While it is not necessary to be fluent in Vietnamese, learning a few essential phrases can greatly enhance your travel experience in Vietnam. This small effort can improve your safety and promote positive interactions with the locals, enriching your understanding and appreciation of the country’s culture.

Origin and Intonation

Vietnamese, the national language spoken by almost the entire population, has significant differences in pronunciation, vocabulary, and tones between its northern, central, and southern dialects. Subtle differences are also evident between cities and neighboring villages. During centuries of Chinese occupation, the Vietnamese adopted Chinese characters. By the 13th century, they had developed their own written variant, Chữ Nôm. In the 17th century, the language was romanized into Quốc Ngữ by missionaries led by the French Jesuit Alexandre de Rhodes. Initially used by the Catholic Church and colonial authorities, the script gradually became more widely used, eventually replacing older forms in the 20th century.

Vietnamese often uses compound words, but individual word segments remain monosyllabic unless borrowed. Each syllable can be pronounced with one of six tones (five in the Central and Southern dialects), conveying different meanings. Five diacritics and one tone mark these tones when the word has no tone. For example, “bo” can mean “children’s toilet,” “father,” “lover,” “tight,” “impolite,” or “government department.” While tone is important, context is equally important. With patience, most meanings can be understood even when the tone is imperfect. Interestingly, tone disappears in Vietnamese music, but context still keeps the meaning clear.

Vietnamese is relatively simple in that it has no verb conjugations or tenses, uses five tense modifiers, has no gender nouns, and uses a common modifier ("cac") for number nouns. To balance this simplicity, Vietnamese uses a variety of pronouns and titles that reflect family relationships. For example, a man may be addressed as "uncle", "brother", a young, middle-aged or elderly "friend", or even "grandfather", depending on age and formality.

Beginners often wonder which dialect they should learn. Ideally, they should focus on the dialect of the region they plan to visit most. Beginners are often advised to learn the Hanoi accent of the northern dialect as this is considered the standard.

Phonetics

The Vietnamese alphabet consists of 29 letters, not including the English letters f, j, w, and z. Most consonants are pronounced similarly to their English counterparts, with a few exceptions: 'c' can be pronounced like 'g' or 'k', and 'ch' at the end of a word sounds like 'k'. The flat 'd' is pronounced like the English 'd', but without the flat, it sounds like the northern 'z' and southern 'y'. The regular 'g' has a hard sound like the English one, but when followed by an 'i', it sounds like the northern 'z' and southern 'y'. Words that begin with 'ng' or 'ngh' sound like the 'ng' in "long". However, when they end in 'ng', they sound like 'm'. The combination 'nh' is pronounced like 'ny', as in "canyon". Similar to English, 'ph' is pronounced like 'f'. In the South, 'r' is pronounced like in English, but in the North, it will be pronounced like 'z'. 'Th' at the beginning of a word sounds like a hard aspirated 't', while 'tr' often sounds like 'ch' but can also sound like a hard 'tr'. Finally, 'x' is always pronounced like an 's' at the end.

Vowels are more complex, with 12 vowels in the alphabet, each of which can be modified with five diacritics to change tone. Vowels often appear in combinations of up to three letters per word, creating new sound variations. Despite this complexity, Vietnamese pronunciation remains consistent across regional dialects. Once a pattern is learned, it can generally be applied consistently.

Five of the six tones correspond to specific diacritics above or below the main vowel in each word. The middle tone has no associated diacritics:

• Midrange:Pronunciation at the speaker's normal and steady level.
• Bass:Has a slightly lower range than the midrange and is more bassy.
• Ascending Tone:Slightly higher than midrange and with a sudden increase.
• Bass-low-boost:Has a lower pitch than the midrange, falling and rising.
• High pitch - increase:Slightly higher than midrange, dips and then rises abruptly.
• Low spasmodic tone:Lower than midrange, drops lower and then stops abruptly.

From the basics

Greetings and politeness:

• Hello: hello [sin tɕaw]
• Goodbye:goodbye [tam bijət]
• Good morning: Good morning (chow bwowee sang)
• Good afternoon: Good afternoon (chow bwowee chyew)
• Have a good night: Good evening (chow bwowee toy)
• I'm fine: I'm fine (toy khuh)
• Thank: Thanks (kahm uhn)
• Please: Please (please)
• Correct: vang (north), da (south) [vaŋ], [ja]
• ARE NOT: no [kɔŋ]
• Sorry / Excuse me: Sorry (sin loy)
• How are you? : how are you? [ban ko xɤ kɔŋ]
• Thank : thanks [kam ɤn]
• Thanks a lot : thanks a lot [kam ɤn rat ɲiw]
• Sorry/Excuse me: sorry [sin lɔj]

