{"id":2732,"date":"2020-07-02T15:54:22","date_gmt":"2020-07-02T07:54:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/?p=2732"},"modified":"2023-06-16T10:56:03","modified_gmt":"2023-06-16T02:56:03","slug":"vietnamese-phrases","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/vietnamese-phrases\/","title":{"rendered":"23 Vietnamese Phrases That Come In Handy In Every Situation, From Greetings To Shopping"},"content":{"rendered":"

Basic Vietnamese phrases that are useful for travellers<\/span><\/h2>\n
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Even though English is a popular language in Vietnam, especially in big cities such as Saigon and Hanoi, not everyone speaks English. From buying coffee to making payments at a mall to talking with a<\/a> polic<\/a>e officer<\/a>, Vietnamese <\/strong>is still the most widely spoken language here<\/strong> in everyday life.<\/p>\n

The Vietnamese language can be difficult, but you only need to know some essential Vietnamese phrases to get through daily situations. Here are some common Vietnamese phrases that you should get familiar with <\/strong>during your stay here.<\/p>\n\n

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Common Vietnamese phrases and greetings<\/span><\/h3>\n
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While the Vietnamese language is spoken with six tones<\/strong>, don\u2019t worry if you haven\u2019t mastered them yet – we\u2019ll sum them up below. Even if you mess up your tones, follow the pronunciation guides in brackets and people will understand you based on context.<\/p>\n

\"Vietnamese
\nImage credit: <\/em>Duolingo\/Tinycards<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

The six tones of the Vietnamese language are: neutral, falling, falling-rising, high-rising, rising, and low-constricted.<\/strong> While pronunciations vary by region, you can ask a speaker living in your area to say the words below for you, and follow along with them.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not easy to master these tones, but you can improve slowly by communicating regularly with local people in everyday situations with these Vietnamese phrases below, and imitate their pronunciation.<\/p>\n

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1. Xin ch\u00e0o (Sin chow) – Hello<\/h4>\n
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\"Vietnamese
\nImage credit: <\/em>@sknutson<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cXin ch\u00e0o\u201d<\/em> <\/strong>is probably the first phrase you\u2019ll hear when arriving in the country, and is the most simple and common way to say hello to someone.<\/p>\n

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2. Cho t\u00f4i h\u1ecfi (Cho toy hoi) – Excuse me\/May I ask<\/h4>\n
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\"Vietnamese
\nImage adapted from: <\/em>Pikrepo<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

“Cho t\u00f4i h\u1ecfi”<\/strong><\/em> means “Excuse me” or “May I ask”, and is a phrase you add before putting out a question. It makes you sound more polite and helps to get the other person\u2019s attention.<\/strong><\/p>\n

You can add this phrase to the beginning of some of the questions we\u2019ll teach you below.<\/p>\n

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3. D\u1ea1\/Kh\u00f4ng (Dza\/Kong) – Yes\/No<\/h4>\n
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\"Vietnamese
\nImage credit: <\/em>Pikrepo<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

In the south of Vietnam, the way to say yes is \u201cD\u1ea1\u201d<\/strong><\/em>, while people in the north use \u201cV\u00e2ng\u201d<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u201cKh\u00f4ng\u201d<\/em>,<\/strong> which is \u201cNo\u201d in English, is pronounced the same everywhere.<\/p>\n

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4. C\u1ea3m \u01a1n (cam on) – Thank you<\/h4>\n
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\"Vietnamese
\nImage credit: <\/em>@matthieu_go<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Vietnamese people use this phrase very often. It\u2019s also a magic phrase <\/strong>to help you win more warm glances from locals.<\/p>\n

Try to say \u201cC\u1ea3m \u01a1n\u201d<\/strong><\/em> more to the people who provide you with services, or to your landlords. People are more willing to go the extra mile to help people who say this phrase often – so who knows, you might end up getting discounts or extra benefits.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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5. Kh\u00f4ng, c\u1ea3m \u01a1n (Kong, cam on) – No, thank you!<\/h4>\n
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\"Vietnamese
\nImage credit: <\/em>@dorukyemenici<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

When you\u2019re offered something, be it in a restaurant or on the streets, and you don\u2019t want to take it, just say \u201cKh\u00f4ng, c\u1ea3m \u01a1n\u201d<\/strong><\/em>. There won\u2019t be any hard feelings.<\/p>\n

