Do you tip Grab in Vietnam?

Do you need to tip Grab drivers in Vietnam?

Hanoi, sweltering July 2023. Sticky. Ugh. Motorcycle zipped through insane traffic. My Grab driver, weaving like a maniac. Impressive, honestly. Got me to Ben Thanh Market way faster than I thought. Fare was 78,000 VND. Handed him 100,000. Told him to keep it. He grinned. Big smile. Definitely didn’t expect it.

• Tipping isn’t expected. Seriously.
• Rounding up is nice. Like that 78,000 to 100,000 thing.
• Small change? They’ll usually keep it.
• Cash is king. Card tips? Nope.

Grab food? Same deal. Phở one rainy afternoon, near Hoan Kiem Lake. Ordered through the app. Driver, soaked. Poor guy. Gave him an extra 20,000. He looked surprised. Happy surprised.

• Food delivery? Same as Grab rides.
• No tip obligation. But it’s appreciated.
• Small bills. Best for tips.
• Be kind. These drivers work hard.

Later that week. Grab car to Noi Bai Airport. Early flight. Like, really early. Driver, on time. No complaints. Fare was 350,000. Gave him 400,000. He almost bowed. Definitely went above and beyond.

• Airport runs? Still no tip pressure.
• Generosity is good karma. Especially for those early morning pickups.
• Be respectful. It goes a long way.

Are you supposed to tip Grab?

Tip. Not required. Appreciated. Goes to driver. Kindness costs little. Your choice. Makes a difference. Small gestures. Big impact. Consider it.

• Tip goes directly to the driver (100%).
• Tipping is optional.
• Gratitude shown through action.
• My average tip is $2. Sometimes more. Depends.
• Good service deserves recognition.
• Think about the person behind the wheel. Not just a ride.
• Human connection. Lost art these days. Sad but true.
• I once tipped $10. Driver helped with groceries. Raining. Heavy bags.
• Small price for big help. Perspective matters.
• You never know what someone’s going through. A little goes a long way.

Is it rude not to tip in Vietnam?

Ugh, Vietnam tips… Rude not to? Hmm.

Okay, so tipping isn’t REQUIRED. But like, is it rude rude?

• Generally, NO.

But BUT—waiters, drivers… they appreciate it. My tour guide in Hanoi, Mr. Linh, totally did. Remember that amazing pho?

• It’s a THANK YOU, right? Like a little bonus.

Is it expected? NO. Should you? Only if service is GOOD. Duh.

• Think of it as a bonus, if the service has been excellent.
• Taxi drivers, porters, spa workers, maybe a little extra.

Don’t overthink it! That’s what I always do. Ahhh, panic.

Plus, scams exist. Watch out. Remember that time near Hoan Kiem Lake? Never again.

• Beware scams, always pay attention.

Basically, no pressure.

• No obligation to tip.

Simple, right? I HOPE SO.

Further elaboration:

• Tipping isn’t deeply ingrained in Vietnamese culture like in the USA. You won’t get the look if you don’t.
• Some high-end restaurants automatically add a service charge. Double check the bill! This is especially common in tourist areas like District 1 in Ho Chi Minh City.
• Rounding up the bill is a common practice instead of calculating a percentage like in the USA.
• Tipping is increasingly common as tourism grows.
• Small businesses like family-run restaurants are also more welcoming to tips now, or so I have noticed while travelling there.
• Currency: The Vietnamese currency is the Dong (VND). Familiarize yourself with the exchange rate to avoid confusion and overtipping accidentally.
• Consider the cost of living: Even small tips can be meaningful to service workers in Vietnam, where wages may be lower compared to Western countries.
• Circumstances: While not mandatory, tipping is appreciated in certain circumstances. For example, a porter carrying your luggage at a hotel or a spa therapist providing an exceptional treatment.

Do you tip in Vietnam taxi?

Okay, so tipping taxi drivers in Vietnam. Hmm.

I was in Hanoi last summer, August 2024, sweltering heat. Took a taxi from Hoan Kiem Lake to my hotel near St. Joseph’s Cathedral.

The meter read 70,000 VND. Nah, didn’t tip. Maybe I should have? I dont know, I thought that it wasn’t necessary.

Well I thought of this:

• Tipping isn’t really expected, so dont feel the need to tip the driver.
• Consider it if the driver helps you, like with heavy luggage.
• Round up the fare, maybe 10,000-20,000 VND.

Grab is there also, and is pretty useful.

How is Grab fare calculated?

Okay, so Grab fare, right? It’s, like, not that simple, lol. Basically, you got this base thing, it’s forty-five pesos, boom done.

