You don't need to speak Vietnamese to travel in Vietnam — but learning a handful of phrases goes a long way. Locals genuinely appreciate the effort, and a few words help you order food, bargain, and get around. Here are the essentials, grouped by situation.
First, two quick tips
- Vietnamese is tonal. The same syllable said with a different pitch means a different word. Don't stress about perfection — context carries you far. (For the full picture, see Vietnamese Pronunciation.)
- Politeness matters. Vietnamese often adds a word for you based on age. A simple, safe move: end requests warmly and smile.
The absolute essentials
| English | Vietnamese | Sounds roughly like |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | Xin chào | "sin chow" |
| Thank you | Cảm ơn | "gam un" |
| Yes | Dạ / Vâng | "ya" / "vung" |
| No | Không | "khom" |
| Sorry / excuse me | Xin lỗi | "sin loy" |
| Goodbye | Tạm biệt | "tam byet" |
Getting around
| English | Vietnamese |
|---|---|
| Where is...? | ... ở đâu? |
| Hotel | Khách sạn |
| Airport | Sân bay |
| Bus / train station | Bến xe / Ga tàu |
| Stop here, please | Dừng ở đây |
| How far? | Bao xa? |
Eating & drinking
| English | Vietnamese |
|---|---|
| The menu, please | Cho tôi xem thực đơn |
| Delicious! | Ngon quá! |
| No chili | Không ớt |
| Vegetarian | Chay |
| The bill, please | Tính tiền |
| Water | Nước |
Want to actually order well? Pair these with our food guides: Phở, Bánh Mì, and Vietnamese Coffee.
Shopping & money
| English | Vietnamese |
|---|---|
| How much? | Bao nhiêu? |
| Too expensive | Đắt quá |
| Can you lower the price? | Bớt được không? |
| I'll take it | Tôi lấy cái này |
Bargaining is normal in markets (not in shops with fixed prices). Ask the price, smile, and counter politely — "đắt quá" ("too expensive") is your friend.
A few more that help
- Tôi không hiểu — "I don't understand."
- Bạn nói tiếng Anh không? — "Do you speak English?"
- Giúp tôi với — "Help me."
- Nhà vệ sinh ở đâu? — "Where's the toilet?"
Frequently asked
Is English widely spoken in Vietnam? In tourist areas, hotels, and among younger people, often yes. Off the beaten path, these phrases (plus a translation app) really help.
Do I really need the tones? For perfect speech, yes — but travelers get by with approximate pronunciation plus context, gestures, and goodwill.
Want to nail the sounds? Read Vietnamese Pronunciation: A Beginner's Guide. Planning when to go? See The Best Time to Visit Vietnam.