Basic phrases:

• Yesterday: yesterday
• Today: today [today]
• Tomorrow: tomorrow [ŋaj maj]
• My name is…: my name is… [my name]
• What is your name?: What is your name? (buhn name is gee?)
• My name is [Your Name]: My name is [Your Name]
• I do not understand: I don't understand (funny toy)
• Can you help me?: can you help me? [ban ko te zup i dɤk kɔŋ]
• I need [something]: I need [something] (toy kuhn [something])
• How much is this?: How much is this?
• Where is the restroom?: Where is the toilet? (Do you feel guilty?)
• I'm lost: I'm lost (toy bee lahk doouhng)
• Can you recommend me a good restaurant?: Can you tip a good restaurant?
• Water: Water (nwuhk)
• Food: Food (doh uhn)
• Delicious: delicious
• I am a tourist: I am a tourist (toy la kahch doo leeks)
• Help!: save
• No problem/no problem: nothing [kɔŋ ko zi]
• Do you speak English?: can you speak english?
• I do not understand: I don't understand [toi kɔŋ hjɛw]

Number:

• 0: no [kɔŋ]
• 1: one [mət]
• 2: two [two]
• 3: three [three]
• 4: four [bɔn]
• 5: year [year]
• 6: after [saw]
• 7: seven [posts]
• 8: eight [three]
• 9: nine [cin]
• 10: ten [muj]
• 11: eleven [muj mət]
• 15: ten years [muj nam]
• 20: twenty-five (north), sea lake (south) [two mwɔj], [two tʰʊk]
• 50: fifteen years (north), five years old (south) [nam mwɔj], [nam tʰʊk]
• 100: one hundred [mot tɕam]
• 1000: one thousand (north), one thousand (south) [mot ŋin], [mot ŋan]
• 1,000,000: one million [mot triəw]

Days of the week

• Monday: Monday [tʰu haj]
• Tuesday: Tuesday [tʰu ba]
• Wednesday: Wednesday [tʰu tɨ]
• Thursday: Thursday [tʰu nam]
• Friday: Friday [tʰu saw]
• Saturday: Saturday [tʰu baj]
• Sunday: Sunday [cuh nit]

Instruct:

• Left: Left side
• Right: Right side
• Go ahead: Straight
• North: North (bahk)
• South: Male (male)
• East: East
• West: West (hand)
• Go: go [ji]
• Arrive: to [dɛn]
• Where: where [o ʔaʊ]
• Right: right side [bɛn fai]
• Left: left [left side]
• Turn: Sinh (north), quẹo (south) [re], [kweo]
• Straight ahead: front [fiə truək]
• Stop here: continue here (north), stop here (south) [ŋuŋ ʔo ʔaj], [zum taj ʔaj]
• Fast: fast [ɲan]
• Slow: slow [cəm]
• How do I get to… the bus stop?:How do I get to… the bus stop? [I'm not sure what to do]
• Can you show me my location on the map?:Can you show me where I am on the map?
• Where is the tourist office?:Where is the tourist office? [van fɔŋ ɗu lik ʔo ʔaʊ]

Tourism

• Hotel: hotel
• Street: road [ɗuəŋ]
• Alley: small street, alley [ɗuəŋ ɲɔ], [kɔn hem]
• Bridge: the bridge [kai kaw]
• Police station: police officer [ɗɔn kəŋ sat]
• Ferry: ferry [fa]
• Plane: plane [maj baj]
• Taxi: taxi
• Train: fire train (north), xefire (south) [taw lɨə], [se lɨə]
• Bus: bus [se but]
• Cable car: cable car [cable car]
• Rickshaw: cyclo [siʔ lo]
• Dike: wharf [bɛn taw]
• Bus stop: parking place [nɤj ɗɔ sɛ]
• Train station: station [ɲa ga]

Shopping:

• How much is this?: How much is this?
• How much?: How much? [bao ɲiw]
• Too expensive: too expensive
• Expensive: very expensive [zat dat]
• Do you have a cheaper price?:Do you have a cheaper price? [ban ko zə nai re hɔŋ koŋ]
• Can you give me a discount?: Can you give me a discount?
• I'll take it: I will buy it (seel moouh naw toy)
• Do you accept credit cards?: Do you accept credit cards?
• Can I try it?:Can I try it on? [I don't know]
• Too big: very wide [zat rɔŋ]
• Too small: very tight [zat chat]
• I'll take it: I will buy it. [I will buy it]
• i don't like it:I don't like it. [i kɔŋ tiəʔ no]
• Do you have other colors?:Do you have any other colors? [ban ko maw naʊ kʰak koŋ]

