| Tipping according to a percentage of the bill is not | | | | contributor boxes for this purpose. |
| expected but it's enormously appreciated. For a | | | | Many foreigners just assume that even |
| person who earns US$50 per month, a US$ 1 tip | | | | Vietnamese person is out to rip them off. That |
| is about half a day's wages. Government-run | | | | just isn't true -you needn't bargain fen everything, |
| hotels and restaurants that specifically cater to | | | | but there are times when bargaining is essential In |
| tourists usually have an automatic 10% service | | | | touristy areas, postcard vendors have a |
| charge - whether much of this (if any) actually | | | | reputation for charging about five times the going |
| goes to the low-paid staff is questionable. | | | | rate. Many cyclo and motorcycle drivers also try |
| In general, if you stay a couple of days in the | | | | to grossly overcharge foreigners - try to find out |
| same hotel it's not a bad idea to tip the Staff | | | | the correct rate in advance and then bargain |
| who clean your room - US$0.50 to US$l should be | | | | accordingly. Bargaining is common - ever with the |
| enough. You should also tip drivers and guides, | | | | police i you are fined! |
| especially on trips out of the city. | | | | Remember, the concept of 'face' is important in |
| Men you deal with will also greatly appreciate small | | | | Asia. Bargaining should be good-natured - smile, |
| gifts such as a pack of cigarettes (women almost | | | | don't raise your voice and don's get |
| never smoke). But make sure it's a foreign brand | | | | argumentative. |
| of cigarettes:! people will be insulted if you give | | | | Some seem to take bargaining too seriously, and |
| Vietnamese cigarettes. The 555 brand (said to be | | | | take it personally if they don't get the goods for |
| Ho Chi Minh's favourite) is popular, as are most US | | | | less than half the original asking price. By publicly |
| brands. Most of the usual kinds of gifts | | | | venting their frustration, people just end up |
| (chocolates and sweets, coffee-table books etc) | | | | looking foolish. Don't let yourself get angry. Once |
| are acceptable, as long as they are foreign-made. | | | | the money is accepted, the deal is done-if you |
| It is considered proper to make a small donation | | | | harbour hard feelings because you later find out |
| at the end of a visit to a pagoda, especially if the | | | | that someone else got it cheaper, the only one |
| monk has shown you around; most pagodas have | | | | you are hurting is yourself. |