Tipping in Vietnam: Etiquette for Vietnam Package Tours

The Basics of Tipping in Vietnam: What You Need to Know

What is Tipping?

Tipping is merely leaving a minimal amount of extra money to acknowledge good service. It is a thank-you gesture, widely practiced across the tourism, dining, and hospitality sectors. The form of tipping is different across the world; some view it as obligatory, while there are other countries, like Japan, it is even viewed as offensive. Tipping in Vietnam is, however, somewhere in the middle ground.

The Difference Between Tipping in Vietnam and Other Countries

In the United States or Canada, for instance, there is nearly always an expectation to tip. Restaurant bills usually come with a service charge added, and not leaving a tip is seen as rude. Tipping is not so standardized in Vietnam. It is not required, and it depends on the quality of service with which they treat you whether or not you choose to tip.

• Tipping is prevalent and welcome in upscale restaurants and hotels.
• Tipping is not expected at family-owned stores and street vendors.
• In local markets, even tipping may be regarded as unnecessary or confusing.

Why Tipping is Not Mandatory in Vietnam

Tipping in Vietnam is both culturally and economically influenced. Historically, the Vietnamese do not tip because they view good service as their duty. But with the growth of tourism, tips are rising, especially at tourist spots like Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, and Hanoi. Tourists have introduced the culture with them, and local establishments, particularly those that specialize in dealing with tourists, have slowly incorporated it into their culture as well.

In a few upscale hotels and restaurants, a service charge of some 5-15% is already added on to the bill. Even so, it is quite acceptable to add a small extra tip even when a service charge has already been applied, as a gesture of additional appreciation.

General Guidelines for Tipping in Vietnam

Should you want to make sure that tipping in Vietnam is both acceptable and appreciated, stick to these simple rules:

• Always Tip in Local Currency (Vietnamese Dong – VND)
  It is convenient for the recipient to spend the money without the need to exchange currency. Common denominations for tipping are 20,000 VND, 50,000 VND, 100,000 VND, and 200,000 VND.
• Recommended Tip Range: 5-20% Based on Service Quality
  
  • For restaurants and cafes, 5-10% is a thoughtful tip for good service.
  • For hotels and resorts: Housekeeping (20,000-50,000 VND), bellboys (10,000-20,000 VND per bag), and tipping hotel staff at the front desk (50,000-100,000 VND).
  • For Vietnamese tour guides: 100,000-200,000 VND a day, based on effort and knowledge.
  • For Vietnamese taxi drivers: Round the fare, or give a 10% tip for longer trips. To tip for Grab Taxi Vietnam, it is possible to tip within the app.
    
• When Not to Tip
  • Street Vendors: Tipping is not required, but rounding up for outstanding service is okay.
  • Family-owned stores and budget restaurants: Tipping may puzzle the owner since it is not part of local tradition.
  • Public Transport (Buses in Vietnam): No tips are necessary, as they are standardized services.

Tipping in Vietnam (Source: vietnamtransports)

Tipping at Restaurants and Cafes in Vietnam: How Much and When?

How Much to Tip in Fine Dining Restaurants:

• Recommended Tip: 10%-15 % of the bill.
• Service Charge: Check your bill! Also, some upscale restaurants charge a service charge, which is 5-15% of the bill. You may choose to add a tip for exceptional service in that situation.
• Who to Tip: It is always wise to tip the waiter or waitress who has served you personally, so that your appreciation reaches them directly.

Example: Suppose that you are having a meal at a lovely riverside restaurant in Hoi An, and the total bill is 2,000,000 VND. Assuming that the service is also good, you may add a further 200,000 VND (10%) as a tip to brighten up your server’s day.

How Much to Tip at Casual Eateries and Street Food Stalls:

• Rounding Up: You can simply pay 50,000 VND for a meal that costs 45,000 VND and ask the vendor to keep the change.
• When to Tip: Tip when you have had exceptional service, for example, a helpful waiter who assisted in selecting the best meal or a vendor who made your meal special.
• When Not to Tip: Tip when you have had exceptional service, for example, a helpful waiter who assisted in selecting the best meal or a vendor who made your meal special.

