Hey my wife and I just had a massage in HCMC and they were great. They charged $350,000VND!! No problem. Then before we paid they wanted us to rate the massage with a strongly suggested $300,000VND tip for each of us. Is this normal? We don’t mind tipping but that seems excessive. Can anyone explain? TIA
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The most people work at massage places in Thailand or Vietnam they don’t get paid from the owner someplace Yes but very little money
It’s normal.
I tried out to lots of spas almost every other day when I visited so I hope this help. Depends on where you go and how long is your massage but most of the places tips are appreciate, some are required minimum 100,000 vnd ( barely $5, and those worker only make by tips, not hour ) and some are no tip policy. There are still some people to tips more than what you mention but as their own will .But when they suggested like that it does seems odd and it shouldn’t be that way.(my usual tips from 100-200 depends on what I get btw). 2 things I can think of are either you got to a tourist spot or it’s lunar new year now so they try to make a little extra. I hope you have a better experience at different locations and I hope you have fun with your trip.
I don’t think demanding tips is a great practice. But I also know that many massage therapists are paid very little, and most of their income comes from tips. Last time I went, they didn’t ask for tips, but they shared that their base salary is only 2 million VND a month (less than $80) which is incredibly low. I try to keep that in mind and tip generously when they do a good job.
U guys Please hear me out ! If you go to any random massage places . Please know that the masseurs only got paid 10% of what the price you paid ( ie 350k you paid They get 35 k for 1 hr of work ) Many many customers don’t tips because of the custom of their countries . So the masseurs must charge u the extra before the services I hope this will make sense to all Thank you
Living here since 2009 and my Vietnamese wife is extremely tight with money yet she tips hairdressers, manicurists and pedicurists, massage therapists and rounds up for taxi rides. She says Vietnam doesnt have a tipping culture yet she tips those vocations.
Best tip you can give is go back regurlarly. The ones that ask are generally not that great of a massage. i usually go to same person in Danang and she has never asked for a tip But after a couple massages she was so good I was happy to tip her.
Its Tet holiday. You’re going to be asked to pay extra for services during the holiday.
$300,000 or 300,000vnd? Be specific bro
That was too much. For the 350k vnd price of massage, 100k vnd is most reasonable. Even 50k or 200k depends on how you feel about the service provided to you. I haven’t seen a place where they demand for it yet but I always tip. Tip’s not an obligation, it’s gratuity. If you don’t tip them they also cannot do anything. (I’m a Vietnamese)