates both the coronation of Rama I to the throne in
1782 and the contributions of subsequent Kings to the current day King. The day is also used as
 an opportunity to prepare for the much loved, three-day long Songkran festival which falls three
days after Chakri day.
 Songkran (13th April – 15th April) – Known as ‘Songkran’, the Thai New Year is one of the most
loved Thai holidays and it is celebrated with vigour. The event is usually celebrated with
parades, family events, food, drink and religious ceremonies. The most loved activities include
water due to its association with purification. Prepare to get wet if you visit during this period as
both children and adults have turned the occasion into a three-day long water fight! Even those
passing by on motorbike are not immune from a good soaking.

FOOD- Thai cuisine is much loved internationally and Thai restaurants are a feature of most large cities
around the world. Rice plays such an important role in Thai cuisine that the word for ‘rice’ and ‘food’ is
the same. It is typically eaten at all meals and comes in the form of standard white rice, or, it is of the
sticky, glutinous variety. It is usually eaten using a spoon and fork in dishes containing seafood, beef,
pork, chicken or vegetables.

Some of the most popular dishes include:

Pad Thai – Pad Thai could well be considered a national Thai dish due to its popularity both in Thailand
and abroad It consists of noodles, with fish sauce, tamarind and stir fried with other ingredients such as
egg, shrimp, shallots, garlic, ginger, chilli, soy sauce, bean sprouts and peanuts. It is often sold as street
food.

Thai Green Curry – This is a fragrant and popular dish, which consists of coconut cream, green chillies,
lemon grass and a key ingredient such as chicken or fish balls.

Tom Yum Soup –The basic building blocks of Tom Yum (or Tom Yam) soup are lemon grass, lime juice,
fish sauce, chillies and kaffir lime. Shrimp is then typically used as the key ingredient.

ARTS, HUMANITIES & POPULAR CULTURE - The arts are supported by both private and public groups.
There are colleges of dance, music and drama in Thailand and a very popular national theatre. There are
also organisations which support the work of Thai artisans. Fictional writing has changed greatly over
the years, and modern fiction is generally built around plots which detail the lives of ordinary people;
particularly depicting the struggles of those in the poorer classes Traditional
folk dance have influenced a love of classical dance in Thailand and national
festivals are fairly popular events food stall phuket thailand.

2. MALAYSIA

Malaysian Languages
Bahasa Malay and English are the most commonly spoken languages in Malaysia, but the thriving
migrant population has ensured the spread of Mandarin Chinese, Tamil, and other Asian languages.
English is the official language of communication, and most locals are bilingual. It is advised to know a
few phrases in the local language – Malay – to warm up to the locals.

Food of Malaysia

Malaysian Laksa

Tourists can expect Malay, Chinese, Peranakan, Indian, Indonesian, Filipino, Javanese, Japanese, Thai,
and Western food in Malaysia. From meaty wonders like Mee Goreng Mamak (yellow noodles, beef, and
shrimp), Laksa (noodle soup with fish), Roti john (minced meat sandwiches), and Rendang (coconut milk
and meat curry) to vegetarian delights like Apam Balik (rice pancakes), Kuih
(sugary pastries), Popia Basah (wet spring rolls), and Bubur (coconut milk
porridge), there is a myriad of tastes choices!

Festivals in Malaysia

Chinese New Year

Malaysian festivals are a delight to participate in – the celebrations are colourful, vibrant, noisy, and
dynamic. The Mooncake Festival (August/September) is a must-visit to sample the delicious cakes and
pray to the Chinese moon goddess for love and prosperity, while the Chinese New Year
(January/February) is a week-long celebration with delicious food, dances, and music.

Hindu festivals like Thaipusam (January/February) and Diwali (November) are

best enjoyed at temples like the Batu Murugan temple, while the Dragon Boat
Festival (December) and Malaysia Water Festival (April) see long snake boat
races and dragon dances as a vital part of the culture in Malaysia.