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6. Xin l\u1ed7i (Xin loy) – I\u2019m sorry<\/h4>\n
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\"Vietnamese
\nImage credit: <\/em>@mdnolan<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Vietnamese are very nice and don\u2019t hold grudges against small things. But if you accidentally step on their feet or rear-end them on a busy street, just say \u201cXin l\u1ed7i\u201d <\/strong><\/em>and they\u2019ll let it go quickly.<\/p>\n

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7. B\u1ea1n kh\u1ecfe kh\u00f4ng? (Ban kwae kong) – How are you?<\/h4>\n
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\"Vietnamese
\nImage credit: <\/em>@kc_gertenbach<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

You can ask the question \u201cB\u1ea1n kh\u1ecfe kh\u00f4ng?\u201d<\/em> <\/strong>when you want to know about the other person\u2019s well-being<\/strong> or reconnect with that person after a long time of no contact.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Unlike in the US or other English-speaking countries where \u201chow are you\u201d can be a daily greeting, in Vietnam, this is not something you say to someone you meet every day, such as your colleague or your neighbor. For them, a simple \u201cXin ch\u00e0o\u201d<\/strong><\/em> will do.<\/p>\n

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8. T\u00f4i kh\u1ecfe, c\u1ea3m \u01a1n. (Toy kware, cam on) – I\u2019m fine, thank you.<\/h4>\n
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\"Vietnamese<\/p>\n

\u201cT\u00f4i kh\u1ecfe, c\u1ea3m \u01a1n\u201d<\/strong><\/em> is how you answer the \u201cHow are you\u201d question in Vietnamese.<\/p>\n

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9. T\u1ea1m bi\u1ec7t (Tam biet) – Goodbye<\/h4>\n
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\"Vietnamese
\nImage credit: <\/em>@ronalao<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

There are many ways to say goodbye in Vietnamese, but the most simple one that applies everywhere and in most common situations is \u201cT\u1ea1m bi\u1ec7t\u201d<\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n

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10. Gi\u1eef g\u00ecn s\u1ee9c kh\u1ecfe! (Ju jin sook kwae) – Take care!<\/h4>\n
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\"boat
\nImage credit: <\/em>@taylorgsimpson<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cGi\u1eef g\u00ecn s\u1ee9c kh\u1ecfe!\u201d<\/strong> <\/em>is a phrase you can add right after saying \u201cGoodbye\u201d. But this should only be said when you\u2019re parting ways with someone whom you won\u2019t be seeing for a long time<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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Vietnamese phrases to introduce yourself with<\/span><\/h3>\n
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11. B\u1ea1n t\u00ean l\u00e0 g\u00ec? (Ban tain la gi) – What is your name?<\/h4>\n
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\"Vietnamese
\nImage credit: <\/em>@taylorgsimpson<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cB\u1ea1n t\u00ean l\u00e0 g\u00ec?\u201d<\/strong><\/em> is a popular way to start a conversation with someone.<\/p>\n

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12. T\u00f4i l\u00e0\u2026.(Toy lah)- I am\/My name is\u2026.<\/h4>\n
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\u201cT\u00f4i l\u00e0…\u201d<\/strong> <\/em>or \u201cI am\u2026\u201d is the most simple and common way to introduce yourself, your name, your nationality, and your job.<\/p>\n

\"Vietnamese
\nImage credit: <\/em>@leeminfu<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Example:<\/p>\n

1. I am Jet Lee.<\/p>\n

T\u00f4i l\u00e0 Jet Lee.<\/em><\/p>\n

2. I am Canadian.<\/p>\n

T\u00f4i l\u00e0 ng\u01b0\u1eddi Canada.<\/em><\/p>\n

Fun fact: during the COVID-19 outbreak in April, Vietnamese netizens shared their \u201cT\u00f4i l\u00e0\u2026\u201d<\/strong> personal slogans<\/a> to encourage each other to practice social responsibility to beat the pandemic.<\/p>\n

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13. T\u00f4i \u0111\u1ebfn t\u1eeb… (Toy dain too…) – I am from…<\/h4>\n
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\"Saigon\"
\nImage credit: <\/em>@luuquangminh<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

You can tell the other person where you come from by adding the name of the place after \u201ct\u00f4i \u0111\u1ebfn t\u1eeb\u201d.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Example:<\/p>\n

1. I am from Canada.<\/p>\n

T\u00f4i \u0111\u1ebfn t\u1eeb Canada.<\/em><\/p>\n

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14. B\u1ea1n bao nhi\u00eau tu\u1ed5i? (Ban bao new two-oy?) – How old are you?<\/h4>\n
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\"children\"
\nImage credit:<\/em>@bnimit<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

