with dotnet framewor mvc 4 and above u can use

@{
List<SelectListItem> listItems= new List<SelectListItem>();
listItems.Add(new SelectListItem
{
Text = "Exemplo1",
Value = "Exemplo1"
});
listItems.Add(new SelectListItem
{
Text = "Exemplo2",
Value = "Exemplo2",
Selected = true
});
listItems.Add(new SelectListItem
{
Text = "Exemplo3",
Value = "Exemplo3"
});
}

@Html.DropDownListFor(model => model.tipo, listItems, "-- Select Status --")