Do I need to speak French?

You don't need to be fluent, but learning 'Bonjour', 'Merci', and 'S'il vous plaît' is mandatory for polite interactions.

Should I tip in restaurants?

Tipping is not expected like in the US. Rounding up to the nearest Euro or leaving an extra 1-2 Euros for exceptional service is sufficient.

How to plan a 10-day France itinerary

To see the best of France in 10 days, stick to the Paris and Provence route. Split your time between 4 days in Paris, 4 days in a base like Avignon or Aix-en-Provence, and 2 days in the French Riviera.

Book your open-jaw flight. Fly into Paris (CDG) and fly out of Nice (NCE). This saves you a 6-hour train ride back to Paris at the end of your trip.
Use the TGV for inter-city travel. Book your TGV train tickets 90 days in advance via SNCF Connect to secure the lowest prices. Expect to pay about $80–$120 for the high-speed leg from Paris to the south.
Pick one base for Provence. Don't hotel-hop. Stay in Avignon or Aix-en-Provence for 4 nights. Rent a car for only 2 of those days to explore the smaller villages like Gordes or Roussillon.
Limit your museum count. In Paris, pick two major museums (e.g., Louvre and Musée d'Orsay) and book timed-entry tickets at least 3 weeks in advance. Do not attempt more than one big museum per day.

Do I need to speak French?: You don't need to be fluent, but learning 'Bonjour', 'Merci', and 'S'il vous plaît' is mandatory for polite interactions.
Should I tip in restaurants?: Tipping is not expected like in the US. Rounding up to the nearest Euro or leaving an extra 1-2 Euros for exceptional service is sufficient.