Folk dance in Malaysia

Malaysia has a diverse range of musical tastes, from slow ballads, feisty folk and tribal numbers, rock-n-
roll chartbusters, and the special pop Yeh-yeh movement. Traditional Malay music is mostly reliant on
percussion instruments, flues, and oboes, and is played at celebrations, weddings, and religious rituals.
Indian, Chinese, and Islamic music are also popular.

3. CHINA

China is an extremely large country — first in population and fifth in area,

according to the CIA — and the customs and traditions of its people vary by
geography and ethnicity. About 1.4 billion people live in China, according to the
World Bank, representing 56 ethnic minority groups. The largest group is the Han
Chinese, with about 900 million people. Other groups include the Tibetans, the Mongols, the Manchus,
the Naxi, and the Hezhen, which is smallest group, with fewer than 2,000 people.

Religion

The Chinese Communist Party that rules the nation is officially atheist, though it is gradually becoming
more tolerant of religions, according to the Council on Foreign Relations. Currently, there are only five
official religions. Any religion other than Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Catholicism and Protestantism are
illegal, even though the Chinese constitution states that people are allowed freedom of religion. The
gradual tolerance of religion has only started to progress in the past few decades.

Language

There are seven major groups of dialects of the Chinese language,

which each have their own variations, according to Mount Holyoke
College. Mandarin dialects are spoken by 71.5 percent of the
population, followed by Wu (8.5 percent), Yue (also called Cantonese; 5
percent), Xiang (4.8 percent), Min (4.1 percent), Hakka (3.7 percent)
and Gan (2.4 percent).

Food

Like other aspects of Chinese life, cuisine is heavily influenced by geography and ethnic diversity. Among
the main styles of Chinese cooking are Cantonese, which features stir-fried dishes, and Szechuan, which
relies heavily on use of peanuts, sesame paste and ginger and is known for its spiciness. Rice is not only
a major food source in China; it is also a major element that helped grow their society, according to
"Pathways to Asian Civilizations: Tracing the Origins and Spread of Rice and Rice Cultures," an 2011
article in the journal Rice by Dorian Q. Fuller.

Customs and celebrations

The largest festival — also called the Spring Festival — marks the beginning of the Lunar New Year. It
falls between mid-January and mid-February and is a time to honor ancestors. During the 15-day
celebration, the Chinese do something every day to welcome the new year, such as eat rice congee and
mustard greens to cleanse the body, according to the University of Victoria. The holiday is marked with
fireworks and parades featuring dancers dressed as dragons.

4. JAPAN

Japanese culture is a set of values that puts importance on social harmony and hard work. Up until the
10th century, Japanese culture was similar to the Chinese culture, but the rise of the samurai in the
Heian Period and the isolation during the Edo Period changed the rules of society. Overall, the culture
was influenced by the local Shinto religion, Buddhism, Confucianism and the limited natural resources.
Festivals in Japanese Culture

There are relatively a higher number of festivals in Japan compared to other countries because Japanese
religions are related to celebrating the harvest seasons and seasonal changes. Each of the 47 Japanese
prefectures has a different festival which usually takes place in the summer. Locals usually participate in
these festivals by wearing a yukata and sandals. The most famous Japanese festivals are:

 Gion Festival in Kyoto. The largest parade in Japan which started in the 800’s when there was an
epidemic similar to the Coronavirus.
 Awa Odori Festival in Tokushima. A Dance festival held during the Obon-Week (the week when
the spirits of the deceased are believed to visit the world).
 Nebuta Festival in Aomori. A festival dedicated to ancient warriors in Northern Japan.

