Vietnam Vibe

Vietnamese phrasebook for travellers

The words and phrases you really need on a trip to Vietnam, each with a simple Latin pronunciation guide. Because a few words of Vietnamese make all the difference.

Greetings & basics

  • Hello

    Xin chào

    sin chow

  • Thank you

    Cảm ơn

    kaam un

  • Thank you very much

    Cảm ơn nhiều

    kaam un nyew

  • You are welcome

    Không có gì

    khong kaw zee

  • Yes

    Vâng

    vung

  • No

    Không

    khong

  • Sorry / excuse me

    Xin lỗi

    sin loy

  • Goodbye

    Tạm biệt

    taam byet

  • Do you speak English?

    Bạn nói tiếng Anh không?

    baan noy tyeng ang khong

  • I do not understand

    Tôi không hiểu

    toy khong hyew

  • Nice to meet you

    Rất vui được gặp bạn

    rut vwee duok gap baan

Food & restaurants

  • The bill, please

    Tính tiền

    ting tyen

  • Water

    Nước

    nuok

  • Very delicious

    Rất ngon

    rut ngon

  • Beer

    Bia

    bee-ah

  • Coffee

    Cà phê

    kaa fe

  • Cheers

    Một hai ba, dô!

    mot hai baa, yo

  • Pho (noodle soup)

    Phở

    fuh

  • Not spicy, please

    Không cay

    khong kai

  • I am vegetarian

    Tôi ăn chay

    toy an chai

Transport & getting around

  • Where is...?

    ...ở đâu?

    uh dow

  • Turn left

    Rẽ trái

    re chai

  • Turn right

    Rẽ phải

    re fai

  • Straight ahead

    Đi thẳng

    dee tang

  • Stop here, please

    Dừng ở đây

    zung uh day

  • The airport

    Sân bay

    sun bai

  • How much is the ride?

    Bao nhiêu tiền?

    bow nyew tyen

Shopping & bargaining

  • How much is this?

    Cái này bao nhiêu?

    kai nai bow nyew

  • Too expensive

    Đắt quá

    dat kwaa

  • Can you make it cheaper?

    Giảm giá được không?

    zaam zaa duok khong

  • I am just looking

    Tôi chỉ xem thôi

    toy chee sem toy

  • I will take this

    Tôi lấy cái này

    toy lay kai nai

Emergencies & health

  • Help me

    Cứu tôi

    kuu toy

  • I need a doctor

    Tôi cần bác sĩ

    toy kan baak see

  • Hospital

    Bệnh viện

    ben vyen

  • Police

    Công an

    kong an

  • I do not feel well

    Tôi bị ốm

    toy bee om

  • Pharmacy

    Nhà thuốc

    nyaa twok

Common questions

How do you say thank you in Vietnamese?

Thank you in Vietnamese is "Cảm ơn", pronounced roughly "kaam un". You can add "nhiều" (nyew) for thank you very much. A small smile with the word makes all the difference with locals.

Do you need to speak Vietnamese to travel in Vietnam?

Not really. At the tourist sites, in hotels and in many restaurants people speak basic English. But Vietnamese is a tonal language, and a few basic words like "hello" and "thank you" are warmly received and open doors, especially in the markets and villages.

How do you ask for the bill in a restaurant in Vietnam?

You say "Tính tiền" (ting tyen), and you can go with a writing gesture in the air. The phrasebook gives you all the basics for the restaurant, the market and the taxi with a simple Latin pronunciation guide.