---
title: "Basic Vietnamese Phrases for Travelers (with Pronunciation)"
description: "30 essential Vietnamese phrases for travelers — hello, thank you, how much, and ordering food — with simple pronunciation tips so you can be polite and get around in Vietnam."
updatedAt: 2026-06-11
---

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](/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](/northern-vs-southern-pho), [Bánh Mì](/banh-mi-explained), and [Vietnamese Coffee](/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.

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*Want to nail the sounds? Read [Vietnamese Pronunciation: A Beginner's Guide](/vietnamese-pronunciation). Planning when to go? See [The Best Time to Visit Vietnam](/best-time-to-visit-vietnam).*