It is impossible to learn the whole Vietnamese language in a short period but we highly recommend learning some of the basic words and phrases before departing which is easier than you might think.

Learning some of the language is recommended which will help you be polite and interact with local people. If you can speak just a few basic words and phrases in Vietnamese you will be able to converse with local people and make the whole experience of travelling in Vietnam easier.

Also if you would like to grasp more than just the basics then you might want to search Vietnamese language schools in Vietnam.

 

Greetings 

  • Hello - Chao
  • Goodbye - Tạm biệt

 

Basics

  • Thank you - Cam on
  • Welcome - Khong co chi
  • Sorry - Xin lỗi
  • No problem - Không sao

 

Conversational

  • What's your name - Ban ten gi
  • My name is... - Toi la 
  • I don’t speak Vietnamese - Toi khong noi tieng Viet
  • Do you speak English? - Ban co noi tieng Anh khong?
  • Yes - Ko
  • No - Khong

 

Shopping

  • How much is it?- Bao nhieu tien?
  • Expensive - Mac qua
  • How much is it?- Bao nhieu tien?
  • Expensive - Mac qua

 

Food & Drink

  • I'm hungry - Tôi đói (bụng)
  • I'm thirsty - Tôi khát nước
  • I'd like to eat - Toi muon an 
  • I'd like to drink - Toi muon uong
  • Good - Tot 
  • Bad - Khong tot 
  • Coffee - Ca phe 
  • Tea - Tra 

 

Places

  • Can you help me? - Ban giup toi duoc khong?
  • Station - Ga
  • Bus Station - Trạm Xe Buýt
  • Train Station - Ga Xe Lửa
  • Airport - Sân Bay
  • Hotel - Khach San

 

Transport

  • Car - Xe Hơi/ Xe ô tô
  • Taxi - Taxi
  • Motorbike - Xe Máy
  • Motorbike Taxi - Xe Ôm
  • Bicycle - Xe Đạp
  • Bus - Xe Buýt
  • Train - Tau / Xe Lửa (old)
  • Boat - Thuyền
  • Aeroplane - Máy Bay

 

Emergencies

  • Excuse me - Xin Lỗi
  • Help me - Gíup tôi với

 

Days of the Week

  • Monday - Thứ hai 
  • Tuesday- Thứ ba 
  • Wednesday - Thứ tư 
  • Thursday - Thứ năm 
  • Friday - Thứ sáu 
  • Saturday - Thứ bảy 
  • Sunday - Chủ nhật

 

Numbers

  • 0 - Không
  • 1 - Một
  • 2 - Hai
  • 3 - Ba
  • 4 - Bốn 
  • 5 - Năm
  • 6 - Sáu
  • 7 - Bảy
  • 8 - Tám 
  • 9 - Chín 
  • 10 - Mười 
  • 20 - Hai mươi 
  • 30 - Ba mươi 
  • 40 - Bốn mươi 
  • 50 - Năm mươi 
  • 60 - Sáu mươi 
  • 70 - Bảy mươi 
  • 80 - Tám mươi 
  • 90 - Chín mươi 
  • 100 - Trăm 

 

Plan a Trip to Vietnam

Our list of basic phrases will help when travelling/ buying things and also interacting with local people.

No matter if you want a dream holiday, go backpacking or book a gap year in Vietnam, these pages will help you to plan the ultimate trip: