Tipping in Hanoi

[Nguyen Ngoc diep]

Tipping is not expected in Vietnam, but it is anyway, highly appreciated. A 5-10% tip for a meal is a very small amount of money. Avoid tipping too much, as it will set a precedent for others.

It is customary, though not compulsory, to tip tour guides and drivers at the end of a tour. Hotel and station porters should also be tipped, about 2 - 5 usd / day, depending on the service.

Tipping when eating is probably the most asked question. In the large cities when dining in large hotel restaurants, if you feel the service was good you can tip around 20,000 - 50,000 Dong (around 1.20 – 2.4 USD). As you travel and eat on the roadside it is not required that you tip.