Although English has been increasingly spoken in Vietnam, many Vietnamese are unaccustomed to using this foreign language on a daily basis. Getting to know some simple phrases in Vietnamese, therefore, could become fairly useful to you when traveling to this beautiful country, especially when you want to have local experience in off-the-beaten-path places. Have a look at some Vietnamese phrases for travelers to Vietnam.
Overview of the Vietnamese Language
Unlike many other Asian languages including Chinese and Japanese which are generally based on symbols, Vietnamese is an interesting combination of Latin alphabet and additional diacritics for certain letters. There are 29 characters, 6 tones, and 5 tone marks in total. Vietnamese vocabulary today has been partially developed from Chinese, which is a result of several centuries being under the Chinese occupation. Vietnamese speakers could be found in several parts of the world ranging from Southeast Asia to North America and Western Europe due to the Vietnamese emigration during the Vietnam War, making Vietnamese become one of the most spoken languages in the world.
Simple Phrases in Vietnamese
Knowing some Vietnamese phrases could greatly give you a decent chance to have an insight view of Vietnamese culture as well as avoid unwanted misunderstandings and frustrations during your trip to Vietnam. Some simple phrases could also make it possible for you to have more effective interaction with locals, helping you avoid being overcharged when coming to tourist attractions. Here are some simple phrases in Vietnamese that you might need in your Vietnam travel.
Vietnamese words for addressing people
| Vietnamese | English |
| Tôi / Toi | I |
| Bạn / Ban | You |
| Anh | Male (senior) or older brother |
| Em | Male (junior) or Female (junior) or younger brother/sister |
| Chị / Chi | Female (senior) or older sister |
| Chú / Chu | Male (senior) or uncle |
| Cô / Co | Female (senior) or aunt |
| Ông / Ong | Male (senior in very formal case) or grandfather |
| Bà / Ba | Female (senior in very formal case) or grandmother |
Greetings in Vietnamese
| Vietnamese | English |
| Xin chào / Xin chao | Hello |
| Tạm biệt / Tam biet | Goodbye |
| Chào buổi sáng / Chao buoi sang | Good morning |
| Chúc ngủ ngon / Chuc ngu ngon | Good night |
| Bạn tên gì / Ban ten gi? | What’s your name? |
| Tên tôi là / Ten toi la … | My name is … |
How to Ask for Directions in Vietnamese
| Vietnamese | English |
| Tôi muốn đến / Toi muon den … | I want to go to … |
| … ở đâu / o dau? | Where is …? |
| Đi thẳng / Di thang | Go straight |
| Rẽ phải / Re phai | Turn right |
| Rẽ trái / Re trai | Turn left |
| Quay lại / Quay lai | Turn around |
| Dừng ở đây / Dung o day | Stop here |
| Đi thôi / Di thoi | Let’s go |
| Ngã tư / Nga tu | Crossroad |
| Bùng binh (vòng xoay) / Bung binh (vong xoay) | Roundabout |
| Tôi bị lạc / Toi bi lac | I’m lost |
For more information on Vietnamese transportation, check out Vietnamese Transportation and Getting around Ho Chi Minh City.
Number System in Vietnamese
| Vietnamese | English |
| Không / Khong | 0 |
| Một / Mot | 1 |
| Hai | 2 |
| Ba | 3 |
| Bốn / Bon | 4 |
| Năm / Nam | 5 |
| Sáu / Sau | 6 |
| Bảy / Bay | 7 |
| Tám / Tam | 8 |
| Chín / Chin | 9 |
| Mười / Muoi | 10 |
| Mười một / Muoi mot | 11 |
| Hai mươi / Hai muoi | 20 |
| Hai mươi mốt / Hai muoi mot | 21 |
| Một trăm / Mot tram | 100 |
| Một ngàn / Mot ngan | 1,000 |
| Một trăm ngàn / Mot tram ngan | 100,000 |
| Một triệu / Mot trieu | 1,000,000 |
Useful Vietnamese Phrases when Dining and Ordering
| Vietnamese | English |
| Không đường / Khong duong | No sugar, please |
| Không đá / Khong da | No ice, please |
| Có quán ăn nào gần đây không? / Co quan an nao gan day khong? | Is there a restaurant nearby? |
| Cho tôi xem thực đơn / Cho toi xem thuc don | May I have the menu, please? |
| Tôi ăn chay / Toi an chay | I’m vegetarian |
| Cho tôi cái này / Cho toi cai nay | I would like to have this |
| Tính tiền / Tinh tien | Bill, please |
| Chín / Chin | Well-done |
| Tái / Tai | Rare |
| Vừa / Vua | Medium |
| Anh ơi / Anh oi (to waiter) Chị ơi / Chi oi (to waitress) | Excuse me |
| Một đĩa | One dish |
| Một tô | One bowl |
| Một ly | One glass |
| Cà phê | Coffee |
| Trà đá | Iced tea |
| Một chai nước suối | One bottle of water |
For more foods and drinks recommendation, check out our What to Expect on Your Ho Chi Minh Food Tours, Vietnamese Street Foods You Should Try, and Must-try Vietnamese Drinks.
Useful Vietnamese Phrases for Shopping
| Vietnamese | English |
| Cái này bao nhiêu / Cai nay bao nhieu? | How much is this? |
| Tôi muốn cái khác / Toi muon cai khac | I would like something else |
| Mắc quá / Mac qua | That’s too expensive |
| Giảm giá đi / Giam gia di | Can you give me a discount? |
| Tôi không đủ tiền / Toi khong du tien | I can’t afford it |
| Tôi mua cái này / Toi mua cai nay | I’ll take it |
| Tôi không mua cái này / Toi khong mua cai nay | I don’t want to buy this |
For more information on what to buy, check out our What to Buy in Hanoi and What to Buy in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).
Compliments and Expression in Vietnamese
| Vietnamese | English |
| Đẹp quá / Dep qua | Nice/Beautiful/Pretty |
| Ngon quá / Ngon qua | Tasty/Delicious |
| Bạn nấu ăn rất ngon / Ban nau an rat ngon | You’re a fantastic cook |
| Vui quá / Vui qua | Exciting/Fun |
| Tôi yêu bạn / Toi yeu ban | I love you |
| Cảm ơn / Cam on | Thank you |
| Không có chi / Khong co chi | You’re welcome |
| Xin lỗi / Xin loi | Sorry |
Wishes and Blessings
| Vietnamese | English |
| Chúc mừng năm mới / Chuc mung nam moi | Happy new year |
| Vạn sự như ý / Van su nhu y | Wish that everything would go well for you |
| An khang thịnh vượng / An khanh thinh vuong | Wish you health and prosperity |
| Sống lâu trăm tuổi / Song lau tram tuoi | Wish you long life (live to a hundred years old) |
| Chúc mừng sinh nhật / Chuc mung sinh nhat | Happy birthday |
| Sống đến đầu bạc răng long / Song den dau bac rang long | Wish you a life time of love and hapiness (Wedding occasion) |
| Chia buồn cùng gia quyến / Chia buon cung gia quyen | Sorry for your loss (Funeral occasion) |
Summary of Simple Phrases in Vietnam
Vietnamese is not particularly difficult for foreigners to learn some simple phrases as its alphabet is based on Latin alphabet which is used in English and many Western languages. Getting to know some Vietnamese phrases seems to be the most efficient way to gain a fulfilling experience in your Vietnam trip.
Read more on 50 Fun Facts about Vietnam and Top-rated Ho Chi Minh City Tours.