Tipping in Vietnam: 2026 Guide for Travelers
Updated October 22, 2026 · 5 min read
- Tipping
- Appreciated
- Restaurants
- 5–10% or round up
- Currency
- VND
| Service | Tip in Vietnam |
|---|---|
| Street food & phở stalls | No tip |
| Sit-down restaurants | Round up or 5–10% |
| Upscale restaurants | No extra if a 5–10% service charge is added |
| Massage & spa | VND 50,000–100,000 |
| Taxis & Grab | Round up; Grab tip optional in app |
| Hotel porter | VND 20,000–50,000 per bag |
| Day tour guide | VND 100,000–200,000 per person |
| Ha Long Bay cruise crew | VND 100,000–200,000 per person per night |
In everyday Vietnamese life, nobody tips — you pay the bowl-of-noodles price and move on. In Hanoi’s Old Quarter, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City, and other places popular with travelers, though, workers in restaurants, spas, and tour companies have come to welcome tips from visitors, and wages there are low enough that a small amount makes a real difference.
The main challenge for Americans is the currency: Vietnamese dong comes in large numbers, and it’s easy to mix up notes. Here’s what to tip and how to avoid accidentally handing over twenty times what you meant to.
Restaurants, Cafés, and Street Food
Street food stalls, phở shops, bánh mì carts, and local cafés don’t expect tips. At sit-down restaurants in tourist areas, rounding up or leaving 5–10% is a kind gesture — often VND 20,000–50,000 on a meal for two.
Upscale restaurants and hotel dining rooms may add a service charge of 5–10% plus VAT to the bill. If it’s there, you don’t need to tip again. If you want to make sure your server benefits, leave a small amount of cash directly with them, since service charges aren’t always passed on in full.
Massages and Spas
Spas are where tipping comes up most. For a one-hour massage at a mid-range spa, VND 50,000–100,000 is normal; at a high-end spa, 10% is reasonable. Some spas hand you an envelope or a form with a tip amount at the end. The amount is up to you, and you shouldn’t feel pressured into a large figure. Our massage tipping guide has more on spa etiquette.
Tours, Guides, and Ha Long Bay Cruises
Tour guides in Vietnam often rely on tips from foreign visitors. For a group day tour, VND 100,000–200,000 per person for the guide is typical, with a smaller amount for the driver. Private guides can be tipped more, especially for a multi-day trip.
Overnight cruises in Ha Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay usually have a tip box or envelope for the crew, shared among staff. VND 100,000–200,000 per person per night is a common range. Compare with US standards in our tour guide tipping guide.
Taxis, Grab, and Hotels
- Metered taxis: round up to the nearest VND 10,000.
- Grab (car or motorbike): tip in the app or round up in cash; optional.
- Hotel porters: VND 20,000–50,000 per bag.
- Housekeeping: VND 20,000–50,000 per night at hotels catering to tourists.
- Cyclo rides: agree on the price before you set off; no tip is needed beyond it.
- Hoi An tailors and market stalls: no tip — prices are negotiated.
Paying in Dong Without Mistakes
Tip in Vietnamese dong. About VND 25,000 equals $1, so VND 100,000 is roughly $4. Use our currency converter to check the current rate.
Watch the blue notes. The VND 20,000 and VND 500,000 notes are both bluish and easy to confuse — one is worth less than $1, the other around $20. Count the zeros before handing over a tip.
US dollars are accepted at some tourist businesses, but dong is better for tips. Keep a stack of VND 10,000, 20,000, and 50,000 notes for this purpose.
Tipping in Vietnam: FAQ
Do you tip in Vietnam?
It isn’t traditional, but tips are appreciated in tourist areas. Round up or leave 5–10% at sit-down restaurants and tip guides, spa therapists, and cruise crews.
How much should I tip a tour guide in Vietnam?
For a group day tour, VND 100,000–200,000 per person for the guide is common, plus a smaller amount for the driver. Tip more for private or multi-day guides.
How much do you tip on a Ha Long Bay cruise?
Around VND 100,000–200,000 per person per night, usually placed in a shared tip box or envelope for the crew at the end of the cruise.
Is it OK to tip in US dollars in Vietnam?
It’s accepted in some tourist places, but Vietnamese dong is better. Workers have to exchange dollars, and small US bills are often hard to change.
How much do you tip for a massage in Vietnam?
About VND 50,000–100,000 for an hour at a mid-range spa, or around 10% at a high-end spa. Hand it to your therapist directly, and don’t feel obliged to match a large amount suggested on a tip form.
Back home in the US? Work out 15–20% in seconds.
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