Guide to tipping in Asia

For most of us, tipping is something of a minefield when we’re out travelling.

When are you actually supposed to leave a tip?

Where & when should you tip?

On the whole, it’s incredibly difficult to say what the set rules are for tipping.

Tipping largely depends on where you travel to in Asia and the service you receive.

Generally speaking, there is no tipping culture outside the usual tourist areas in Asia, so you’re not expected to leave a tip there. In some countries, it is customary to tip – and in others, not so much.

Remember, it’s ALWAYS up to you whether you want to leave a tip or not.

Below you will find a guide to tipping at selected destinations in Asia.

Please note that it is a guideline only and local currency amounts are based on current exchange rates (February 2018).

Tipping in Vietnam

Tips are gratefully received in Vietnam, and it’s up to you how much you wish to give. Tips should reflect the service you receive.

Overview: How much should I tip?

• Restaurants: Most restaurants charge 10% in taxes and 5% in service fees on top of the bill, but the money does not go to the waiting staff. You can, if you wish, pay 5–10% extra for good service. Tips are not expected in local restaurants, but you might like to leave some small notes.

• Tour guides/drivers: Guides on a day excursion are typically paid 5-10 US dollars per person (around 115-230 Dong), and drivers 2-5 dollars (around 45-115 Dong) per person.

• Taxi drivers: No tips – but you can let them keep the change.

• Hotel staff: The maid gets a few dollars, while the porter receives 1–2 dollars (around 20–45 Dong) per room.

Tipping in Sri Lanka

Tipping is welcome in Sri Lanka.

Depending on the level of service you receive, you can decide how much you would like to give. This is primarily about your experience of the service.

Overview: How much should I tip?

• Restaurants: Ideally add 10% of the bill as a tip. You can choose whether the bar staff should have a little tip, but it’s up to you. Here, you could pay ½–1 dollar (about 100 rupees) for good service.

• Tour guides/drivers: If you’re happy with your tour guide, it’s nice to give them about 20 dollars per day per family (around 3,000 rupees). You can give the driver about 10 dollars per day per family (about 1,500 rupees).

• Taxi drivers: It is polite to give taxi drivers a tip. It is customary to give 1–3 dollars (about 2–400 rupees) for a three-hour trip or 3–3½ dollars (about 500 rupees) for a day trip.

• Hotel staff: Normally, 1 dollar per suitcase (about 150 rupees) is given to the porter, while the maid is given 2 dollars per day per family (about 300 rupees). If you have a spa treatment, it’s good practice to give a 10% tip.

Tipping in Thailand

Tourists are often expected to leave a tip in Thailand – at tourist hotels and restaurants at least. But, it’s also about satisfaction, so leave a tip if you’re happy with the service you received. Most Thais rarely say no thanks to a small gesture.

Never leave just 1 Baht as a tip, as such a small amount is considered an insult.

Overview: How much should I tip?

• Restaurants: At restaurants, you are expected to add 10% to the bill if a service fee has not already been added. Give the money directly to the waiter. At local restaurants, you should leave around 1 dollar (about 20–40 Baht). The finer the restaurant, the higher the tip. No tips are expected at street kitchens, however.

• Tour guides/drivers: Depending on your level of satisfaction, you can give 3–9 dollars per person per day (about 100–300 Baht) to the guide for a day trip. You can pay the driver half.

• Taxi drivers: Let them keep the small change or round up if you’ve been happy with the ride. On a tuktuk ride, the price is settled in advance, so you don’t need to give a tip.

• Hotel staff: Give the porter about 1 dollar (about 20–40 Baht) for carrying your luggage – depending on the level of service and the number of suitcases. Maids do not expect to be left a tip, but you might like to leave around 50–100 Baht per day in an envelope to show your appreciation.

Tipping in Indonesia/Bali

In Indonesia, including Bali, it is polite and customary to tip.

So it’s always a good idea to have some small notes ready in your pocket, so you can say thank you for your help.

Overview: How much should I tip?

• Restaurants: At restaurants of an international character, you can leave a minimum of 1 dollar (about 10–15,000 Rupiah) per person, while small, local restaurants do not expect a tip.

• Tour guides/drivers: Give your guide 4 dollars (about 50–55,000 Rupiah) per person per day. You can give the driver 2–3 dollars (about 30,000 Rupiah) per person per day.

• Taxi drivers: Give the driver the change or 1 dollar (about 10–15,000 Rupiah).

• Hotel staff: Give porters 1 dollar per suitcase (about 10–15,000 Rupiah) and maids 2 dollars per day per room (about 20–30,000 Rupiah).

Tipping in Japan

Tipping is very rare in Japan.

If you leave money on the table at a restaurant, the waiter will often run after you to give it back.

