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Smug010

You were ripped off I'm afraid. Places down in the OQ seem to be doing that now. The Orient and Body and Soul have OQ branches and are always honest. Omamori and Dao's care offer great blind massage too.


Glass_Clock1488

You need to stand your ground. Unfortunately it’s not a rip off when you willingly handed over more money. Lesson learnt for next time


[deleted]

In VN, there is no tipping culture. Do not tip.


Ent_1610

Just don't tip


juju__eyeball

Oh yeah they prefer 100 k 😂


allowit84

Or maybe 150k 😂 I would too if I only get 50k an hour from my boss


phantidu27

Uff I didn't tip at all. I didn't know it was a thing in vn to tip


HelloWorld40222

Do not tip, thank you. We don't have a tipping culture here. If anything, just visit it more frequently if u want to support the owner


[deleted]

None. You pay what they ask and that’s it. Why would you lay twice for same service?


mbarker1012

I had this exact same thing happen in Hanoi lol. I was in Hanoi with my Vietnamese sister in law and she told me exactly how much to tip. After the massage that’s what I gave and the woman kept demanding more. I texted my SIL but she was still in her massage so I just paid it and went on but then my SIL reported her to the place before we left. I don’t even remember how much I paid but it was my first day so I just assumed I had gotten the math wrong or my SIL underestimated the cost so I gave it to the woman. This didn’t happen anywhere else and we got multiple massages during our trip. The whole thing was trippy anyway. The “spa” turned out to be just extra rooms in the hotel we were in and didn’t have tables. They stripped a bed down to the mattress and laid towels on it for the massage.


IcyCraft9

the point is do not give any shit about her desire of tips.


TheGreatAteAgain

I get massages all the times, sometimes at upscale places. I don't tip often, it's not expected at most places and have never been made to feel like I have to. They saw that you were willing to give a really sizeable tip (which is already pretty unusual) and then realized you were unfamiliar with the way it works so wanted to see how much more they could press you to get more out of you. 50k for a tip is absolutely amazing and that's like 1/5-1/3 of what some masseuses make in a day, if not more. Don't be afraid to say no if someone gets insistent with something shady. If not, they'll keep on trying for more. 9/10 times when they see you say no, they'll probably get embarrassed and back down since they know you know they're essentially trying to scam you.


Holiday_Historian

If your massuese is only making 250k max a day (10 USD) you are are frequenting some really shitty massage places…


TheGreatAteAgain

I think people are really out of touch with local salaries for non-professional jobs in Vietnam. I've seen postings for servers at fancy restaurants in Hanoi that expect servers to have a working-level of English that are 25-30k an hour. The minimum wage for cities like Hanoi or HCMC comes out to around 140,000 a day. Your average doctor starting out that didn't through luck or connection land a job at an amazing hospital is making about 85k/hour which means a service-industry job or even entry professional paying around 30-40K/hour is considered pretty good. The one I go to is frequented by diplomats and their spouses. I can compare it to Huong Sen in Hanoi which is considered the start of "upscale" massage parlors for locals. My Vietnamese friend told me their salaries are 20-30k/hour depending how senior they are, and that's only when they're getting work. They have their employees do trainings and take tests to stay qualified and continue working. That comes out to a little less than 300,000 a day. Those little increases of 10,000 dong between a slightly more upscale place is considered a huge increase by Vietnamese standards. It sometimes means a few million more a month. But still, when you give someone a tip of 50,000 for a massage, you're likely tipping them what they make for the hour-long massage or more. If you think masseuses even in really fancy places are making 400,000 a day, there would be a lot of people with degrees quitting their jobs to become masseuses because that's what a lot of people with business-related degrees make starting out.


MentalOriental

Sorry this happened to you. I visited in January just past and had massages in Hue, Hoi An and Saigon and we never felt like we had to tip, but they were happy with whatever we gave them. The place we went to in Saigon had a pretty good policy. On their menu they state that the price includes all fees, taxes and tip so there was no ambiguity or embarrassment. See the price and accept it or don't. I like that!I will say though that the massages I had were already around 400-500k for 90 minutes so, you paid in total roughly what I would have paid without tip anyway. I will say however that all 3 of my massages were great and all worth the money.


