50+ Basic vietnamese phrases you should know before travelling to Vietnam

If you’re planning a trip to Vietnam, having a list of  basic Vietnamese phrases is like having a valuable companion in your luggage. Even if it’s just a few words, knowing some Vietnamese can help you connect with the local culture on a deeper level. Plus, the smiles and warm receptions you’ll receive from the locals are definitely worth the effort of learning a basic vocabulary.

Now, let’s talk about the specific words you should focus on learning. While it’s commendable to put in the effort to learn Vietnamese, not all words are equally important for travelers.

To make the most of your language learning journey, it’s crucial to focus on basic, high-frequency words that are commonly used in everyday conversations and small talk. So, here’s a curated list of essential Vietnamese words and phrases that every traveler should know.

Basic Vietnamese phrases you should know for days in a week 

Starting with the most common Vietnamese words, studies have shown that knowing just around 100 words can help you understand 50% of Vietnamese communication. That’s why we’ll begin with these everyday words, as they are likely to be the ones you’ll use the most during your daily interactions while exploring Vietnam.

Here are a few examples:

• Easy — dễ
• Hard — cứng
• Good — tốt
• Bad — tồi tệ
• Near — gần
• Yes — vâng
• No — không
• (To) Have — có
• (I) Use — (tôi) dùng
• (To) Go — đi
• (To) Come — đến
• (To) Laugh — cười to
• (To) Make — làm
• (I) Like — (tôi) thích
• (To) Want — muốn
• (To) Take — cầm
• (To) See — nhìn thấy
• Far — xa
• Small — nhỏ
• Big — to
• Beautiful — đẹp
• Ugly — xấu
• Week — tuần
• Year — năm
• Today — hôm nay
• Tomorrow — ngày mai
• Yesterday — hôm qua
• Hour — giờ
• Minute — phút
• Time — thời gian
• Monday — thứ hai
• Tuesday — thứ ba
• Wednesday — thứ tư
• Thursday — thứ năm
• Friday — thứ sáu
• Saturday — thứ bẩy
• Sunday — chủ nhật
• One — một
• Two — hai
• Three — ba
• Four — bốn
• Five — năm
• Six — sáu
• Seven — bảy
• Eight — tám
• Nine — chín
• Ten — mười
• What — cái gì
• Where — ở đâu
• Who — ai

By familiarizing yourself with these essential Vietnamese words and phrases, you’ll be better equipped to navigate daily interactions, ask for directions, and engage with the locals during your unforgettable journey through Vietnam.

Basic Vietnamese phrases for greetings 

Let’s dive into the world of Vietnamese phrases and greetings that will make your adventure in Vietnam even more enjoyable. These common phrases and greetings are not just polite gestures, they also help break the cultural ice and create fun interactions.

In fact, mastering simple Vietnamese phrases like “good morning,” “how are you,” or “you’re welcome” can give you the confidence of carrying an entire conversation in Vietnamese in no time.

Here are some examples:

• Good morning! — Chào chị!
• Good afternoon! — Chào buổi chiều!
• Good evening! — Chào buổi tối!
• Good night! — Chúc ngủ ngon!
• Hello! — Xin chào!
• How are you? — Khỏe không?
• Very good, thank you. — Được rồi, cảm ơn cô.
• What is your name? — Tên bạn là gì?
• My name is _____. — Tên tôi là _____.
• Nice to meet you. — Rất vui được gặp bạn.
• Please. — Làm ơn.
• Thank you. — Cảm ơn.
• Thank you very much. — Cảm ơn rất nhiều.
• Great. — Tốt quá.
• I’m sorry. — Tôi xin lỗi.
• You’re welcome. — Không có gì.
• Excuse me. — Xin lỗi cho tôi hỏi.
• No problem. — Không vấn đề gì.
• Speak slowly. — Nói chậm thôi.
• Where are you from? — Bạn từ đâu đến?
• What time is it? — Mấy giờ rồi?
• Can you help me? — Bạn có thể giúp tôi chứ?
• How much does it cost? — Giá bao nhiêu?
• Goodbye! — Hẹn gặp lại nhé!

