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: xin chào [sin tɕaw]
• Goodbye: tạm biệt [tam bijət]
• Good morning: chào buổi sáng (chow bwowee sang)
• Good afternoon: chào buổi chiều (chow bwowee chyew)
• Have a good night: chào buổi tối (chow bwowee toj˧)
• I'm fine: tôi khoẻ (toj˧ khuh)
• Thank: cảm ơn (kahm uhn)
• Please: xin chào (please)
• Correct: vang [vaŋ] (north), da [ja] (south)
• No: Không [kɔŋ]
• Sorry / Excuse me: Xin lỗi (sin loy)
• How are you? : bạn có khoẻ không? [ban ko xɤ kɔŋ]
• Thank : cảm ơn [kam ɤn]
• Thanks a lot : cảm ơn rất nhiều [kam ɤn rat ɲiw]

Basic phrases:

• Yesterday: hôm qua [hom˧ kwaː˧],
• Today: hôm nay [hom˧ naj˧]
• Tomorrow: ngày mai [ŋaj maj]
• My name is…: tên tôi là… [ten toj˧ la]
• What is your name?: bạn tên là gì? (buhn ten is gee?)
• My name is [Your Name]: Tôi tên là [XYZ] (toj˧ ten la [XYZ])
• I do not understand: Tôi không hiểu (toj˧ khuhng hyeoo)
• Can you help me?: bạn có thể giúp tôi được không? [ban ko te zup toj˧ dɤk kɔŋ]
• I need [something]: I need [XYZ] (toj˧ kuhn [XYZ])
• How much is this?: Cái này bao nhiêu tiền? (kaai nay baow nyew teeuhn?)
• Where is the restroom?: Nhà vệ sinh ở đâu? [ɲa˨˩ veː˧˨ siŋ˧ ʔə˨˩ ɗəw˧˥]
• I'm lost:Tôi bị lạc (toj˧ bee lahk doouhng)
• Can you recommend me a good restaurant?: Bạn có thể giới thiệu cho tôi một nhà hàng ngon không? [ɓan˨˩ kɔ˧˦ tʰej˨˩ zo᷉i˨˩ t͡ɕɔ˧ toj˧ mot̚˧ ɲa˨˩ haːŋ˨˩ ŋɔn˧ kʰawŋ˧˥]
• Water: Nước (nwuhk)
• Food: Đồ ăn (doh uhn)
• Delicious: Ngon (nguhn)
• I am a tourist: Tôi là khách du lịch (toj˧ la kahch doo leeks)
• Help!: Cứu (kew)
• No problem/no problem: Không có gì [kɔŋ ko zi]
• Do you speak English?: bạn có nói được tiếng Anh không? [ban ko nɔj dɤk tjeŋ ʔan kɔŋ]
• I do not understand: tôi không hiểu [toi kɔŋ hjɛw]

Number:

• 0: không [kɔŋ]
• 1: một [mət]
• 2: hai [two]
• 3: ba [three]
• 4: bốn [bɔn]
• 5: năm [year]
• 6: sáu [saw]
• 7: bảy [posts]
• 8: tám [three]
• 9: chín [cin]
• 10: mười [muj]
• 11: mười một [muj mət]
• 15: mười năm [muj nam]
• 20: hai mươi [hai mwɔj],
• 50: năm mươi [nam mwɔj], [nam tʰʊk]
• 100: một trăm [mot tɕam]
• 1000: một nghìn [mot ŋin]
• 1,000,000: một triệu [mot triəw]

Days of the week

• Monday: Thứ hai [tʰu haj]
• Tuesday: Thứ ba [tʰu ba]
• Wednesday: Thứ tư [tʰu tɨ]
• Thursday: Thứ năm [tʰu nam]
• Friday: Thứ sáu [tʰu saw]
• Saturday: Thứ bảy [tʰu baj]
• Sunday: Chủ nhật [cuh nit]

Instruct:

• Left: Bên trái (buhn trai)
• Right: Bên phải (buhn fai)
• Go ahead: Thẳng (tahng)
• North: Phía Bắc (bahk)
• South: Phía Nam (nam)
• East: Phía Đông (dohng)
• West: Phía Tầy (tai)
• Go: đi [ji]
• Arrive: đến [dɛn]
• Where: ở đâu [o ʔaʊ]
• Right: bêb ohaur [bɛn fai]
• Left: bên trái [bɛn tjai]
• Turn: Rẽ (north) [re], quẹo (south) , [kweo]
• Straight ahead: phía trước [fiə truək]
• Stop here: dừng ở đây (phía bắc), dừng tại đây (phía nam) [ŋuŋ ʔo ʔaj], [zum taj ʔaj]
• Fast: nhanh [ɲan]
• Slow: chậm [cəm]
• How do I get to… the bus stop?:Tôi đi đến… trạm xe buýt… như thế nào? [toj˧ ji ðɛn trɛn sɛ bujt ðəʔ ŋaːʊ]
• Can you show me my location on the map?:Bạn có thể chỉ cho tôi biết tôi đang ở đâu trên bản đồ không? [ban ko tɛ ji tʰɔj toj˧ bijət toj˧ ɗaŋ ʔəʊ ʔaʊ trɛn bən do koŋ]
• Where is the tourist office?:Văn phòng du lịch ở đâu? [van fɔŋ ɗu lik ʔo ʔaʊ]

Tourism

• Hotel: khách sạn [xaːk sən]
• Street: đường [ɗuəŋ]
• Alley: đường nhỏ [ɗuəŋ ɲɔ], con hẻm [kɔn hem]
• Bridge: cái cầu [kai kaw]
• Police station: đồn cảnh sát [ɗɔn kəŋ sat]
• Ferry: Phà [fa]
• Plane: máy bay [maj baj]
• Taxi: taxi
• Train: tàu lửa (north) [taw lɨə], xe lửa (south) [se lɨə]
• Bus: xe buýt [se but]
• Cable car: cáp treo [kap treo]
• Rickshaw: Xích lô [siʔ lo]
• Wharf: Bến tàu [bɛn taw]
• Parking area: nơi đỗ xe [nɤj ɗɔ sɛ]
• Train station: nhà ga [ɲa ga]

Shopping:

• How much is this?: Cái này bao nhiêu tiền? (kaai nay baow nyew teeuhn?)
• How much?: Bao nhiêu? [bao ɲiw]
• Too expensive: Đắt quá ( daht kwah)
• Expensive: rất đắt [zat dat]
• Do you have a cheaper price?:Bạn có giá nào rẻ hơn không? [ban ko zə nai re hɔŋ koŋ]
• Can you give me a discount?: Bạn có thể giảm giá không? (buhn koh tê zem zah khuhng?)
• I'll take it: Tôi sẽ mua nó [toj˧ sɛ˧˦ muə˧˧ nɔ˧˩]
• Do you accept credit cards?: Bạn có chấp nhận thẻ tín dụng không? (buhn koh chap nyen tê tin duwng khuhng?)
• Can I try it?:Tôi có thể thử nó không? [toj˧ ko te tʰu no koŋ]
• Too big: rất rộng [zat rɔŋ]
• Too small: rất chật [zat chat]
• I'll take it:Tôi sẽ mua nó. [toj˧ sɛ mua no]
• i don't like it:Tôi không thích nó. [toj˧ kɔŋ tiəʔ no]
• Do you have other colors?: Bạn có màu nào khác không? [ban ko maw naʊ kʰak koŋ]

Color

• White: màu trắng [maʊ traŋ]
• Black: màu đen [maʊ dɛn]
• Red: màu đỏ [maʊ ɗəw]
• Yellow: Màu vàng [maʊ vaŋ]
• Blue: Màu xanh nước biển [maʊ saŋ naʊk biŋ]
• Green: màu xanh lá [maʊ saŋ laː kaj]
• Orange: Màu cam [maʊ kam]

Eating out

• Can I have the menu please?: Làm ơn cho tôi cái thực đơn? [lam ən tʃo toj˧ kai tʰut ðɔn]
• Please don't be too spicy: Làm ơn cho mọi thứ không quá cay [lam ən məji θu koŋ wa kai]
• I am vegetarian: tôi ăn chay [toj˧ ʔaŋ caj]
• Hot (hot hot): Nóng [not]
• Hot (spicy): Cay [kai]
• cold: lạnh [ləŋ]
• Sweet: ngọt [ŋɔt]
• Sour: chua [tjua]
• Delicious: Ngon [ŋon]
• Water: Nước [nuək]
• Coffee: Cà Phê [ka fe]