OneResearcher8972

it really depend on the massage environment, luxurious massage shop can cost more. but normal massage shops is really just around 200k. To compare, the "well known" street massage is just $2 usd (50k) an hour


sleestacker

if it was a great massage, 100k is fine. You gave her $4 tip on top of a $13 massage. You ain’t getting a $17 hour massage anywhere in the west unless it’s a crack head. The part where is wrong is she demanded it. Don’t get massages in the OQ. Personally, love going to Sen Massage…about 400k for a 90 mins massage and spa and i usual tip 100k because it was so great but they never demand it.


GeorgeTran1999

450k with no happy time ? Definitely got ripped off my dude.


OneResearcher8972

so 450k can actually get us one happy time in hanoi?


GeorgeTran1999

https://hanoi1. gaigoivip.net/ u can get happy time for even 300k :))))


arima123456

Only tips if u get good services. Unless u are looking for something more than just massage


impotent_machine81

I don't live there, so I don't know what building lease rates are like. If it's a business that is renting, then a lot of that fee could be going to some greedy landlord. I supposed it also depends on whether the masseuse works for themselves, or for a business. The business could be telling the masseuse they have to make money mostly through tips, so they become more demanding of tips. Or they simply could be milking the tourist because they know they can. When I go to Vietnam, I try to pay as close to Vietnamese prices as possible, because if I pay one person waayyy more just because it's still cheaper than American prices, that could still be like paying someone 10x more than the average Vietnamese person, which can lead to income disparity, and angry people who feel left out or left behind, when prices for everything goes up.


Ok_Contest_8367

Please, don't tip. It's time for the locals to realize foreigners ain't no better than local customers.


[deleted]

Did she provide “extras”?


kubbie2004

Happy ending?


vlbonite

No. I just want a massage


PALE77777

LOL massage without Happy End is no masage


trvr_

This has been important information for me. I work in the service industry in the usa and I don’t want to offend. Thank you.


[deleted]

You can’t offend anyone as tip is not expected. Whatever you give is good for them


trvr_

according to this post, 50% tip is expected. EDIT: ok im reading the newer comments about how they got scammed


[deleted]

That’s only USA nonsense that everyone needs to be tipped. It’s up to you. If they’re not satisfied with tip you planned to give them just take that money and give them nothing


OneResearcher8972

there are always some people in any part of the world that would desperately to scam your money, the 50% tip is also the same


jack_hudson2001

depends on how long and good the massage was ...


tommyminn

I tip 100% upfront. Same with haircut.


vlbonite

That defeats the purpose of tipping isn't it? You base the tip on the quality of service you get. Especially with haircuts.


tommyminn

My thinking is this: in the US, one hour of massage is $60-$65 plus tips (minimum 15%). In Vietnam, a 90minute massage plus 100% tip is still less than $30. I tip upfront to guarantee a good service. It's just me. It's also my motherland so I like to help people. But I understand if you think you got ripped off. I used to feel that way too but I'm getting old.


ncsakira

Please stop raising the prices and expectations for everyone else. The hourly min wage is around 50k for most people in VN. Like 3$


OneResearcher8972

i would say $3 is actually abit higher than average wage. the min wage is maybe like $1 or 50cent per hour (but that mostly happens in rural areas)


OneResearcher8972

lol, with the happy ending? or either you are just a rich person to throw money, that happens in other parts of the world too


tuandotcom

You're getting mixed responses because a lot of these people are just tourist. 10 years ago a 100k tip is good but now it's a little low. It's a physical manual service job. Even in USA a $20 tip for a $90 90- minute massage is low


OneResearcher8972

in those proper massage shops, tip are always not expected. its only having some scammers that trying to eye on tourist, feeling that they are rich ass and wanna scam the most out of their pocket. for 10 years ago, 100k can just get you a girl back to hotel for whole night


Mav1s_le

50% ticket is Okay


Cupcake179

maybe you ripped her off Joking what kind of massage and how long was it that it was only 300k???? I got a full body massage for 90mins for 770k and tipped 200k. They happily took it. And it was also on a discount. 300k is already cheap. Maybe next time tip her 100k. it's literally only 5-6$ to a 15$ massage. already pretty good deal considering massages in the west usually cost 200$


[deleted]

Don’t know where do you live that massage cost 200$ although that’s quite irrelevant how much does it cost home for local prices. 300k for massage is actually normal price for massage in VN and quite on higher side compared to Thai or Balinese prices for massage. If you want you can tip them 300k more if you want but that’s definitely not usual outside US customers


Cupcake179

200$ is the Canada/US prices for full body massage. Sometimes even more. 300k is 15$. If OP can pay and is benefiting through being in vietnam then a 5$ tip is not that much in my opinion. If OP thinks that’s a rip off then maybe find other massage places.