Vietnamese is a tonal language, which can make pronunciation challenging for some. If you need assistance, there’s a short video available to help you learn how to pronounce the phrases mentioned above. Additionally, you can download the Mondly app to learn Vietnamese pronunciation directly from native speakers if you want to delve deeper into the language.

Basic Vietnamese phrases for food and drinks 

Now, let’s add some flavor to your Vietnamese vocabulary when it comes to food and drinks. Whether you’re a foodie or not, knowing some food-related words will be incredibly useful during your dining experiences. After all, exploring a new country isn’t just about visiting; it’s also about savoring its culinary delights. Don’t you agree?

Here are a few food ad drink-related Vietnamese words and phrases

•  Water — nước Tea — trà
•  Coffee — cà phê
•  Juice — nước ép
•  Wine — rượu
•  Beer — bia
•  Alcohol — rượu
•  Chicken — món gà ạ
•  Fish — cá
•  Soup — xúp
•  Salad — món rau trộn
•  Sandwich — bánh mỳ kẹp
•  Pie — bánh nướng nhân ngọt
•  Bread — bánh mì
•  Dessert — món tráng miệng
•  Cake — bánh ngọt
•  Breakfast — bữa sáng
•  Lunch — bữa trưa
•  Dinner — bữa tối
•  Salt — muối
•  Sugar — đường
•  Pepper — hạt tiêu
•  No sugar — không đường
•  I have a reservation. My name is _____. — Tôi có đặt trước. Tên tôi là_____.
•  What would you recommend? — Bạn có thể giới thiệu cho tôi món gì?
•  I’d like something without meat. — Tôi muốn một cái gì đó với thịt.

Basic Vietnamese phrases for healthcare

Let’s explore Vietnamese words related to body and health. Learning the names of body parts in Vietnamese is not only common but also incredibly useful. Whether you find yourself at the doctor’s office, browsing through a clothing store, or preparing for a scuba diving session, you’ll encounter conversations involving various body parts more frequently than you might expect.

Here are some examples:

– Head — đầu

– Hair — tóc

– Neck — cổ

– Chest — ngực

– Arm — cánh tay

– Finger — ngón tay

– Foot — bàn chân

– Face — khuôn mặt

– Eye — mắt

– Hand — bàn tay

– Nose — mũi

– Mouth — miệng

– Leg — chân

– Knee — đầu gối

– Disease — bệnh

– Allergy — dị ứng

– Fever — sốt

– Pain — đau

– Medicine — y khoa

– Pharmacy — dược

– I feel sick. — Tôi cảm thấy không khỏe.

– Can you help me? — Bạn có thể giúp tôi được không?

– Where is the hospital? — Bệnh viện ở đâu?

– Please call a doctor. — Xin vui lòng gọi bác sĩ.

>> See more: What to do when you lose your belonging in Vietnam? – 3+ Things you must know when you lose your belongings

Basic Vietnamese phrases for transporation

Now, let’s move on to Vietnamese words related to transportation and places. If you need to travel somewhere, it’s essential to know the Vietnamese words for different modes of transportation and the places you may want to visit. This way, you can avoid situations where locals struggle to understand what you’re trying to communicate.

– Airplane — máy bay

– Train — tàu hỏa

– Taxi — tắc xi

– Car — ô tô

– Bus — xe buýt

– Ticket — vé

– Restaurant — nhà hàng

– Hotel — khách sạn

– Airport — sân bay

– Train station — nhà ga

– Market — chợ

Basic Vietnamese phrases you should know for hotel stays 

Lastly, let’s cover some useful Vietnamese phrases for hotel stays. If you’re looking for a place to stay, these phrases will come in handy for common conversations related to hotel accommodations. Learn them today, and you’ll be able to make Vietnamese-speaking friends tomorrow!

– I have booked a room. — Tôi đã đặt một phòng trước.

– The key for room _____, please. — Làm ơn cho tôi chìa khóa phòng _____.