Example: You go to a popular pho stall in Hanoi, where the proprietor makes a special effort to suggest their house specialty, beef pho. Your meal costs 40,000 VND, but for the hospitable service, you give them 50,000 VND. That extra 10,000 VND is a small but thoughtful expression of thanks.

How Much to Tip at Cafes and Coffee Shops

• Chain Cafes (Highlands Coffee, Phuc Long): Rounding up the bill or leaving a tip in the tip jar is usual.
• Local Street-Side Cafes: Tipping is not expected, but a small tip for exceptional service is acceptable.
• Recommended Tip: A quick method of showing appreciation is rounding up to the nearest 5,000 VND or 10,000 VND.

Example: You ask for a tasty coconut coffee at a quaint café in Da Nang. Your charge is 45,000 VND. You pay 50,000 VND and smile, leaving a tip for the friendly barista.

Tipping Cafes in Vietnam (Source: asiamystika)

Tipping in Vietnam: Hotels and Accommodations 

Luxury Hotels and Resorts (4-5 Stars): Where Exceptional Service Shines

How Much to Tip in Luxury Hotels:

• Housekeeping:  20,000-50,000 VND per night – Place a small tip on the bed table or in a tip envelope daily.
• Concierge/Reception:  50,000-100,000 VND – Tip for outstanding service, e.g., for booking a reservation, organizing transportation, or offering insightful local recommendations.
• Bellboys/Porters:  10,000-20,000 VND per bag – Particularly when they help with heavy baggage or extra help is needed.
• Valet Parking:  20,000-50,000 VND per retrieval – A small price for the convenience of arranging for your car to be parked and retrieved.

Pro Tip: To get the best experience, pass the tip yourself to the staff who served you with a smile and a “Cam On" (“thank you" in Vietnamese). This makes your thank-you more sincere.

Example: Let me picture stepping into a stunning seashore resort along the Da Nang coast. The bellboy assists with the baggage, the concierge provides you with top recommendations from restaurants, and the room always remains spick and span. A tip of 50,000 VND for the housekeeper, 100,000 VND for the concierge, and 20,000 VND for the bellboy is a thank-you for their good help.

Mid-Range Hotels and Hostels: Simple Comforts, Optional Tips

Staying at a budget-friendly, middle-class hotel or hostel? The tipping culture is a bit different here in Vietnam. Tips are not expected, but they are welcome for exceptional service.

Tips for How Much to Tip at Mid-Range Hotels and Hostels:

• Housekeeping: 10,000-20,000 VND per evening – Optional, but appreciated by the management if your room is tidy and clean.
• Reception: No tip is required unless they go out of their way to help, e.g., book tours or make special arrangements for you. 
• Bellboys: Uncommon at medium-priced hotels, but should anyone assist with carrying their bags, 10,000-20,000 VND per bag is a generous act.

Example: You’re at a hospitable boutique hotel in Hanoi. Your room is immaculate at all times, and the receptionist assists you with a cooking lesson booking. You tip 20,000 VND per evening for housekeeping and 50,000 for the helpful receptionist—little details that make a difference.

Homestays and Guesthouses: The Charm of Local Hospitality

In Vietnam, a homestay or guesthouse is a way of living like a local. These establishments are usually family-owned, and tipping at a homestay or guesthouse in Vietnam is a matter of appreciation, not duty. It is not necessary, but a small tip is much appreciated when you get exceptional service.

How Much to Tip at Homestays and Guesthouses:

• Personalized Service: When your host makes mouthwatering homemade food, provides a complimentary tour, or makes a special effort to make your stay worthwhile, a tip of 50,000-100,000 VND is an amazing gesture.
• Discreet Tipping: Put your tip in an envelope or hand it to the host with a friendly smile.

Example: You reside at a cozy homestay in Sapa, where the family prepares a hearty breakfast for you each day and regales you with stories about the area. When you are about to go, you give them an envelope with 100,000 VND and thank them for their welcome.

Tipping at Hotel (Source: vietnamteachingjobs)

Tipping in Vietnam: Transportation Services

Grab Taxi Vietnam: The Convenient Way to Travel 

Grab Taxi Vietnam is the popular app of choice for locals as well as tourists. It is a quick, trustworthy, and budget-friendly method of transportation, be it navigating the urban area, a trip to the airport, or the delivery of meals.