Holidays and Celebrations in Japanese CultureIf you look at the Japanese calendar, you would notice
that there is a major cultural celebration almost every month. Japanese people like celebrating seasonal
changes to show their appreciation of new beginnings. The three most important celebrations in Japan
are:

Food in Japanese Culture

The staple food in Japan is rice, not bread. In the past, the tax was collected as rice and samurais’ salary
was paid in rice. Japanese people believe rice is healthier than wheat which has more carbs and is more
difficult to digest. Up until the 19th century, the Japanese rarely ate meat because of Buddhism which
bans eating animals. For the same reason, they also did not consume dairy, that is why some Japanese
tend to be lactose intolerant. Fresh sushi is the most popular food throughout Japan even though it used
to be the cheap fast-food for workers in the 1800’s. Nowadays, a typical Japanese breakfast consists of
fried fish and miso soup while a typical lunch is ramen noodles or rice bowl with deep fried meat.

Clothing in Japanese Culture – Kimono

Traditionally, Japanese people wear a one-piece garment called kimono

which emerged during the Heian Period (794-1185). Kimono is made out of
silk and each motif has a meaning. Cranes represent longevity; pine-trees
represent the new year; the Chrysanthemum flower represents the imperial
family. The summer kimono is called “yukata” and the wedding kimono is
called “uchikake.” Kimonos usually have long sleeves for wind to pass
through and cool down the body. While children wear kimono with bright colors and flower designs, the
elderly wear simple kimonos with simple motifs. Nowadays, Japanese people wear Western clothes at
work and school but prefer kimono for social occasions and ceremonies.

Values in Japanese Culture

Japan is a conformist society where harmony, mutual respect and group consensus are valued. Other
values such as collectiveness, diligence and conflict avoidance are actually the results of the need for
social harmony. Japanese religion also has an influence on common Japanese values. The values of
purity and cleanliness come from Shintoism while perfectionism and minimalism come from zen
Buddhism. Additionally, the spread of East Asian teachings in Japan may
have affected the culture. It is said that the values of long term thinking,
perseverance, respect for social hierarchy and respect for the elderly
come from Confucianism.

Religion in Japanese Culture

There are two dominant religions in Japan: Shinto and Buddhism. Neither
of them has a clear definition of God and the judgment day. Shintoism does not even have any holy
book or the concept of sin. So, in a Western sense, Japanese religions are more like traditions rather
than holy belief systems. Shintoism is Japan’s own religion where some natural objects are considered
sacred but not necessarily worshipped as gods. Buddhism proposes that everyone can become a Buddha
(the enlightened human) if he/she leaves worldly desires and lives a simple life. Japanese people
traditionally go to both Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines; so they are both Shintoist and Buddhist.

Japanese Mythology and Legends

The most popular Japanese myths are about how Japanese islands were created and how the emperor
of Japan was ascended to the world. These myths were originally mentioned in Kojiki and Nihon Shoki,
the first history books written in Japanese around the 8th century. According
to the legend, the islands of Japan were created by 2 divine gods Izanami and
Izanagi who were siblings. Izanagi later gave birth to 3 gods including the Sun
God Amaterasu. The grandson of Ameterasu turned into a human being and
ascended to the world. That person was Gimmu, the first emperor of Japan.
There are many gods in Japanese mythology but the sun god Amaterasu is the most important god and
her 3 sacred belongings (the mirror, jewel and sword) are still kept by the imperial family today.

5. VIETNAM

Vietnam has an age-old and special culture that is closely attached to the history of the formation and
development of the nation.Historians have shared a common view that Vietnam has a fairly large
cultural community that was formed around the first half of the first millenium B.C. and flourished in the
middle of this millenium. That was Dong Son cultural community. This culture attained a degree of
development higher than that of others at that time in the region and had its own characteristics but
still bore the features of Southeast Asian culture because of the common South Asian racial root
(Southern Mongoloid) and the wet rice culture. Different development routes of local cultures in various
areas (in the deltas of Red River, Ma River, Ca River and so on) joined together to form the Dong Son
culture. This was also the period of the very "embryonic" state of Vietnam in the form of inter- and
super-village community, which came into being and existed in order to resist invaders and to build and
maintain dykes for rice cultivation. From this pattern of "embryo" state, primitive tribes grew into
nations.
Festival

In the 19th century when Vietnamese feudalism faded and Chinese civilization declined, Western culture
started to penetrate our countries, following the colonialists’ guns. The working class formed at the start
of the 20th century as a result of the colonial exploitation programs. Marxism-Leninism was introduced
in Vietnam in the '20s and '30s, combining with patriotism to become a momentum of historical
changes, which led the country up to independence, democracy and socialism. The person representing
this era was Ho Chi Minh, who was recognized by the international community and UNESCO as
Vietnamese hero of national liberation and great man of culture.