– This room is too noisy. — Phòng này ồn quá.

– When is check-out time? — Giờ trả phòng là mấy giờ?

– Thank you for your help. — Cảm ơn sự giúp đỡ của bạn.

– How was your stay with us? — Anh cảm thấy thế nào về lưu trú tại khách sạn chúng tôi?

– Here is your bill, please look it over. — Đây là hóa đơn của bạn, vui lòng kiểm tra lại.

That’s it! You’re now officially prepared to embark on an unforgettable trip to Vietnam. Remember, practice makes perfect, so don’t forget to keep practicing and honing your language skills. Enjoy your journey!

Let’s dive into the world of Vietnamese numbers, sizes, colors, emergency phrases, and shopping conversations. Learning these aspects of Vietnamese language and culture will help you connect with locals on a more personal level.

Basic Vietnamese numbers 

The Vietnamese numbering system is simple, and once you grasp numbers 1-10, you can express any number up to 99. Unlike English, numbers above ten are formed by combining the two individual numbers. For example, 25 would be expressed as “hai năm,” which translates to “two five.”

• 1 = Một (moat)
• 2 = Hai (high)
• 3 = Ba (bah)
• 4 = Bốn (bone)
• 5 = Năm (nom)
• 6 = Sáu (shao)
• 7 = Bảy (by)
• 8 = Tám (tom)
• 9 = Chín (chin)
• 10 = Mười (mooy)
• Ten = Mươi (mooy)
• Hundred = Trăm (charm)
• Thousand = Nghìn (ngeen)
• Currency (Đồng) = dong

Top 10 cafe shops near me in Hanoi

Basic sizes & colors 

• When it comes to describing sizes and colors in Vietnamese, here are some useful words to know:
• Big = Lớn (lungh)
• Small = Nhỏ (N-yor)
• Medium = Vừa (vurh)
• Less = Ít (Eet)
• More = Thêm (temh)
• Long = Dài (yai)
• Short = Ngắn (nhang)
• Blue = Xanh dương (San yoong)
• Red = Đỏ (Dorh)
• Yellow = Vàng

Basic vietnamese phrases you should know for emergencies 

• In case of emergencies, these phrases will come in handy:
• I need to see a doctor = Tôi cần gặp bác sĩ (toy can gap back szi)
• I am sick = Tôi bị bệnh (Toy bee benh)
• I need to go to the hospital = Tôi cần đi bệnh viện (Toy can di ben vien)
• I had food poisoning = Tôi bị ngộ độc thức ăn (Toy bee nyo doc thuch an)
• I was robbed = Tôi bị cướp (Toi bee cuoop)
• Call the police = Gọi cảnh sát (Goi gang sack)
• Help me = Cứu tôi với (Coo toy vuyh)

Basic vietnamese phrases you should know for shopping 

When exploring traditional Vietnamese markets, bargaining is an exciting experience for both foreigners and locals. To get a good price or avoid being overcharged, it’s helpful to know how to negotiate in Vietnamese.

• How much? = Bao nhiêu? (Baow nyew)
• Too expensive = Mắc quá (Mac wa)
• Can you reduce the price? = Bớt được không? (Boat duoc khom)
• Do you want to sell? = Có bán không? (cor ban kohm?)
• I want to buy = Tôi muốn mua (Toi mu-on mua)
• One size larger = Một size lớn hơn (Mot size lunh hunh)
• One size smaller = Một size nhỏ hơn (Mot size nyunh hunh)
• You are so pretty = Em đẹp quá (Em dep wah)
• You are so handsome = Anh đẹp trai quá (Anh dep wah)

One cheeky but practical tip to get the best price is to give local vendors a friendly compliment. By saying something nice like “you are so pretty” or “you are so handsome,” they may be more inclined to offer a more affordable price.

Remember, learning and using these phrases will make your interactions in Vietnam more engaging and enjoyable.

>> See more: Top 10 Reputable Pharmacies in Hanoi: Find the most suitable Pharmacy for you

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