100 basic Vietnamese phrases for a smooth travel

Vietnamese people are renowned for their hospitality and generosity. Though the country’s secondary language is English, only a minority uses it daily, especially in suburban areas. Knowing basic Vietnamese phrases is undoubtedly a privilege for travelers. The closer you get to the locals, the more you are unlocked from the country’s hidden gems, hospitality, and discounts.

Though the Vietnamese language uses Latin alphabets, mastering it is not a cake due to the tone system and its variation. As a result, you get a lot to learn and practice. But, not to fear, you don’t necessarily invest that much effort for a 2-weeks trip; we are about to get you covered with these essential, quick basic phrases to nail your first trip to this beautiful country.

Top things to do in Vietnam

Basic Vietnamese phrases for greetings.

Like many other Asian countries, Vietnamese people do not hug or kiss someone they meet for the first time. Most people don’t feel comfortable with it, especially older folks. However, Vietnamese are fast at picking up new things, so you can do this next time after explaining them. For your first impression, use a friendly wave or handshake together with these greeting phrases.

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Saigon’s famous local hub for coffee and restaurant. Photo by jet dela cruz / Unsplash

Basic words to address people

Age and gender define how you address someone in Vietnam. Photo by MI PHAM / Unsplash

When addressing younger people, regardless of gender, you use “em,” and for yourself, you use “tôi.” If you are addressing an older person, or in a formal scenario, you use “chị” for female and “anh” for male. In general, Vietnamese are very understanding and tend to forgive foreigners if they mix this up.

Basic Vietnamese phrases for direction and transportations

Vietnamese traffic is one of the attention-catching topics for first-time travelers—as one of the countries with the most scooters in the world, traveling through the city by scooter is a must-try experience. Public transportation and modern ride-hailing Apps are also available for your choices. Learn these essential phrases to get your driver better navigation of your destination.

Vietnam’s primary vehicles are scooters. Photo by Jordan Opel / Unsplash

Basic Vietnamese phrases for shopping

While shopping in the traditional Vietnamese market, negotiating, or so-called “bargaining,” is a fascinating experience for foreigners and locals. Chances are you get an excellent price or at least avoid being ripped-off with a 2-3 times marked up rate; you better know how to “bargain” in Vietnamese.

Generous local vendors on Mekong Delta. Photo by Falco Negenman / Unsplash

*One of the most cheeky but practical tips to earn your stuff at the best price is to give local vendors a friendly compliment. If you say something nice like “you are so pretty”, they willingly consider a more affordable price.

Basic Vietnamese phrases for restaurants or coffee shops

Vietnamese people love flavorful dishes. However, when it comes to drinks, Vietnamese have a huge sweet tooth. So it’s apparent that they season their food with a handful of spices & flavors, especially sugar. Make sure you ask in advance what your dishes contain and ask for a customized version. To get exactly what you want, you’ll need those phrases to communicate with the waiters.

Typical Vietnamese street food vendor set up. Photo by Frankie Shutterbug / Unsplash

Vietnam offers a rich culinary experience for travelers. Photo by gau xam / Unsplash

One more thing as your meal ends, don’t hesitate to ask for waiter and waitresses for the bill as they’re likely never stop at your table as long as you call them.

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Basic Vietnamese numbers

The Vietnamese numbering system is straightforward, and once you get the hang of numbers 1-10, you can say any number up to 99. Unlike English, numbers above ten are told as if you just put the two numbers together. So, for example, 25 would be hai name, which translates to two five.

Photo by Danilo Borges / Unsplash

Basic sizes & color

Basic Vietnamese phrases for emergency

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Đăng bởi: Tô Hùng