Tipping Culture in Vietnam: Everything Tourists Need to Know
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Tipping Culture in Vietnam: Everything Tourists Need to Know
Vietnam Tipping Etiquette
Understanding Vietnam tipping etiquette can help you navigate local customs with confidence while showing appreciation in a respectful way. Unlike in some Western countries, tipping is not a traditional part of Vietnamese culture and is rarely expected. However, as Vietnam's tourism and hospitality industries continue to grow, leaving a tip for excellent service has become increasingly common, especially in hotels, guided tours, spas, and upscale restaurants.
The key is to treat tipping as a voluntary gesture of gratitude, not an obligation. If you choose to leave a tip, do so discreetly and politely. Cash is generally preferred, so carrying a few small Vietnamese Dong (VND) notes is helpful, particularly when tipping hotel staff, drivers, or tour guides. Before adding anything extra, always check your bill to see whether a service charge has already been included, as many mid-range and high-end restaurants and hotels automatically add this fee.
Most importantly, remember that tipping should reflect the quality of the service you receive. If the experience was disappointing or the staff behaved unprofessionally, there is no expectation that you should leave a tip out of guilt or because you feel pressured. Genuine service professionals in Vietnam do not demand gratuities. When you do leave a tip, it should be a sincere way of recognizing exceptional hospitality rather than something you feel obligated to give.
How Much to Tip in Vietnam
If you're wondering how much to tip in Vietnam, the answer depends on the type of service and the quality of your experience. While tipping is rarely expected, it is always appreciated when someone goes the extra mile. The guide below breaks down common tipping ranges for different services so you can tip confidently without overthinking it.
Taxi & Ride-Hailing (Grab, Xanh SM, etc.)
Tipping taxi or ride-hailing drivers in Vietnam is not required. In most cases, simply rounding up the fare is enough. If the driver is especially helpful, such as assisting with luggage or providing excellent service, you may choose to tip around 5% to 10% of the fare.
Upscale Restaurants
At higher-end restaurants, a tip of 5% to 10% of the bill is a common gesture if a service charge has not already been included. Before leaving anything extra, always check your receipt to avoid tipping twice.
Casual Restaurants & Street Food
For casual dining spots, local eateries, and street food stalls, no tip is necessary. These places generally do not expect gratuities, and your business alone is already appreciated.
Food Delivery
For food delivery orders, a tip of around 10,000 to 20,000 VND per order is a thoughtful way to thank the delivery rider, especially during bad weather, busy hours, or when the delivery is handled quickly and politely.
Hotel Housekeeping
Hotel housekeeping staff usually appreciate a tip of 20,000 to 50,000 VND per day. A simple and respectful way to leave it is inside the room with a short thank-you note, so the staff member knows it is meant for them.
Bellhop
If a bellhop helps carry your luggage, a tip of 10,000 to 20,000 VND per bag is appropriate. This is a small but meaningful way to acknowledge their assistance, especially after a long journey or when handling multiple bags.
Hotel Concierge
For concierge staff who help with special requests, reservations, transportation arrangements, or other exceptional assistance, a tip of 50,000 to 100,000 VND is a generous and polite gesture.
Tour Guide
Tour guides often play a big role in shaping your travel experience, so tipping them is a common way to show appreciation. A typical range is 50,000 to 150,000 VND per person per day, depending on whether the tour is private or group-based and how good the service is.
Tour Driver
If you are on a guided tour with a separate driver, it is customary to tip the driver as well. A good rule of thumb is to give about half the amount you tip the tour guide.
Spa & Massage Therapist
At reputable spas, a tip of 10% to 15% of the treatment cost is a common and appreciated gesture. Whenever possible, hand the tip directly to the therapist to ensure it reaches the right person.
Nail Salon
At local nail salons, a tip of 20,000 to 50,000 VND is usually sufficient. At higher-end salons, tipping 10% to 15% of the bill is more appropriate, especially if the service is detailed and professional.
These amounts are only general recommendations rather than fixed rules. Your tip should ultimately reflect the quality of the service you receive and your personal budget. Even a modest tip, offered sincerely and respectfully, is a meaningful way to show appreciation without feeling obligated to follow strict tipping customs.
Tipping in Vietnam is not mandatory, but it is a thoughtful way to thank someone for great service. The best approach is to tip only when you feel it is deserved and keep the amount reasonable. With these simple Vietnam tipping etiquette tips in mind, you can travel more confidently and respectfully.
