Basic Vietnamese Phrases for Travellers
Vietnamese is a tonal language with six distinct tones, meaning the same syllable spoken with a different pitch carries a completely different meaning. This makes pronunciation the biggest challenge for visitors. Do not let that discourage you - Vietnamese people are patient with foreign attempts and genuinely appreciate the effort. English is growing among younger Vietnamese, particularly in cities, but remains uncommon in rural areas.
Greetings and Basics
| English | Vietnamese | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | Xin chao | sin CHOW |
| Good morning | Chao buoi sang | chow buoy SAHNG |
| Goodbye | Tam biet | tahm bee-ET |
| Please | Xin | SIN |
| Thank you | Cam on | kahm UHN |
| Yes | Vang (formal) / Da | VAHNG / YAH |
| No | Khong | KOHM |
| Excuse me | Xin loi | sin LOY |
| Sorry | Xin loi | sin LOY |
| How are you? | Ban khoe khong? | bahn KWEH kohm |
Getting Around
| English | Vietnamese | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Where is…? | …o dau? | uh DOW |
| How much is it? | Bao nhieu tien? | bow nyew tee-EN |
| Left | Trai | CHAI |
| Right | Phai | FYE |
| Stop here | Dung o day | dung uh DAY |
| Taxi | Taxi | TAK-si |
| Bus station | Ben xe buyt | ben se BWEET |
| Airport | San bay | sahn BAY |
| I don’t understand | Toi khong hieu | toy kohm hee-OH |
| Too expensive | Dat qua | daht KWAH |
Food and Dining
| English | Vietnamese | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| The menu, please | Xin cho menu | sin cho ME-nu |
| The bill, please | Tinh tien | tin tee-EN |
| Water | Nuoc | nook |
| Delicious | Ngon | NGON |
| Not spicy | Khong cay | kohm KAY |
| I am vegetarian | Toi an chay | toy ahn CHAY |
| Rice | Com | kuhm |
| Beer | Bia | BEE-ah |
| Coffee | Ca phe | kah FEH |
| Cheers! | Mot, hai, ba, yo! | moht, hai, bah, YO |
Numbers
| Number | Vietnamese | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mot | MOHT |
| 2 | Hai | HAI |
| 3 | Ba | BAH |
| 4 | Bon | BOHN |
| 5 | Nam | NAHM |
| 6 | Sau | SOW |
| 7 | Bay | BAY |
| 8 | Tam | TAHM |
| 9 | Chin | CHIN |
| 10 | Muoi | MOO-oy |
Emergency Phrases
| English | Vietnamese | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Help! | Cuu toi! | KOO-oo toy |
| Hospital | Benh vien | ben vee-EN |
| Police | Cong an | kohng AHN |
| I need a doctor | Toi can bac si | toy kahn bahk SEE |
| Call an ambulance | Goi xe cap cuu | goy se kahp KOO-oo |
The biggest pronunciation tip for Vietnam is that tones matter more than consonants. A word spoken with the wrong tone will simply not be understood, no matter how clearly you articulate the letters. When in doubt, point at written Vietnamese on your phone - Vietnamese people read their own language far more easily than they decode foreign pronunciation. Also note that pronunciation differs between northern (Hanoi) and southern (Ho Chi Minh City) dialects - the phrases above use approximate sounds that work reasonably in both regions.
Useful links:
See Also
- Essential Vietnamese dishes guide - dishes and food vocabulary to complement your phrase list
- Hanoi travel guide - using Vietnamese in the north
- Ho Chi Minh City travel guide - southern dialect differences in HCMC
- Vietnam budget and costs - useful context for bargaining phrases
- Getting around Vietnam - transport vocabulary in practice
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Do I need to speak Vietnamese to travel in Vietnam?
- In major cities and tourist hubs like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang and Hoi An, enough English is spoken for basic travel. In rural areas and smaller towns, English is limited. Having key phrases - especially for food and transport - will make daily life much smoother.
- What is the most important phrase to learn?
- Cam on (thank you) is the most universally useful phrase. Vietnamese people light up when foreigners attempt their language, and a sincere thank you bridges most communication gaps.