Was doing a search for tipping in Vietnam and they mentioned tipping in VND or with a $2 bill. I’ve received hundreds of them over the years growing up in red envelopes, which I still have. I know tipping is not something that is common unless it’s a tourist area, and more for tour operators, hotel staff, etc. Would using a red envelope outside of Tet be ok to give tips in?
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You can tip them and make someone’s day super bright, they will appreciate the kindness! 🌟
The bank will maybe exhange them, if they are crisp and flawless.
They will love it and appreciate you for giving it to them for sure!
If given money in red envelope the notes should be crisp/new. Old/wrinkled notes are considered bad luck.
Do not give a $2 USD bill
Money given in red envelopes are to help with your personal abundance. Keep them
$2 bills are considered Lucky Money in some countries. They will not spend it They keep it. We traveled to Bali a number of times and gave the $2 bill as a gift not as a tip. When we returned a couple of years later, some of the waiter and waitresses who still worked in Cinta’a still had the $2 bill in their wallet.
A normal Việt Nam citizen would need to jump through hoops to exchange small bills in foreign currency to feed their families. Giving tips in local currencies such as VND is much more practical. Even us, the foreigners, would also need to go through hoops such as having crisp 100 USD bill, no creases, no marking, issued before a certain year to get good exchange rate. How do you think the locals would feel when given small denomination bills?
Nobody wants $2 notes.
$2 bills are not good for them. Give Vietnamese dong instead. $2 is often given by Việt Kiều for Tết lì xì for good luck but not usually given the rest of the year.