Accommodation

• Air conditioner not working: Máy điều hòa không hoạt động. [maj jɛw hɔa kɔŋ hoət ɗɔŋ]
• The light is not working.: Đèn không sáng. [ɗɛn kɔŋ saŋ]
• No hot water: Ở đây không có nước nóng. [o ʔaj kɔŋ ko nɨək noŋ]
• Do you have… toilet paper?:Bạn có… giấy vệ sinh… không? [ban ko… jəj və sjŋ… kɔŋ]

Emergency:

• Help!: Cứu (kew)
• I need a doctor: Tôi cần gặp bác sĩ (toj˧ kuhn ga bahk sj)
• I lost my passport: Tôi đã mất hộ chiếu (toj˧ daa maht huh cheeow)
• Call the police: Gọi cảnh sát (goy keng saht)

Other useful phrases:

• Can I rent… a bike?: Tôi có thể thuê… xe đạp… không? [tɔ̂i kɔ̌ tê θwê... sɛ̂ zɛ̌ dap... kʰɔŋ?]
• Do you accept credit cards?:Bạn thanh toán bằng thẻ tín dụng? [bạn tʰan tʰôan ba̱ŋ tʰɛ̉ tɨn ɗɨ̌ŋ?]
• Where is the bathroom?:Nhà vệ sinh… ở đâu? [ɲâ vɛ̂ˀ siŋ... ə ɗâw?]
• I don't feel well:Tôi cảm thấy không khỏe lắm. [tɔ̂i kǎm tʰại kʰɔ̌ŋ khwê lǎm.]
• Can you call me a doctor?:Bạn có thể gọi bác sĩ cho tôi không? [bạn ko tê ɣɔ̌i bak sǐ ʧô tɔ̂i kʰɔ̌ŋ?]
• Is this place safe? Nơi đây có an toàn không? [nɤi zâj bɤ̄j koʔ ǎn tōˀŋ kʰɔ̌ŋ?]
• Are photos allowed?:Tôi có thể chụp hình không? [tɔ̂i ko tê tɕup hɨŋ kʰɔ̌ŋ?]

Terminology:

•  Foreigner: Người nước ngoài [ŋwə̂j nɨək nɡɔ̌wəj]
•  Map: Bản đồ
•  Ticket: Vé [ticket]
•  Museum: Bảo tàng [ɓǎw tǎˀŋ]
•  Market: Chợ [tɕɔ̌]
•  Holiday: Kỳ nghỉ (Vacation), Ngày lễ (Festival) [kɨ nɤ̂ˀj, ŋǎj lɛ̂ˀ]
•  Pagoda: Chùa [tɕwà]
•  The Tomb: Lăng mộ [lǎwŋ mǒ]
•  Church: Nhà Thờ [ɲâ thơ]
•  Buddhist: Người theo đạo Phật [ŋwə̂j tʰɛ̂w ɗǎw fə̌t]
•  Catholic: Người theo đạo Thiên Chúa [ŋwə̂j tʰɛ̂w ɗǎw tjɛ̂n tɕwǎˀ]
•  Protestant: [Người theo đạo Tin Lành [ŋwə̂j tʰɛ̂w ɗǎw tjn lǎˀ]
•  Restaurant: Nhà hàng [ɲâ häːŋ]
•  Toilet: Nhà vệ sinh [ɲâ vɛ̂ˀ siŋ]
•  Ship/Boat: Tàu/Thuyền [taw/θwɨ̌ən]
•  Motorbike taxi: Xe ôm [sɛ̌ ʔɔm]
•  Beach: Bãi Biển [ɓāj biên]
•  The island: Đảo [ɗâw]
•  City: Thành phố [tʰâwŋ fǒ]
•  Village/Commune: Làng/ Xã [lǎwŋ/sã]
•  Valley: Thung lũng [tʰuŋ lǔːŋ]
•  Mountain: Núi [nwiː]
•  The River: Sông [səwŋ]
•  waterfall: Thác nước [tʰǎk nɨək]
•  Clinic: Trạm xá [ʧǎm saː]
•  Pharmacy: Nhà thuốc [ɲâ tʰwə̂wʔ]

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!