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London, England
Tipping rules in the UK are not much different from those in the US. When enjoying a fine meal at a restaurant, the tip amount can range from 10 to 15% of the total bill. But before placing a tip on the table, check the bill first. Some restaurants will automatically add a 12.5% tip to the bill, especially for larger tables.
Tipping at fast food restaurants, bars, or pubs is not mandatory. Tipping taxi drivers is also a nice gesture (usually 10-15% of the total bill). Londoners usually round tips to 1 pound (approximately 35,000 VND). However, for longer journeys, such as from Heathrow Airport to Buckingham Palace, you should increase your tip (around 8 USD).
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| The British rank only 6th on the list of most generous tip-takers. Photo: Triroute. |
Barcelona, Spain
When dining at upscale restaurants in Barcelona and receiving attentive service, you should leave a tip of 7-13% of the total bill. However, if the food quality or service doesn't meet your expectations, feel free to skip the tip as a way of conveying your feedback to the restaurant.
Tipping in Spain expresses your satisfaction with the quality of the product or service, and is not a mandatory practice like in the US. However, tipping taxi drivers is considered a must. For short distances, the tip is usually 0.50 euros (approximately 15,000 VND), while for longer distances you can tip the driver more at your discretion.
Paris, France
You arrive in the "City of Lights" and enjoy life here like a true Parisian, sipping wine or gazing at the Seine River in a café. But don't be too generous with your tip, as here, tips are added directly to your bill (15% of the total).
A service charge is definitely included in the price of the product as listed on the menu. However, if you are particularly pleased, you can add a few euros as a tip. Tipping for taxi drivers in Paris ranges from 10 to 15% of the total bill.
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| Sidewalk cafes are a characteristic feature of Paris. Photo: theavenuestory. |
Sydney, Australia
All you need to remember about tipping in Sydney is the number 10, whether you're in a taxi or dining at a restaurant. The 10% tip rule may not apply to small bills. For small bills, not needing to get your change back is a way to tip.
Prague, Czech
In Czech restaurants, diners typically tip 10% of the total bill. You should also check if the tip is already included in the bill. When leaving a taxi, you should tip the driver around 20 CZK (approximately 21,000 VND) or 50 CZK (approximately 52,000 VND) if you're feeling generous.
Rome, Italy
Although Facebook's "young boss" Mark Zuckerberg didn't tip the waiters during his honeymoon in Rome in 2012, you should still do so. The general tipping rule is: tip a maximum of 10% of the total bill. However, if you see the phrase "servizio incluso," there's no need to leave a tip; it's already included in the bill. For taxi drivers, simply round up the fare and let the driver keep the change.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
When tipping in Rio, you need to put it discreetly. Brazilians are particularly modest about receiving tips. At restaurants, tipping is not necessary as a 10% tip is already included in the total bill. For taxi drivers, rounding up the fare to around $0.40 (8,000 VND) should be sufficient.
Bangkok, Thailand
When enjoying Tom Yum Goong (spicy shrimp soup), Som Tum (spicy green papaya salad), or any other specialty dish at Bangkok restaurants, tipping is not mandatory. However, if you wish to express your satisfaction with the food and service, you can leave a small tip or up to 10% of the total bill. For taxi drivers, the custom is to round up the fare.
Istanbul, Türkiye
When dining in Istanbul, try to tip in Turkish lira (1 Turkish lira is approximately $0.45 USD, equivalent to about 10,000 VND). For mid-range restaurants, you can tip 5 to 10% of the total bill. For upscale restaurants, tips of 10 to 15% are sufficient. For taxi drivers, a tip of around 50 kuru (1% of 1 lira) is usually enough. When using high-end services such as relaxing in traditional Turkish baths (Hammam), you can tip 10 to 20% of the price to the staff who served you.
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| Hamman bathhouse. Photo: katpatukahoteltour. |
Cape Town, South Africa
In Africa, generosity is highly valued. In Cape Town, you can tip restaurants 10 to 15% of the total bill (some places include it directly in the bill). Taxis are also accustomed to receiving tips of 10% of the total fare. If you're arriving from Cape Town International Airport (CPT), the driver will help you with your luggage. Therefore, you can tip them 20 to 30 South African rand (ZAR), equivalent to approximately 38,000 - 57,000 VND. If you rent a car, leave a tip of 1.3 to 1.8 USD (17,000 - 38,000 VND) upon return.
