Last checked: 21 September 2026. US dollar amounts are rough equivalents at about 26,300 VND to US$1.
Tipping in Vietnam is appreciated but rarely expected in the way it is in North America. Nobody will chase you for a tip at a street stall, and in most local restaurants the price on the menu is the price you pay. Where tipping does matter is with the people who look after you for a whole day: your guide, your driver, a boat crew or a hotel porter.
The short answer
- Private guide and driver together: about US$3–5 per guest, per day, if tips are not already included
- Porters, boat crew, spa therapists: around 50,000 VND (about US$2) is a good starting point
- Street food and local restaurants: not expected. Rounding up is a kind gesture
- Upscale restaurants and hotels: check the bill first; a service charge is often already added
Guides and drivers
This is where tipping is most common. Guides and drivers on private and small-group tours work long days, often starting before breakfast and finishing after dark.
- Check the tour notes first. Some companies include tips in the price or have their own tipping guidance.
- If tips are not included, about US$3–5 per guest, per day, for the guide and driver together is a useful guide. Many travellers give a little more to the guide than to the driver.
- When to give it: at the end of each day, or all together on the last day, in an envelope if you have one. Handing it over with both hands is a polite touch.
- Currency: Vietnamese dong is easiest for them to use. US dollars are also accepted.
Everyday services
| Service | Is a tip expected? | Typical amount |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel porter | Appreciated | 20,000–50,000 VND |
| Housekeeping | Optional | 20,000–50,000 VND per night, left on the pillow |
| Spa or massage | Common | 50,000–100,000 VND, or about 10% |
| Boat crew on a day trip | Appreciated | about 50,000 VND per guest |
| Ha Long Bay cruise crew | Common | Often a shared tip box at the end; check the cruise’s guidance |
| Ride-hailing driver | Not expected | Round up, or tip in the app |
| Street food stall | Not expected | — |
| Local restaurant | Not expected | Leave the small change if you like |
| Upscale restaurant | Check the bill | 5–10% if no service charge |
The banknote trap
Vietnamese notes carry large numbers, which can be confusing on day one. 50,000 VND looks like a lot, but it is only about US$2, enough for a simple local meal. At the other end, the 20,000 and 500,000 notes are similar in colour: check twice before handing one over as a tip, or you may leave 25 times what you meant to.
When not to tip
- When a service charge is already on the bill
- When you were unhappy with the service. Tips are genuinely optional in Vietnam
- At government offices, museums and temples, where a donation box is the right place instead
Frequently asked questions
Is it rude not to tip in Vietnam?
No. Tipping is a thank-you, not an obligation, outside the tourism services listed above.
Should I tip in dong or dollars?
Dong is best, because the recipient does not have to exchange it. Crisp small US dollar notes are also accepted by most guides.
Do I tip on a group day tour?
It is common but not required. Around 50,000–100,000 VND per person for the guide is a friendly amount.
More planning help: how much a day in Vietnam costs and group tour or private tour.