DO go to Singapore at least once in your life! The country is an amazing place of culture diversity that you will find absolutely entrancing and a place you will enjoy! For such a small country you will find countless things to do so make sure you plan a decent amount of time to spend in Singapore so you can really enjoy it for what it is. There are numerous islands you can explore too so you should make the time to head out of the city when you get there and not concentrate all of your efforts within the city limits.
DON’T break any of the laws when you go to Singapore. Singapore is a very strict place to visit and you will find it has all sorts of laws that you probably won’t agree with. You should never assume just because your are from another country that you have the right to not obey the laws of Singapore because this is absolutely no way the case. Always observe signs in areas and follow exactly what these signs say so you don’t find yourself in a situation that involves you breaking the law.
DO greet all Singaporeans with a nice, strong and firm handshake as this is a sign of great respect to Singaporeans. You should also always remove your shoes whenever you enter somebodies place of residence or a temple or place of worship as this too is a sign of respect. Make sure you check the rules of certain places before entering them when it comes to specific items of clothing that can and can’t be worn and always under any circumstance obey these rules as you come across them. You should check with locals or tour guides in places you visit if you are unsure to avoid any form of confusion and always make sure that if you need to know something that you ask so that you can be informed promptly.
DON’T touch members of the opposite sex as this is sometimes seen as a big insult in Singaporean culture. If you happen to do so accidentally then you should apologise straight away and explain your mistake. The same has to be said in regards to pointing at people. This is considered very rude in Singapore and should be avoided at all costs. If you need to get attention somehow or point out direction then you should use your entire hand instead of pointing to try and show where you mean or what exactly it is you are pointing out.
DO always show up on time to all your meetings and functions if you are in Singapore for business as they treat timeliness of great importance. If you think you are going to be late then you should call ahead and warn of your late arrival, but always try and leave as early as possible to avoid being late. It is of course always better to be early rather than being late so keep your eye on the clock whenever you find yourself having to be somewhere for business and make sure you stick to it. You can also ensure you swap business cards in meetings as this is common in Singapore and always make sure you refer to people by using ‘Mr’ or’ Mrs’ instead of their first name as this too can be taken with great offence in Singapore. Some general knowledge of this before conducting forms of business when in the country can definitely avoid any potential tricky situations you could put yourself into.
DON’T forget that you are in another country and should always respect the way the people live and the laws they abide. Just because it’s not something you agree with doesn’t mean that makes your viewpoint right. As we have discussed the country has some very strict laws, some which you will find unusual and you should always remember that they are there for a reason and shouldn’t be broken. Their strict stance on numerous things comes with strict penalties for people who break them so keep this in mind too so that you don’t find yourself in jail during your trip to Singapore. You are there to enjoy yourself, not get yourself into trouble!