Vietnam
Smart Talk
Bad-mouthing Ho Chi Minh: Even in the south, the Communist liberator is widely admired.
Saying the Vietnam War didn’t go far enough, or that it was "lost." There is by no means even a private consensus that the country would
have been better off had the United States won.
Comparing the Vietnamese, favorably or otherwise, to their counterparts among refugee communities stateside. Their world views are often
vastly different.
Asking about prostitution in Southeast Asia. There is much, much less here than in Thailand-something they’d very much like tourists to know.
Asking too many personal questions. According to travel specialist Sandy Ferguson of Asia Desk, the Vietnamese are relatively reticent compared
with others on the peninsula.
Diversionary Topics - Vietnam's hard-fought independence and its (relatively) successful modernization since the seventies.
Tipping Etiquette
Restaurants
The gratuity usually isn't included, in which case you should leave 10% in cash and a bit more if you tip on a credit card; if the gratuity is included, throw a few more bills in on top.
Hotels
Give the concierge $20 if he does you a favor; cleaning staff get $2/day left at the end of your stay on the nightstand; you don't need to tip a doorman.
Guides & Drivers
Tip guides $10/person/day and drivers half that, given at your last encounter; you don't need to tip taxi drivers but you can round up the fare.
For drivers of bicycle carriages, work out the fare in advance; they usually charge $10/hour and it's okay to add on a few dollars' tip.
Dollars Accepted?
Yes.
*Tip massage therapists $5-10 in a fancy hotel; if you go to a days-long spa, they'll tell you the tipping policy in advance; bring all the $2 bills you can, as they are considered lucky
