Before you walk in
Check the price list is printed and in VND. A board at the door or a laminated menu is normal; a verbal quote or a flyer price that differs from the in-house price is a flag. Confirm the duration too — "60 minutes" sometimes includes the foot bath and the tea.
Undressing
For oil massages you undress to underwear and lie under a towel or sarong; disposable shorts are offered at most mid-range places. Thai massage is done clothed in loose cotton pyjamas. Nobody should enter without knocking and you can keep whatever you like on.
Pressure
Vietnamese massage runs firm by default. Three phrases cover everything:
- "Nhẹ hơn" (nyeh hun) — softer
- "Mạnh hơn" (mahn hun) — stronger
- "Đau" (dow) — that hurts
Tipping
A service charge is increasingly printed on the menu; if it is, no tip is expected. Where it is not, 50–100k₫ for an hour is generous. What is not normal is a suggested amount, an envelope with a number on it, or a request in the room before the massage ends. Each listing’s tipping label and watch-outs flag spas where reviewers report this.