Color

• White: white [maʊ traŋ]
• Black: black [maʊ dɛn]
• Red: red [maʊ ɗəw]
• Yellow: yellow [maʊ vaŋ]
• Blue: navy blue [maʊ saŋ naʊk biŋ]
• Green: green [maʊ saŋ laː kaj]
• Orange: orange [maʊ kam]

Eating out

• Can I have the menu please?:Can I have the menu please?
• Please don't be too spicy.:Please don't make it too spicy [lam ən məji θu koŋ wa kai]
• I am vegetarian: I am a vegetarian [I am a vegetarian]
• Hot (hot hot): hot [not]
• Hot (spicy): spicy [kai]
• cold: cold [ləŋ]
• Sweet: sweet [ŋɔt]
• Sour: sour [crab]
• Delicious: delicious [ŋon]
• Water: water [nuək]
• Coffee: coffee [ka fe]

Accommodation

• Air conditioner not working:The air conditioner is not working.
• The light is not working.: The light is not on. [ɗɛn kɔŋ saŋ]
• No hot water:There is no hot water here.
• Do you have… toilet paper?:Do you have… toilet paper? [ban ko… jəj və sjŋ… kɔŋ]

Emergency:

• Help!: save
• I need a doctor: I need to see a doctor (kuhn ga bahk toy see)
• I lost my passport: I lost my passport (toy daa maht huh cheeow)
• Call the police: Call the alarm (goy keng saht)

Other useful phrases:

• Can I rent… a bike?: Can I rent... a bike?
• Do you accept credit cards?:Do you pay by credit card? [Do you pay by credit card?]
• Where is the bathroom?:Where is the toilet? [ɲâ vɛ̂ˀ siŋ... ə ɗâw?]
• I don't feel well.:I don't feel very well. [I'm in a remote area.]
• Can you call me a doctor?:Can you call a doctor for me? [Are you unconscious?]
• Is it safe to swim here?:Is this place safe?
• Are photos allowed?:Can I take a picture?

Terminology:

•  Foreigner: Foreigner [ŋwə̂j nɨək nɡɔ̌wəj]
•  Map: Map
•  Ticket: Ticket [ticket]
•  Museum: Museum [ɓǎw tǎˀŋ]
•  Market: Market [tɕɔ̌]
•  Holiday: Vacation (Leave), Holiday (Festival) [kɨ nɤ̂ˀj, ŋǎj lɛ̂ˀ]
•  Pagoda: Temple [tɕwà]
•  The Tomb: Tomb [lǎwŋ mǒ]
•  Church: Church [ɲâ thơ]
•  Buddhist: Buddhist [ŋwə̂j tʰɛ̂w ɗǎw fə̌t]
•  Catholic: Christian [ŋwə̂j tʰɛ̂w ɗǎw tjɛ̂n tɕwǎˀ]
•  Good News: Protestant [ŋwə̂j tʰɛ̂w ɗǎw tjn lǎˀ]
•  Restaurant: Restaurant [ɲâ häːŋ]
•  Toilet: Toilet [ɲâ vɛ̂ˀ siŋ]
•  Ship/Boat: Ship/Boat [taw/θwɨ̌ən]
•  Motorbike taxi: Motorbike taxi [sɛ̌ ʔɔm]
•  Beach: Beach [ɓāj edited]
•  The island: Island [ɗâw]
•  City: City [tʰâwŋ fǒ]
•  Village: Village/Commune [lǎwŋ/sã]
•  Cave: Valley [tʰuŋ lǔːŋ]
•  Mountain: Mountain [nwiː]
•  The River: River [səwŋ]
•  waterfall: Waterfall [tʰǎk nɨək]
•  Clinic: Infirmary [ʧǎm saː]
•  Pharmacy: Pharmacy

Remember to speak slowly and clearly, as pronunciation can be a challenge in Vietnamese. The locals will appreciate your effort in learning their language, even if it is just a few basic phrases.

In Vietnam, especially in rural areas, English fluency makes a difference. Knowing basic Vietnamese phrases can help you communicate effectively, ask for directions and interact with locals, enhancing your travel experience. This effort shows respect for the culture and can lead to more positive interactions and warmer welcomes, mastering common Vietnamese phrases can greatly enhance your experience, making it more authentic and enjoyable. Enjoy your trip through Vietnam, enriched by a deeper connection with its people and traditions!