On the other hand, it is common to give small, beautifully wrapped gifts. You can show your appreciation to your guide or maid by giving them a small symbolic gift, such as a small cake or Japanese confectionery. However, bear in mind that it’s the symbolism of the gift and not its size that counts.

Overview: How much should I tip?

• Restaurants: Nothing – you’ll get it back again.

• Tour guides/drivers: There are a few exceptions to the tipping etiquette in Japan. You might want to give your tour guide a few dollars (about 220–230 Yen) as a thank you, but it’s not expected.

• Taxi drivers: No tip.

• Hotel staff: The hotel staff do not accept tips.

Tipping in Cambodia

Tips are gratefully received in Cambodia.

The most normal tip is about 2 dollars (about 8 Riel).

No offence will be taken if you leave without giving a tip, if the service was not up to scratch, for example.

Overview: How much should I tip?

• Restaurants: A service fee is typically included at restaurants, so there’s no need to leave a tip. At local restaurants, tips are not expected, but feel free to add 5% of the bill for good service, and 10% for extraordinary service.

• Tour guides/tour drivers: Give your tour guide 5–10 dollars per person per day (about 20–40 Riel) and 2–5 dollars (about 10–20 Riel) to the driver per person per day.

• Taxi drivers: Round up or give 1 dollar (about 4 Riel).

• Hotel staff: Give 1–2 dollars (about 4–8 Riel) per day or per suitcase, depending on their area of work.

Tipping in the Maldives

You are not expected to tip in the Maldives. But showing your gratitude for good service is highly appreciated. However, you should not feel under pressure to do so. You will not receive poorer service if you don’t leave a tip.

A service charge of 10% is added to everything you buy – from food and drinks to excursions and snorkelling trips.

The currency of the Maldives is the Maldivian Rufiyaa, but US dollars and your credit card will suffice.

Overview: How much should I tip?

• Restaurants: As mentioned above, a 10% service charge will always be added. At the resort, you will not settle the bill until your day of departure, at which point you can choose to leave a tip to be shared out among the staff. If you go out to eat in Male, you can, if you wish, leave the change or round up the bill when you pay.

• Tour guides: It is not customary to tip your tour guide. If you feel that you’ve received extraordinary service, you can give the guide $10 dollars per person.

• Taxi drivers: In the Maldives, boats take the place of taxis. Private and state-owned boats sail between the different islands of the Maldives. If you have received good service in a privately-owned boat, you can give a gratuity of $5–10 dollars. Tipping is not customary on the speedboat transfer.

• Hotel staff: It is polite to give the porter $1–2 per suitcase. In addition to this gesture, you can give the maid $2 dollars per day – and if you would like to leave a tip for other hotel personnel, you can do so when you check out. The tip will go into a “tip jar” and be shared out between the staff.

Tipping in China

In China, tips are not generally expected. However, it is becoming customary to give small amounts to porters at western hotels and restaurants.

Overview: How much should I tip?

• Restaurants: In small restaurants, it is not customary to leave a tip, but at restaurants in big cities, you can, if you are satisfied, leave a little change or 1–5 dollars (about 7–35 Yuan).

• Tour guides/drivers: It is becoming more and more common to give drivers and tour guides a tip. Depending on the service, give between 5 and 10 dollars (about 35–70 Yuan) per person per day to the guide. Give the driver half as much as the guide – ideally directly to the person concerned.

• Taxi drivers: It’s up to you whether you tip the taxi driver. If they have provided good service, you can give them your small change or 1–2 dollars (about 7–15 Yuan).

• Hotel staff: It’s not normal to tip maids in China, but if you want to show your gratitude, you can give around 2 dollars per day (about 10–15 Yuan). The porter will be happy to receive a little tip for carrying your suitcases to the room. Give him/her 1–2 dollars (about 7–15 Yuan) per room.

Tipping in Laos

Tipping is not all that common in Laos. Places frequented by tourists are exceptions, and you’re always welcome to leave a gratuity for good work.

Overview: How much should I tip?

• Restaurants: A service fee is often included at restaurants, but you might like to add a 10% tip if you have been given good service. Local restaurants do not expect the gesture.

• Tour guides/drivers: It’s polite to give tour guides a tip. Give 5–10 dollars (about 40–80 Kip) to the guide per person and 3–5 dollars (about 25–40 Kip) to the driver per person for a full day trip.

• Taxi drivers: Taxi drivers are not paid a tip as the price of the trip is agreed before you drive.

• Hotel staff: Hotel staff in Laos do not normally receive tips, but leave a small tip if they help you. You can give the porter and the maid 1 dollar (about 8–10 Kip) per day if you wish to show your gratitude.

Still in doubt?

Guidelines and customs for where and when to tip constantly change as cultural norms and wages change at our destinations.

If in doubt, trust your gut instinct, round up the bill or ask what’s normal where you are. You are very welcome to contact our travel consultants if you have any questions.

TourCompass – From tourist to traveller