You can ask the question \u201cB\u1ea1n bao nhi\u00eau tu\u1ed5i?\u201d <\/strong><\/em>to people much younger or much older than you, especially children. But take our word for it – you should not ask a woman in their 20s-50s this question in case she would prefer not to answer.<\/p>\n

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15. T\u00f4i kh\u00f4ng hi\u1ec3u (Toy kong hew) – I don\u2019t understand<\/h4>\n
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\"couple\"
\nImage credit: <\/em>@cannedstreet<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

This phrase, \u201cT\u00f4i kh\u00f4ng hi\u1ec3u\u201d<\/strong><\/em>, comes in handy when you don\u2019t understand <\/strong>something. It\u2019s also a subtle way of indicating that you don\u2019t want to continue the conversation<\/strong> with the person speaking to you.<\/p>\n

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How to shop and make payments in Vietnamese<\/h3>\n
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16. Xin cho t\u00f4i m\u1ed9t ___ (Sin cho toy mot) – Can I get one ____ ?<\/h4>\n
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\"coffee
\nImage credit: <\/em>@zuizuii<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

To ask for something, just say \u201cXin cho t\u00f4i\u2026.\u201d<\/em> (Can I get…)<\/strong>, followed by a number, then followed by a noun – the thing you want to buy or order – after the number.<\/strong><\/p>\n

For example:<\/p>\n

1. Can I get one<\/strong> iced coffee?<\/p>\n

Cho t\u00f4i m\u1ed9t <\/strong>c\u00e0 ph\u00ea s\u1eefa \u0111\u00e1.<\/em><\/p>\n

2. Can I get two<\/strong> banh mi<\/em> to go?<\/p>\n

Cho t\u00f4i hai<\/strong> b\u00e1nh m\u00ec mang v\u1ec1.<\/em><\/p>\n

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17. How to count from 1 to 10 in Vietnamese<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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\"Vietnam
\nImage credit: <\/em>Pikist<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

You\u2019ll need to know these if you want to buy things in Vietnam without resorting to gestures, finger-counting, or typing out numbers awkwardly on a calculator.<\/p>\n

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  1. One – M\u1ed9t (Mout)<\/li>\n
  2. Two – Hai (Hai)<\/li>\n
  3. Three – Ba (Ba)<\/li>\n
  4. Four – B\u1ed1n (Bone)<\/li>\n
  5. Five – N\u0103m (Num)<\/li>\n
  6. Six – S\u00e1u (Sow)<\/li>\n
  7. Seven – B\u1ea3y (Bay)<\/li>\n
  8. Eight – T\u00e1m (Tam)<\/li>\n
  9. Nine – Ch\u00edn (Chin)<\/li>\n
  10. Ten – M\u01b0\u1eddi (Mu-oi)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
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    18. Bao nhi\u00eau ti\u1ec1n? (Bao new tian?) – How much?<\/h4>\n
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    \"Vietnam
    \nImage credit: <\/em>    @dara_photo<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

    \u201cBao nhi\u00eau ti\u1ec1n?\u201d<\/strong><\/em> will come in handy when you eat food from stalls on the streets when there is no fixed price stated in the menu, or buy commodities without price tags on them.<\/p>\n

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    19. T\u00f4i kh\u00f4ng c\u00f3 ti\u1ec1n l\u1ebb (Toy kong kor tian lae)- I don\u2019t have smaller notes<\/h4>\n
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    \"Vietnam
    \nImage credit: <\/em>    @frankieshutterbug<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

    When you\u2019re making a purchase from a street vendor or mall, and don’t have smaller notes to pay the seller, they\u2019ll normally ask you, \u201cC\u00f3 ti\u1ec1n l\u1ebb kh\u00f4ng?\u201d<\/strong><\/em> (“Do you have smaller notes?”) That\u2019s probably the most frequently asked question by cashiers in malls or street vendors in Vietnam.<\/p>\n

    For example, if you offer a VND100,000 (~USD4.34)<\/strong> note for an item that costs only VND20,000(~USD0.87)<\/strong>, a cashier or vendor will usually ask you if you have smaller notes because most don\u2019t have enough small change at any given time.
    \n<\/strong>
    \nEven if you don\u2019t understand how they say it exactly, you can still tell what they mean when they hold the note in front of you for a while instead of giving you a small change immediately. Simply reply apologetically, \u201cT\u00f4i kh\u00f4ng c\u00f3 ti\u1ec1n l\u1ebb\u201d <\/strong>(I don\u2019t have smaller notes).<\/p>\n