Customs and practices

The Vietnamese gastronomic habit tends towards vegetarianism; rice and vegetables are the main
course of the meal that may be diversified by aqua products. Boiling is a special way of cooking of the
Vietnamese people. Vietnamese people like a synthetic food processing style that involves many
materials and ingredients. Today, although meat and fish are the main dishes of the meal, the
Vietnamese do not forget pickled egg-plant.

Religions and Beliefs

The Vietnamese folk beliefs since the ancient time consist of belief in
fertility, worship of nature and worship of man. Human beings need to
be reproduced, crops need to be lushly green for the nourishment and
development of life, so belief in fertility came into existence. In Vietnam,
this long-standing belief was displayed in the cult of linga and yoni (in India, only linga was worshipped)
and the act of sexual intercouse (this is an unpopular practice in Southeast Asia). Many traces of this
practice can be found on many stone statues and columns, decorative motifs in the Central Highlands
tomb-houses, some customs and dances, especially in the shape and motifs of ancient bronze drums.

Languages

There have been many theories regarding the origin of the Vietnamese language. The most persuasive
one argues that the Vietnamese language previously belonged to the Mon-Khmer group of the
Southeast Asian linguistic system, it was later transformed into Viet-Muonglanguage (or old Vietnamese
language) and then separated to form the modern Vietnamese language. In the present-day Vietnamese
language, many words have been proved to contain Mon-Khmerroots and to be phonetically and
semantically relevant to the Muong language.

6. SOUTH KOREA

Korea is a small peninsula located between China and Japan. As a result of the Allied victory in World
War II in 1945, Korea was divided into two sovereign states with different political ideologies: the
Republic of Korea to the south and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to the north. This ended
Japan’s 35 year rule of Korea.

Language

Hangul is the name of the Korean alphabet. Although the spelling, alphabet
and vocabulary differ slightly between the two countries, Korean is the
official language of both South Korea and North Korea. Linguists believe the
Korean language is a member of the Altaic family of languages, which
originated in northern Asia. There are five major dialects in South Korea and
one in North Korea. Despite differences in the dialects, speakers from different areas can understand
each other.

Culture

Despite the political unrest that resulted in the division of the region, these two countries still share the
same culture and traditional values. Korea is divided by boundaries, but still united by culture. Korea is
greatly influenced by the Chinese and Japanese cultures. This influence can be seen by Confucianism,
which established many traditions that can be seen in modern Korea today. These traditions include the
ethical code of conduct in social life and showing respect to the elders and family.

Religion

Confucianism, Buddhism and Christianity are the main religions. Buddhism is the religion in Korea with
the most followers and its teachings have a great impact on Korean lifestyle, culture and art. Yungdrung
is a main symbol of Korean Buddhism and can be found in all temples and religious places in Korea.The
division of Korea has also caused a divergence in religious life in the two countries due to the different
political structures. South Korea has been characterized by a rise of Christianity and Buddhism, while
North Korea is considered a secular state.

Celebrations

Festivals have great importance in Korean life. Korean festivals are full of life, colors and joy and they are
celebrated throughout the year. Most celebrations and festivals are related to harvest and family.The
Korean society depends on farming so many of their celebrations focus on events to pray for a good
harvest. These events have gradually turned into popular celebrations and festivals held regularly in
Korea, like the Hanshi (Cold Food Festival) celebration, which marks the beginning of the farming
season. Hanshi is celebrated 105 days after Dongji (Winter Solstice).

