Vietnam, Clip Art Korea
In Vietnam, which has become the largest travel destination in Southeast Asia, the ‘tipping (service charge) controversy’ surrounding Korean tourists is rising. It is pointed out that as the perception that “Koreans are good at giving tips” is forming around the tourist service industry, new practices are being created in local areas where there was no tipping culture originally.
For Koreans, Vietnam is the second most popular overseas travel destination after Japan. According to statistics from the Ministry of Justice, the number of Koreans who visited Vietnam in 2024 was 4.49 million, and according to the Vietnam National Statistical Office, the number reached 4.57 million, accounting for more than a quarter of all foreign tourists, ranking first.
According to the Vietnam National Statistical Office, the number of Koreans who visited Vietnam from January to October 2025 was approximately 3.6 million, accounting for 21% of all foreign tourists (approximately 17.2 million). First place is China (4.3 million people, 25.2%), which is a reversal of rankings compared to Korea, which ranked first with 4.57 million people as of 2024.
Nevertheless, Koreans still account for one in five foreign tourists in Vietnam, and in major tourist destinations such as Da Nang and Nha Trang, travelers claim that a perception has been formed among local service workers that “Korean tourists give good tips.”
According to the experiences of travelers who have actually visited the area, there are several cases of employees loitering around without leaving their seats or being asked for tips during the basket boat experience, even though the service fee was already included in the price. Among travelers, there are concerns that small tips given as a sign of gratitude are creating a culture that did not exist in the local area, and counterarguments that it is an individual’s free choice.
Experts explain that the background of tipping culture is different between Korea, Southeast Asia, and the West. In fact, in Vietnam and Korea, the service charge is included in the price of the product, so a tip is only a personal expression of gratitude. On the other hand, in Western countries such as the United States and Canada, tipping is practically mandatory across the service industry, including restaurants, hotels, and taxis, and this stems from a wage structure that compensates for the low base salary of service workers with tips.
The problem is that if tourists repeatedly tip, it can become a practice in the local service industry. A tourism industry official said, “Tipping is only an expression of gratitude and is not an obligation,” and added, “It is advisable to make a natural decision considering the local culture and situation.”
Even in areas where there was no tipping culture originally, as the tourism industry grew, there were many cases where tipping degenerated into a service practice, so it is important to have a travel attitude that respects local culture.
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