To tip or not to tip? That is the question.

This is a common dilemma when dining out in restaurants, riding taxis, getting a massage, and availing of tours in other countries. During a recent trip to Vietnam, we were unsure of how much to give when splitting the bill. The number of zeros added to the confusion, and we were splitting the bill five ways, so it was a bit difficult to calculate every time we’d go somewhere. We kept converting back and forth to our local currency to make sure we weren’t giving too little or too much. 

To help fellow travelers out, I’ve compiled some tipping customs in different countries often visited by Filipino travelers including those I’ve personally traveled to or plan to visit for easy reference.

Philippines

Tipping in the Philippines (particularly in touristy locations like Manila and Boracay) is generally expected and is seen as a gesture of gratitude. While most restaurants add on a 10% service charge (aside from the 12% VAT which goes to the government), staff will be happy to accept any change or small bills you choose to leave when dining out. Tipping in restaurants and hotels typically falls between the 5% and 10% range. So if your bill is 1,000 Philippine pesos (PHP), a tip of P50-100 is OK.

When riding taxis, most drivers will expect you to round up the bill to the nearest hundred when paying. They’ll often round it up themselves or say they don’t have change, so expect to pay P100 even if the meter only says P85. For spas, around P50-100 is the typical tip given for services like massages and the like. An envelope is usually provided for the therapist, or you can give it at the counter when paying and ask that it be given to the therapist assigned to you. You can tip tour guides 10% of the cost of a tour or chip in for a standard P50-P100 per person for larger tours.

Vietnam

According to a Local Vietnam travel guide, tipping isn’t a common practice in Vietnam, especially when dining in local restaurants and buying food from street vendors. The best way to show appreciation for good service in Vietnam is to express gratitude with a smile, treat staff with respect and politeness, and give a sincere “thank you” in Vietnamese (such as “Cám ơn”). However, it’s not offensive for tourists to leave a tip if they liked the service and food. The usual range for tipping in Vietnam is between 5% and 10% of the total bill. If your bill is 200,000 Vietnamese dong (VND), small tips of 10,000 VND to 20,000 VND (which is just about P22 to P45 given current exchange rates) are acceptable. 

For hotel staff, a small tip of around 10,000-20,000 Vietnamese Dong per interaction is common. Tipping tour guides is a personal choice and is based on the quality of service provided. While in Vietnam, we noticed that some tour guides themselves will specifically ask for a tip at the end of the tour, which they often split with their driver. While the amount is up to you, it’s common to give 5-10% of the total tour cost, especially if you had an enjoyable and informative experience. For a tour worth VND 1,000,000, a tip of VND 100,000 (P227) would be acceptable.

Thailand

While tipping is not obligatory in Thailand, it’s widely encouraged and well-received. There are no mandatory amounts or specific percentages required. It’s up to you if you want to show gratitude and give more than what is owed on your food bill as a way to say thanks. The people of Thailand call this concept wai, and the etiquette is meant to honor another, by greeting, thanking and saying goodbye.

According to the Clever Thai guide, the customary amount for tips averages 10% of the bill. For taxis, you can round up your bill. For massage services, if your service is worth 400 Thai baht (THB), consider tipping 50-100 baht and give it directly to your therapist. For tour guides, depending on the length of the tour, you can give an additional 100-200 THB (about P150 to P300) for a full-day tour guide and 50-100 THB (equivalent to P70-P150) to the driver.

Japan

Tipping is not part of Japanese customs and there are instances when giving tips is considered impolite, cites Boutique Japan’s guide to tipping. Most establishments believe you are already paying them for good service. While you can leave tips in certain inns or ryokans, or as thanks for exceptional private tours, tips are generally not expected. When dining out in restaurants, tipping is not required as well, so just give the exact amount in Japanese Yen.

If ever you need to tip, these offerings should be presented in an envelope and not just handed in cash directly from your wallet, as this is considered demeaning. In case you don’t have an envelope, you can wrap the cash in a clean sheet of paper instead. For a service worth JPY3,000 (more than P1,000), 10% or about JPY3,000 (P111) is an acceptable amount.