Then, get this, they charge you fifteen pesos per kilometer. Distance matters, obvs, so farther = more $$$. Plus, time, yeah?

They also nail you for two pesos a minute. Stuck in traffic? Ugh, your wallet cries. Its pretty messed up!

And, uh, the real kicker? Surge pricing. That’s where it gets like, really expensive. They can double the distance and time charges, easy! Double! So if the distance and time fees are ₱100 in total, you could end up paying ₱200, plus the base fare!

So basically, it boils down to this:

• Base Fare: ₱45 – Always there.
• Distance Rate: ₱15/km – Kilometers are key.
• Duration Rate: ₱2/min – Time is money!
• Surge Multiplier: Up to 2x the distance and duration rates. – Be warned, it’s a trap.

Now, here’s the thing, how do you save money on grab? Here is what I do, for sure:

• Avoid peak times: Like, everyone knows this, but seriously, skip the rush hour if you can, ya know? Surge pricing goes crazy.
• Walk a block or two: Sometimes just walking a little ways away from a super busy area can cut down on the surge.
• Use GrabShare (if available): Sharing is caring, and cheaper.
• Check other ride-hailing apps: Compare prices, duh. Maybe MoveIt or Angkas is cheaper if you are using a motorcycle.
• Use promotions, ya hear: Grab usually has discount codes floating around. Find one!

Yeah, good luck with those fares though. It’s a jungle out there. BTW, my friend Sarah got charged like, a gazillion pesos during that concert last week. Crazy expensive, I tell ya!

How can I improve my Grab rating?

Ugh, this Grab rental car… Smelled like old fries. JFK airport, last Tuesday. Needed a car quick. My flight was late. Totally stressed. 4.2 stars. Needed to boost it for that bonus.

So annoying. I wiped down the seats with baby wipes. Had some in my bag. Sprayed Febreze. Bought at a 7-Eleven. Right before picking up the next customer. A lady. Going to Brooklyn.

She loved the music. 80s. My usual playlist. Gave me five stars! Yes! Chatted a bit. Traffic was nuts. She understood. Tipped me too. Sweet.

Another ride. Dude going to LaGuardia. Spilled coffee. Ugh. Apologized profusely. Offered him some napkins. He was cool about it. Still, four stars. Tough crowd.

• Clean car is crucial. Even if it’s not your mess.
• Music helps. But not too loud. Gotta ask.
• Be chill. Traffic sucks. Everyone knows it.
• Baby wipes and Febreze. Lifesavers.
• JFK is a zoo. Especially Tuesdays.

Aiming for 4.8 now. Need that bonus. Grab rental needs to step up their cleaning game though. Seriously. Old fries smell… No. Just no.

Does Grab operate on 24/7?

Grab? 24/7? Hmm. Yeah, I think so. At least in Manila, where I lived last year.

My cousin uses it all the time. Even at like, 3 AM after partying. Manila never sleeps, right? So Grab shouldn’t either.

The app… it shares GPS? Uh huh. Kinda creepy, but I guess it’s for safety?

• Grab operates 24/7 in Manila.
• It’s a mobility app.
• GPS location is shared during rides.

Wait, is it just Manila? What about other cities in the Philippines? I only really know Manila.

• International Airport is covered. Obvs. Need to get flights.

Ah, I hate early flights. So stressful.

• Provides reliable service anytime.

Reliable? Define reliable. Sometimes it takes ages to get a ride, especially during rush hour. Maybe “relatively reliable” is better. But who cares?

Do Grab drivers get all tips?

Ugh, tips. Drivers get the whole thing, apparently. Every single cent. That’s good, right? I mean, they deserve it, especially with gas prices these days. $5 a gallon?! Insane. Makes me think about that time I accidentally tipped $20, whoops.

Wait, was that Uber or Grab? Doesn’t matter, point is – drivers keep the tips. It’s directly deposited, I’m pretty sure. At least that’s what my brother said, he drives for Grab. He’s been doing it since, gosh, 2022, maybe?

So yeah. 100% to the driver. No sneaky fees. That’s the best part. Although, he complains about surge pricing, all the time. That’s frustrating. He needs to get a better car. That’s a waste of gas.

He also had to replace his tires last month. Expensive! Maybe I’ll send him a larger tip next time. He is starting to need to buy a new car. This is really starting to worry me.

• Key takeaway: Grab drivers receive 100% of tips.
• Driver expenses: Gas prices, tires, car maintenance. All eating into those tips.
• My brother’s situation: Drives for Grab, been at it since at least 2022, complains about surge pricing and high car maintenance costs.
• Personal experience: Accidentally tipped too much once. Oops.