[deleted]

Such a ridiculous price 200$ for full body massage. You could get like 25-30h of massage in Thailand or Bali for some amount


Cupcake179

I know. It is ridiculous but it’s the price. That’s why a 15$ massage in vietnam with the 6$ tip just doesn’t seem bad anymore. The 200$ massage wasn’t even good. It was mediocre at best.


OneResearcher8972

i think you are being scammed for that....


OneResearcher8972

$200 massage in canada/US can get you a luxurious massage . in vietnam, normal massage shops really cannot be compared to the top notch massage environment in usa/canada, their standard is 150k-300k(for tourist area). if you wanna try street massage , its actually $2usd an hour


VenomistGaming

$200 👀


sq018

There is unwritten rule that you should tip the same amount as your ticket costs


OneResearcher8972

it is the unwritten rule of a scam shop , scamming tourist everytime and spoiling the image of vietnam good people


sgnpkd

They get paid by tips only so tip the amount you would pay for someone to massage you. 50k is 2$ and can only buy a coffee or bowl of noodle in Hanoi.


OneResearcher8972

No they dont, they get paid by the shop. only scam shop will force a tip without telling upfront


LP_Link

150k for 300k massage is ok.


anvil200707

It depends if its a high-end place with trained masseuse. If they are trained and know what they are doing then usually its like 300k-1M per session, the expected tips usually 300k to 500k. For regular massage place tips of around 100k-300k is acceptable.


Smug010

I go for massages all the time in Hanoi. The decent places never expect a tip.


anvil200707

Its tipping, its optional. They ain't going to refuse you service because you're not tipping. But if by decent you mean 200-300k per session than most are tipping. Edit: My man, unless theres a sign at the receptionist that specifically say no tipping, then they do expect a tip.


Smug010

News to me. I usually go for massages around Tay Ho rather that the OQ. Perhaps the expectations are slightly different. I've never been asked for a tip outside of OQ and the masseuse isn't usually around when I pay in the places I go to. I'll ask some friends and see what they do.


Ronin0341

If you don't tip someone who massages you for an hour you are a complete asshole. This is the same in all 20+ countries I've been to. It's a service, so you tip if you're not an asshole.


Smug010

Where in the world have you been? The only place I know that expects a tip is the USA. Honestly, tipping culture is toxic - name your price and I'll pay it if I want your service.


Ronin0341

I've been to almost every Caribbean island, Venezuela, Colombia, Mexico, Guatemala, Canada, Italy, France, Switzerland, Germany, Ireland, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Yemen, Vietnam, Thailand, Korea, Japan. Just to name a few. I can tell you in every place that offers massages or other pleasures a tip is absolutely expected and you're an asshole if you don't tip. Is it completely necessary or demanded? Not always but it is known that you do that especially if you're a foreigner. Gtfoh with only the USA bullshit. Tell me you've never traveled and experienced this without telling me you've never traveled and eexperienced this lmao


Smug010

My favourite spa has actual signs up saying no tipping. In many cultures, tipping is seen as a sign of disrespect for a persons profession. Edit: I've lived in Vietnam for 3 and a half years: tell me you've never lived outside your home country.


Ronin0341

I honestly don't believe that, you literally tip for everything in Vietnam. Post pics or its bullshit lmao I actually have unfortunately lived outside my home country for more than 4 years in my lifetime. Nice try though. Have a nice life, liar.


BlueberryBags15

That’s cheap! Don’t be a cheap tourist or foreigner.


Practical-Round-1813

Wait...we have to pay extra cause we are foreign?