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    20. R\u1ebb h\u01a1n ch\u00fat \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c kh\u00f4ng? (Rare hen choot duoc kong) – Can you give me a discount?<\/h4>\n
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    \"bargaining
    \nImage credit:<\/em>    \u00a0@nardly<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

    You can say \u201cR\u1ebb h\u01a1n ch\u00fat \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c kh\u00f4ng?\u201d <\/strong><\/em>when you want to make a bargain.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    However, you should only say this when you know your Vietnamese language is good enough to continue the bargain with the vendor. Those who are really keen for a bargain even when your Vietnamese language is shaky can use a calculator<\/strong> and pass it back and forth with the seller.<\/p>\n

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    21. T\u00f4i kh\u00f4ng mang ti\u1ec1n (Toy ko mang tian) – I don\u2019t have cash<\/h4>\n
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    \"Vietnam
    \nImage credit: <\/em>    @nielssteeman<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

    This phrase is useful when you\u2019re in a situation in which you are obliged to pay cash for <\/strong>something, such as paying traffic penalties<\/a> or other small items that need to be paid in cash.<\/p>\n

    Thankfully, more and more places in Vietnam are accepting cashless payments – such as Ch\u1ee3 R\u1eaby Hospital<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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    22. T\u00f4i mu\u1ed1n c\u00e0 th\u1ebb (Toy muon ka the) – I want to pay by card<\/h4>\n
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    \"VPBank
    \nImage credit: <\/em>    @blakewisz<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

    When you make a payment and don\u2019t want to pay by cash, you can let the other person know you want to pay by credit card by simply saying \u201cT\u00f4i mu\u1ed1n c\u00e0 th\u1ebb\u201d<\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n

    Most marts and malls and shops in Vietnam let you pay using a credit card or ATM card. But don\u2019t try this in a mum-and-pop store or street stalls<\/strong> because they only take cash there.<\/p>\n

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    How to ask for directions or find your way around in Vietnamese<\/span><\/h3>\n
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    23. \u2026. n\u1eb1m \u1edf \u0111\u00e2u? (…num er dou)\/ Where is\u2026?<\/h4>\n
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    \"a
    \nImage credit:<\/em>    @rogierschutte<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

    To ask for directions to a certain place, say the name of the place, then say, \u201c…n\u1eb1m \u1edf \u0111\u00e2u?\u201d<\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n

    To get the person\u2019s attention or and sound polite, you might want to add \u201cCho t\u00f4i h\u1ecfi\u201d <\/strong><\/em>(Excuse me\/May I ask) before asking the question.<\/p>\n

    Example:<\/p>\n

    1. Where is the Central Post Office?<\/p>\n

    B\u01b0u \u0111i\u1ec7n trung t\u00e2m n\u1eb1m \u1edf \u0111\u00e2u?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

    2. Excuse me, how do I get to the Central Post Office? (This is more polite.)<\/p>\n

    Cho t\u00f4i h\u1ecfi, b\u01b0u \u0111i\u1ec7n trung t\u00e2m n\u1eb1m \u1edf \u0111\u00e2u?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

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    24. Xin cho t\u00f4i t\u1edbi\u2026.? (Sin cho toy ter-ee) – I would like to go to\u2026<\/h4>\n
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    \"trishaw
    \nImage credit:<\/em>    @minhphamdesign<\/em><\/a>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

    This is how you let your driver know where you\u2019re trying to go – by adding the name of the place after \u201cXin cho t\u00f4i t\u1edbi…\u201d<\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n

    Example:<\/p>\n

    1. I would like to go to Ben Thanh Market.<\/p>\n

    Xin cho t\u00f4i t\u1edbi ch\u1ee3 B\u1ebfn Th\u00e0nh.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

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    Basic Vietnamese phrases for foreigners to learn<\/span><\/h4>\n
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    Learning popular Vietnamese phrases or words is one of the first things you should definitely do if you plan to visit the country or stay here for a few months. Your Vietnamese vocabulary, though limited, can help you impress your local friends <\/strong>and help you adapt to the way of life here faster.
    \n<\/strong><\/p>\n

    For those who are new to the city, please check out our pick of the best things to do in Saigon <\/a>or Hanoi <\/a>for each month. Or to get an authentic taste of Saigon<\/a>, here is a list of street food<\/a> to whet your appetite.<\/p>\n

    Also check out:<\/p>\n