Meals
Korean cuisine is largely based on rice, noodles, vegetables and meats. Some of the famous Korean
dishes include bibimbap, bulgogi and dakgalbi. The Korean culture is based on politeness and respect
and this is clearly evident in Korean table manners.

7. INDONESIA ( Sundanese)

LANGUAGE

They speak both their native tongue, Sundanese, and the Indonesian national language. Generally,
Sundanese is the language of choice among family members and friends, while in the public sphere,
Indonesian is used. Both languages are part of the Austronesian language family. Sundanese is
extremely diverse, with various regional dialects. However, all are divided into different levels of
formality depending on the social status of the person being addressed. Thus, the words one uses when
talking to one's father differ from those used when talking to a friend or to one's younger sister. Most
people use only two levels, or sometimes three. However, some older people make use of four.

FOLKLORE

Myths and heroic stories are an extremely important part of Sundanese culture. Such stories are told
through films, puppet shows, oral poetry, novels, and even comic books. Some are regional in character.
They explain the history of a local kingdom, or the mythical origin of a lake or mountain. Others, like the
Ramayana, are Hindu in origin. One myth the Sundanese think of as distinctly their own is the legend of
Nyi Loro Kidul, the Queen of the South Seas. As the story goes, in the fourteenth century there was a
princess in the Pajajaran kingdom whose thirst for power was so great that her father placed a curse on
her. The curse gave her more power than he himself had, but allowed her to wield it only over the South
Seas. The princess was then reincarnated as the exquisitely beautiful Nyi Loro Kidul. Said to live off West
Java's south coast to this day, she is more powerful than all the spirits. She is said to have received
nighttime visits from Javanese kings and Muslim saints in her palace beneath the waves. Men who swim
or fish off the south coast are warned not to wear green, for those who do are often spirited away by
Nyi Loro Kidul and never return.

RELIGION

The overwhelming majority of Sundanese are orthodox Muslim, although some are Catholic or
Protestant. Many Muslims pray five times a day, travel to Mecca at some point in their life, and fast
during the holy month of Ramadan. In towns and cities, there is a mosque in every neighborhood. Each
day the calls to prayer are broadcast over loudspeakers for everyone to hear. There are still many non-
Islamic elements in Sundanese ceremonies and rituals, particularly those surrounding the growing of
rice. They probably come from the Hindu religion that preceded the spread of Islam, or from pre-Hindu
Sundanese culture.

MAJOR HOLIDAYS

The Sundanese have no special holidays of their own. They follow the calendar of Indonesian national
holidays. It includes both secular holidays and those of the nation's official religions.
CLOTHING

Traditional Sundanese clothing for women consists of a kebaya and a sarung (a skirt-like garment). The
kebaya is a long-sleeved, fitted lace blouse that is worn over another layer of clothing. The sarung is a
length of cloth that is wrapped around the waist and hangs down to the ankles. Men also wear a sarung,
but instead of a kebaya, they wear a long-sleeved batik shirt or a fitted, embroidered jacket.Increasingly,
such traditional clothing is worn only on formal occasions such as weddings. Everyday dress follows
either Western or Islamic styles.

FOOD

The Sundanese like to say, "If you have not eaten rice, then you have not eaten." Rice is prepared in
hundreds of different ways. However, it is simple boiled rice that serves as the centerpiece of all meals.
Side dishes of vegetables, fish, or meat are added to provide variety. These side dishes are spiced with
any combination of garlic, galingale (a plant of the ginger family), turmeric, coriander, ginger, and lemon
grass. Usually the food itself is not too spicy, but it is served with a very hot sauce made by grinding chili
peppers and garlic together.

8. CAMBODIA

The culture of Cambodia has had a rich and varied history dating back many centuries, and has been
heavily influenced by India. Throughout Cambodia's long history, a major source of inspiration was from
religion. Throughout nearly two millennia, Cambodians developed a unique Khmer belief from the
syncreticism of indigenous animistic beliefs and the Indian religions of Buddhism and Hinduism. Indian
culture and civilization, including its language and arts reached mainland Southeast Asia around the 1st
century AD.

