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Tipping in Vietnam

Appreciated, not requiredVND (₫)Tips: cash only

Here's the tip.

Not a local custom, but tips are welcomed in tourism.

Vietnamese people do not tip each other, and there is no expectation at a street food stall or a local café. In the tourism economy, guides, drivers, hotel staff, cruise crews, small tips are normal, appreciated and a meaningful supplement to low wages.

At a glance

Card tipping. Card tipping is not really a thing in Vietnam. Tip in cash, in dong rather than dollars.

  • Tip in dong. US dollars are accepted in some tourist businesses but at a poor rate, and small dollar bills are hard for staff to change.
  • Upmarket restaurants and hotels may add a 5% service charge plus 8–10% VAT.
  • Street food and local eateries are not tipped.

Tip calculator

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VIETNAM

The tipping cheat sheet

  • RestaurantsRound up, or 5–10%
  • CafésRound up
  • BarsRound up
  • TaxisRound up
  • Hotel porters20,000–50,000₫ per bag
  • Housekeeping20,000–50,000₫ per day

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Things to do in Vietnam

Where are you actually going? These are the best rated in each place.

HanoiHanoi Motorbike Tour: Hanoi HIGHTLIGHTS & HIDDEN GEMS5.0·431 reviews·from €51.91Ho Chi Minh CityHo Chi Minh/Saigon Zero Tourist Food Tour5.0·330 reviews·from €50.09Da NangDa Nang Authentic Home Cooking Class5.0·377 reviews·from €32.78Hoi AnHoi An Cooking Class With Market Tour and Bamboo Basket Boat Ride5.0·207 reviews·from €28.23

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Travelling in Vietnam?

Stay connectedGet an eSIM before you land so you can check fares, maps and this guide without roaming charges.View eSIM plansAirport transfersBook a fixed-price transfer in advance and skip the taxi-rank negotiation.Book a transfer

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Common questions

Do you tip in Vietnam?
Not a local custom, but tips are welcomed in tourism. Vietnamese people do not tip each other, and there is no expectation at a street food stall or a local café. In the tourism economy, guides, drivers, hotel staff, cruise crews, small tips are normal, appreciated and a meaningful supplement to low wages.
How much do you tip at a restaurant in Vietnam?
Round up, or 5–10%. Round up at local places, 5–10% at a nice restaurant.
Can you tip by card in Vietnam?
Card tipping is not really a thing in Vietnam. Tip in cash, in dong rather than dollars.

Reviewed by Greg Kockott on 3 September 2026.

Figures checked against the sources below on 4 September 2026.

Sources