Tipping In Vietnam - A Complete Guide
Quick Guide
🍽️ Restaurant - 5-10%
🍹 Bar - Round Up or $1 USD in Dong
🚕 Taxi - Round Up - For Tuk-Tuks Too
🛎️ Porter/Bellhop - $1 USD in Dong/Bag
🛏️ Housekeeping - $1-2 USD in Dong/Day
📸 Tour Guide - $3-5 USD in Dong/Day
🍜 Street Vendor - Not Expected
Tipping has become more common in Vietnam, especially in tourist cities like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh and Da Nang. Given the low wages by Western standards, even a modest tip in Vietnam can significantly boost the earnings of a Vietnamese employee.
Calculate a culturally appropriate tip for Vietnam using the calculator below and read on for more detail on tipping in Restaurants, Bars, Taxis, Hotels, Street Vendors etc.
Vietnam Tip Calculator
Good Price For Vietnam
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Total With Tip
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Tipping in Restaurants
When dining out in Vietnam, it’s customary to tip 5-10% for good service but it’s perfectly OK to tip nothing. Some high-end restaurants will include an automatic 5-10% service charge.
Hand any tip in cash directly to your server.
If you’re eating outside a big city, it might be better to refrain from tipping in general as it’s much less common and might cause awkwardness or offense.
Tipping in Bars
Simply round up your bill or leave a small tip in Dong (an amount equivalent to $1 USD is perfectly acceptable). Hand it to the bartender directly.
Since Vietnamese bartenders are relatively low paid they often rely on these tips to supplement their income.
Tipping Taxi or Tuk-Tuk Drivers
It’s standard practice to round up your taxi or Tuk-Tuk fare, especially if your driver has been friendly or helpful (e.g. If the ride costs ₫92,000, you could hand over ₫100,000 and tell them to keep the change).
If they make the assumption that you’re tipping them and don’t even offer you the change, this is bad practice. If that’s the case, you can politely request your change and skip the tip.
Tipping The Porter/Bellhop
Offering the equivalent of $1 USD per bag in Dong is standard, especially if you’re staying in a luxury hotel.
Tipping Housekeeping
Leaving the equivalent of $1-2 USD per day in Dong is a considerate way to express your gratitude for a clean and tidy room. Place the tip on your pillow to make sure they notice it.
Tipping Tour Guides
Tipping your Vietnamese tour guide $3-5 USD per day in Dong is customary, especially if they’re friendly, informative or you had a private tour.
Instead of a monetary tip, you could offer your guide a small gift.
Tipping Street Vendors
Street vendors won’t expect tips since bargaining is more common and most will be too proud to accept them even if you try. If you really enjoy the food, it’s better to show your appreciating by giving them a thumbs up or saying “Ăn ngon quá!”, Vietnamese for “It’s delicious!”.
A simple “Cám ơn” or “thank you” can also go a long way.
Which Currency To Use
The official currency of Vietnam is the Dong (VND). US Dollars might be accepted in popular tourist areas but it is a rarity. Stick to Dong for convenience.
"Chúc bạn đi vui vẻ!" - Vietnamese for “Wish you a joyful journey” 🇻🇳 🍜 🚣♂️