Religion in Cambodia

Cambodia is predominantly Buddhist with 90% of the population being Theravada Buddhist, 1%
Christian and the majority of the remaining population follow Islam, atheism, or animism. Buddhist nun
at Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia.Buddhism has existed in Cambodia since at least the 5th century
CE Theravada Buddhism has been the Cambodian state religion since the 13th century CE (excepting the
Khmer Rouge period), and is currently estimated to be the faith of 90% of the population.

Way of Life

+ Birth and death rituals

The birth of a child is a happy event for the family. According to traditional beliefs, however,
confinement and childbirth expose the family, and especially the mother and the child to harm from the
spirit world. A woman who dies in childbirth—crosses the river (chhlong tonle) in Khmer is believed to
become an evil spirit. In traditional Khmer society, a pregnant woman respects a number of food taboos
and avoids certain situations. These traditions remain in practice in rural Cambodia, but they have
become weakened in urban areas.

Death is not viewed with the great outpouring of grief common to Western society; it is viewed as the
end of one life and as the beginning of another life that one hopes will be better. Buddhist Khmer
usually are cremated, and their ashes are deposited in a stupa in the temple compound. A corpse is
washed, dressed, and placed in a coffin, which may be decorated with flowers and with a photograph of
the deceased. White pennant-shaped flags, called "white crocodile flags," outside a house indicate that
someone in that household has died. A funeral procession consisting of an achar, Buddhist monks,
members of the family, and other mourners accompanies the coffin to the crematorium. The spouse and
the children show mourning by shaving their heads and by wearing white clothing. Relics such as teeth
or pieces of bone are prized by the survivors, and they are often worn on gold chains as amulets.[4] If
the child is always ill, his or her parents can go and change the name of child.

Customs

In Khmer culture a person's head is believed to contain the person's soul--therefore making it taboo to
touch or point your feet at it. It is also considered to be extremely disrespectful to point or sleep with
your feet pointing at a person, as the feet are the lowest part of the body and are considered to be
impure.When greeting people or to show respect in Cambodia people do the "sampeah" gesture,
identical to the Indian namaste and Thai wai.

Customary Cambodian teachings include: that if a person does not wake up before sunrise he is lazy;
you have to tell your parents or elders where you are going and what time you are coming back home;
close doors gently, otherwise you have a bad temper; sit with your legs straight down and not crossed
(crossing your legs shows that you are an impolite person); and always let other people talk more than
you.In Cambodia it is not polite to have eye contact with someone who is older or someone who is
considered a superior.

Khmer Clothing

Clothing in Cambodia is one of the most important aspects of the culture. Cambodian fashion is divided
by the people's differing castes and social classes. Cambodians traditionally wear a checkered scarf
called a "Krama". The "krama" is what distinctly separates the Khmer (Cambodians) from their neighbors
the Thai, the Vietnamese, and the Laotians. The scarf is used for many purposes including for style,
protection from the sun, an aid (for your feet) when climbing trees, a hammock for infants, a towel, or
as a "sarong". A "krama" can also be easily shaped into a small child's doll for play. Under the Khmer
Rouge, krama of various patterns were part of standard clothing.

Khmer Cuisine

Khmer cuisine is similar to that of its Southeast Asian neighbors. It shares many similarities with Thai
cuisine, Vietnamese cuisine and Teochew cuisine. Cambodian cuisine also uses fish sauce widely in
soups, stir-fried cuisine, and as dippings. The Chinese legacy of Stir frying can be noted in the use of
many variations of rice noodles; while curry dishes known as kari (in Khmer, ????) that employ dried
spices such as star anise, cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg and fennel were borrowed from the Indians
and given a distinctive Cambodian twist with the addition of local ingredients like lemongrass, garlic,
kaffir lime leaves, shallots and galangal.