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Mr Clarence- Travel President, Philippines
Vietnam | 01/14/2026
Luxury Golf Tour in Da Nang, 5days
Hi Jimy, We returned home safely today. I would like to say a special thanks to you and your team ACT TRAVEL. We really loved and satisfied with your pro services. We do love these golf courses in Da Nang. They were amazing and fantastic quality and view. We will come back here soon. I am looking foward to working together with you soon! Best regards, Mr Clarence- Travel President, Philippines
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United Kingdom | 10/13/2014
RAM Holidays from UK (Impressive of Vietnam 15 days)
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Australia | 10/13/2014
Mandarin Group from Australia (Charming Vietnam 10 Days)
Mr. Navy Vang - Tour manager from Australia said: " Wow what a great vacation !. Thank you Mr Kelvin Pham so much. We are very grateful for everything you did for us and everything went very well. We’re safe and sound back home thinking about the joy we experienced. I've already decided that when I choose to travel again, I will go through your company. I also highly recommend ACT Travel Travel to any organization looking for a great agency. Kind regards
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Brazil | 03/31/2014
DOMINGOS Group from Brazin (IMPRESSIVE VIETNAM 17 DAYS.)
Mr. Ricardo - Program Manager said “Dear Kelvin, Thanks you very much for your well arrangement. Thank you for the updated weather information. I have traveled a lot as a geography professor and dealt with many tour operators. You are one of the best tour operators who can take so much concern and care about customers. I must congratulate you on your good organization and care to minute points. Thanks for the mobile phone you provided to us and SIM cards you provide to all of us (29 cards, I know they are not cheap), it was an excellent convenience for us. It was a brilliant idea and we really appreciated knowing there was someone we could contact at any time should we need to. We love your welcome dinner at Binh Quoi village, where we enjoyed rich traditional southern Vietnamese cuisine with musical accompaniment provided by local folk musicians. We were very interested in the traditional Vietnamese wedding in Binh Quoi and we never forget the “Gong show” in Buon Me Thuot. Once again, thank you very much for great job”.
Ms. Barbara Betts
Australia | 10/13/2014
Orbiz Group from Australia (Discover Vietnam and Cambodia 15 Days)
Ms. Barbara Betts - Escorted guide from Australia said: " Dear Kelvin I want to take this opportunity to thanks you for providing us with superb guides in Vietnam and Cambodia. Well, Manh - tour guide in Vietnam is very professional and knowledegable and you can feel very safe in allowing him to guide your tours. The drivers you provided were also friendly, capable and they too did everything for the group to be happy Thanks you Kelvin so far for a fabulous tour.
Mr. Dany
Malaysia | 10/13/2014
Teachers Group From Malaysia ( Hanoi – Halong bay – Ninh Binh 6 Days )
Mr. Dany - Escorted guide from Malaysia said: " Hi Kelvin Pham, Thanks for arranging a great trip. I wanted to let you know how pleased we were with the itinerary and all the arrangements you organized. Everything worked extremely well and went exactly as planned. The guides were very knowledgable. My favorite site was cruising on the Halong bay. The hotels were great as they were located at the heart of city. We did enjoy eating at the local restaurants as arranged by ACT. The foods were sometimes unusual, but still tasty. I loved “Pho Hanoi“ very much and I would try to cook at my home… Thanks again
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Turkey | 10/13/2014
Istmaz Group from Turkey (Saigon - Mekong Delta - Cambodia - Angkor Wat 12 Days).
Mr. Ohad - The Tour Leader said: " On behalf of the entire group, I just wanted to thank both of you for all your help and outstanding execution in making our trip memorable! The entire group could not say enough great things about how well organized & smooth everything went. I really enjoyed Vietnam & Travel. Both tour guides were terrific and Angkor Wat was just amazing! All your arrangements worked out very smoothly and I consider the pilgrimage to be a great success ".
Mr. Steven
United Kingdom | 10/13/2014
Ponila Group from UK (Higlight of Vietnam 16 Days).
Mr. Steven - Escorted guide from UK said: Our trip to Vietnam was overall a positive one. We were very happy with the level of accommodation and quality of the food at all times. We love Hanoi but Ha Long Bay is certainly one of the most beautiful places we have ever seen; the old city in Hoi An has great potential becoming a world-class tourist attraction; and citadel in Hue embodies a great deal of historic signifance, we have a lot of photos in Hue. Cruising on Mekong Delta river was so interesting and Dalat highland was very romantic. Finally, please give our thanks to the tour guides Mrs Phuong, Mr Ky and the drivers who accompanied us throughout, always accommodating to the group's requests and last minute changes in itinerary. We won't forget you!
Mr. Barrick
United States | 10/13/2014
Global Alliane Group From USA (Discover Vietnam – Cambodia 10 Days)
Mr. Barrick - the Tour Leader said: " Dear ACT Team,This is to thank you, and all of those who organised and guided our visit to Vietnam & Cambodia, for a superb holiday. We had a trip of a life time. Everything we were promised happened and more. We brought back so many memories and stories. The restaurants were wonderful and the hotels were great. Mr Nguyen had such a lot of knowledge he shared with us, and had a great sense of humor. He even knew of some Cambodian slang words. The whole trip will be something we will always remember and share with our family and friends. Thanks for all your help in making it so enjoyable. We shall tell all our friends traveling to Indochina that they must use ACT Travel's services !! ".
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