Singapore

Dining out in Singapore can be pretty expensive, but customers aren’t normally expected to leave tips while dining out. According to TripMasters, 10% service charge is usually added to the bill, which is indicated on the menu. Since service charges are applied everywhere, it’s acceptable not to tip. But while it’s not necessary, you can still leave a tip as a sign of gratitude if you want, with 10-15% of the bill a good amount to give to restaurants. For taxis, you can round off the fare to the nearest dollar, though most drivers will give you the exact change. Most Singapore services allow cashless transactions, so you only need to pay exact amounts. You don’t need to tip at hawker stalls, cafes, bars or spas. Take note that tipping is legally not allowed at the airport.

While not customary, tipping tour guides is becoming increasingly common in Singapore, especially if you booked a private or personalized tour. The standard amount to tip a tour guide in Singapore is 10% of the tour cost, so expect to give an extra 10 Singapore dollars (SGD) (P416) for a tour that costs 100 SGD (P4,169). 

Hong Kong

While tipping is not required in Hong Kong, it’s still practiced in hotels and other areas of the tourism industry, according to Hong Kong Guide. Normally, service staff are paid a good salary therefore tipping is not expected, as what they’re doing is part of their job. Some restaurants add a 10% service charge to your bill while others don’t, so be sure to check your bill and feel free to leave extra cash if you like the service.

Giving a 10% tip is considered polite at sit-down restaurant and leaving change works at smaller eateries, street food stalls, and take-out restaurants, or if you see a tip jar. It’s also common to round up the fare when riding taxis. However, most tour guides in Hong Kong do rely on tips, which they split with the driver. A recommended amount would be between HK$10 – HK$70 per guide (roughly between P70 to 500).

South Korea

Similar to Japan, South Korea is a no-tip zone. The act of tipping is sometimes considered rude or may cause embarrassment, according to the The Soul of Seoul, so just pay the exact amount when you dine in restaurants, hotels, taxi rides, or spas. Some high-end places will automatically add gratuity charges to the bill. Don’t insist on tipping in smaller restaurants, other services, and spas. If you enjoyed the the service, be polite to the staff, or offer genuine thanks at the end of a session. 

However, it’s become increasingly common for private tour guides and interpreters who work with a lot of foreign travelers to accept tips, as thanks for exceptional service. If you want to tip your tour guide, use an envelope and give local currency, and hand it to them with two hands. Following the 10% rule, if a tour costs 50,000 Korean won (KRW), then a tip of 5,000 KRW (P202) is acceptable. 

Taiwan

According to the Life of Taiwan travel guide, Taiwan generally practices a non-tipping culture. Diners are not expected to tip at restaurants, whether or not a 10% to 15% service charge is included in the bill, though most restaurants include this. Additionally, taxi drivers don’t expect tips, but you can round up to the next dollar if you don’t want to carry loose change. It’s considered polite to give the porters at better hotels small tips in the NT$100 – NT$300 range (P17-P52).

United States

The United States has a very strong tipping culture. Giving tips for certain jobs is considered standard for those who earn mostly from tips. Waiters, waitresses, bartenders and taxi drivers are almost always tipped 15% of the bill for adequate service. Tipping 20% is considered standard for very good service and you’re still expected not to give less than 10% even for poor service.

According to CulinarySchools.org: “Giving tips is a hallmark in American dining that rewards excellent work” and anyone who works in the food service industry knows how tips are crucial for boosting your earnings. They point out that with recent changes in the food industry, notably due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many restaurants are forced to come to terms with “the new normal,” so larger tips are highly appreciated.

Not sure how much to pay when dining out with a group? Make use of their online tip calculator which factors in service quality and includes individual contributions for group tips to figure out exactly how much you need to shell out when splitting a bill. You can also read up on the history of tipping in the United States on their site.

Australia

The service in Australia is a lot more laid back than in many other countries and staff usually earn a high minimum wage. Unlike in the U.S., the service charges will normally be added to your bill. According to Australian news site SBS, tipping is a voluntary act that the staff will appreciate. To be safe, stick to the 10-15% rule, which is considered very generous. Some small cafes and pubs leave tip jars out, so you can put loose change or small bills like AUD$2-3 (P73 – P109) if you like the service. 

Europe

Tipping customs can vary in Europe country by country, but generally, it’s acceptable not to leave a tip, especially in places that already include a service charge. Many Europeans do not leave tips. If you’re paying by credit card, you can choose to leave 3% to 5% or around 1-2 euros (P60-P120)  as a courtesy.

For tour guides, for a two-hour walking tour, for example, a tip of two to five euros per person is appropriate, while private guides will accept tips in the 10 to 20 euros (P600 – P1,200) range for providing personalized service.