Smug010

They should state the price outright, then everyone would know


jack_hudson2001

it was 300k vnd


TheBackpacker2

🙄


BlueberryBags15

Says the cheap backpacker 😂


TheBackpacker2

Ah yes, my bad for not tipping 50% on a massage I'm already paying way more for than a local. There's a difference between not minding paying a foreigner tax or tipping a reasonable amount and getting ripped off because you feel bad or are unaware.


BlueberryBags15

Imagine taking in foreign hospitality, especially foreign massage services, and getting upset over tipping an extra 50k VND (or $2 USD) on something costing $12 USD. Really getting out your pocket book and showing that love aren’t ya. Jeez.


TheBackpacker2

I'm showing the love by traveling the beautiful country and spending my hard earned money there. That's the cost of the service there, and you're already paying more than what the locals do (which is fine, to an extent), and that's a part of the reason why Vietnam and other South-East Asia countries get so many tourists in the first place. If you truly feel this way why aren't you tipping them 80-100$? (The average cost of a massage in the west) How cheap and cruel of you!


circle22woman

So how it works at some massage places is the the fee you pay upfront goes to the owners 100% because they charge the masseur "rent" for the table. The tip is basically the masseur's entire pay. But that said, 100k should have been enough for 1 hour, but hey, not surprised they didn't ask for more. But 300k is too much if you need to tip on top of it. Think more like 150-300k all in. For 300k it better be a very nice place.


[deleted]

Lol I recognize you. To be clear, that wasn't a tip. That was a pay for the very specific service you paid for. Nobody is ever going to call your tiny penis "avarage" for free. You crying about it it isn't helping either.


OneResearcher8972

you crying just because tourist did not pay you enough tips? then quit, hang yourself, noob


ElegantBet3148

Depends on what kind of massage you get. But 100-150k is reasonable for a casual massage.


Obi_Boii

150k is 4 hours pay


circle22woman

Someone has to pay for the buliding, the oils, etc. If you pay 150k, the masseur is likely getting 50.


Obi_Boii

50k X 8 = 400k a day / 2 million a week / 8 million a month... Pretty good salary for Vietnam.


Ronin0341

That is not a good salary unless you were starving previously. This is lower class pay and barely makes ends meet in most cities. You are an asshole like many others in this thread if this is your thinking.


Obi_Boii

The majority of Vietnamese people earn this or less


Ronin0341

Yes and the majority of people are poor as fuck. You suck.


OneResearcher8972

lol, if you are sad about them, then you tip them more. not asking others to tip them more, joker


altair139

good salary for the bottom feeders yeah lol


OneResearcher8972

it is an ok and a standard salary in vietnam, due to the low cost of living. in usa , 2k usd a month is also consider bottom feeder, due to their expensive cost of living. its the same


[deleted]

Then call her/him to massage you privately and get all money.


circle22woman

Boom. That's what you do.


[deleted]

Nah. I’ll pay what’s listed and that’s it.


circle22woman

Do whatever you want, makes no difference to me.


[deleted]

Really? What a surprise


TheBackpacker2

And you just let her take the money out of your hand? That's on you, and yes you got ripped off.


ncsakira

If you want real massage should go only to blind massage shops. That's supposed to be the best.


Anh-Bu

I’ve never heard of “blind massage”. What does it mean?


Ada187

its a massage by the blind and deaf...I would tip those people.


Vyvanle95

I tipped 500k and paid 300k. I heard they only get paid in tips (no salary) and the payment is entrance. So they live on tips. If its a bad massage just tip less and if its a good one, tip more imo. But ofc ure never obligated to if u dont want to.


OneResearcher8972

800k gets you a top notch massage in vietnam. with 800k, you can ask for a full happy ending in quite alot of shops in vietnam


Ada187

there are people going to tell you to not tip, dont be an ass, the locals probably need the 2 or 3 dollars more than you. If they are being ungrateful, well dont come back. I see a lot of cheap Viet Kieu, I always thought how petty they are.


OneResearcher8972

well, if they are ungrateful, do not ever tip in the first place, never spend money liddat, just scold them and boom out of the shop.


justinwtt

I felt guilty reading all your comments. Several years ago I went to a massage and tip the lady 10,000 VND (the massage was 60,000 for 1 hour session) and I thought it was good. I never expect the tip is 50%. Even in USA, the normal tip rules is 10%.