How to Tip Using the Grab App:

• Direct within the App: You may tip directly within the Grab app after a ride. Opt for a predetermined amount or add a custom tip—hassle-free and convenient.
• Rounding Up the Payment: When taking a quick trip, rounding up the fare and offering to keep the money as a tip is acceptable. For instance, for a fare of 45,000 VND, a 50,000 VND payment with a statement of “Keep the money, okay?” is acceptable.
• Tipping Food Delivery Drivers: Ordered some tasty banh mi or cool iced coffee from GrabFood? Express thanks by tipping your delivery driver 10,000-20,000 VND, especially for fast, friendly service.

Example: You only recently took a Grab taxi from the hotel to the busy Old Quarter of Hanoi for a fare of 75,000 VND, with a friendly and helpful driver who made their day a bit better with a 10,000 VND tip that they left straight within the app.

Pro Tip: Learn more about how to use Grab in Vietnam from our full-length write-up on Grab Taxi Vietnam—your ultimate go-to for convenient travel.

Traditional Taxis (Vinasun, Mai Linh)

For a traditional taxi, expect to find two of the most respected brand names of Vietnam: 

Vinasun and Mai Linh. Metered taxis are reliable, but tipping is done a bit differently there.

How Much to Tip in Traditional Taxis:

• Short Trips: You can simply round up the fare. If your fare is 98,000 VND, for instance, you may give 100,000 VND and tell them, “Keep the change."
• Longer trips: A 10% tip is a thoughtful gesture, particularly if the driver assists with luggage or engages you in a friendly conversation.
• Important: You should only use metered taxis to prevent scams. If the taxi driver refuses to operate the meter, take a different taxi. 

Example: You ride a Vinasun taxi from the airport to your seaside hotel. The driver assists with the baggage, so you tip him with a few hundred extra VND, up from 180,000 to 200,000 VND for the assistance.

Private Drivers and Airport Transfers: Personalized Service 

For booking a one-day trip to the breathtaking rice terraces of Sapa or taking an airport pickup from Ho Chi Minh City, a tip is a great way to indicate that you appreciated the good service provided.

How Much to Tip Private Drivers:

• Standard tip: 50,000-100,000 VND a day, depending on the service.
• Higher Tips: If your driver exceeds their duties like being a tour guide, providing valuable advice, or making your trip especially comfortable, you may tip 200,000 VND or higher.
• Tipping: Tip directly to the driver at the end of the ride with a friendly smile and a “Cam On" (thank you in Vietnamese).

Example: You hire a private car for a full-day Mekong Delta tour, and not only do they take you to the highlights, but they also tell you stories about people from the area. At the end of the day, as a genuine thank you, you tip him 100,000 VND.

Tipping at Taxi Vietnam (Source: bnews)

Tipping in Vietnam: Private Tour Guides

• Standard Tip: 100,000-200,000 VND a day for a private guide who delivers an interesting and informative experience.
• For Group Tours: 50,000-100,000 VND per head per day – This is a good way to appreciate your guide without being expensive.
• Higher Tips: If your guide exceeds expectations, assisting with photographs, making fantastic restaurant recommendations, or telling incredible tales, a tip of at least 200,000 VND is a wonderful gesture.

Example: You take a private walking tour of the Old Quarter of Hanoi, and the guide not only guides you to the popular sights but also reveals secret places only locals know about. When the tour is finished, you present them with a 200,000 VND tip with a friendly smile and a “Cam On” (which is “thank you” in Vietnamese).

Tipping for Tour Guides (Source: dantri)

Conclusion

Tipping is not required in Vietnam, but it is an easy way to indicate satisfaction with service. From friendly Vietnamese taxi drivers to expert Vietnamese tour guides, a small tip from you makes a huge difference. Tip using Vietnamese Dong (VND) only, be respectful, and tip accordingly for the service provided. Ready to travel to Vietnam with ease of mind? Check out other travel guides and tips on The Guide Vietnam, your go-to guide for a memorable trip!