30+ Most Useful Vietnamese Phrases and Vocabulary for Travelers
An interesting fact about the Vietnamese language is that it’s the only Asian language that use the Roman alphabet instead of characters.
The Vietnamese language presents a captivating challenge due to its tonal nature. This means that words can have varying meanings based solely on their pronunciation, despite identical spellings. Tones are indicated by specific accents placed on vowels, which significantly influence their meanings. For instance, "bánh mì chay" means vegetarian baguette, while "bánh mì cháy" refers to burnt bread. The subtle differences in pronunciation lead to entirely distinct interpretations!
Below is a list of useful Vietnamese phrases and vocabulary tailored for tourists to navigate daily interactions effectively.
Greetings
- Xin chào (sin chao): Hello
- Cảm ơn (kahm uhn): Thank you
- Bạn khỏe không? (ban kwe khong): How are you?
Directions
- Tôi nghỉ tại (toi nee tie): My hotel address is…
- Bạn chỉ đường giúp (ban chee duong zup): Can you show me the way to…?
- Tôi muốn đi (toi mohn dee): I want to go to…
- Tôi muốn xem (toi mohn sem): I want to see…
At a restaurant
- Em ơi (em oh-ee): A term used to call a waiter (literally translates as ‘my dear’)
- Ngon quá (ngon kwah): Delicious!
- Không sao (khong sow): No problem/It’s okay.
A famous Vietnamese Grilled Pork Sausage: Nem Nướng (Nem Nướng)
At the market
- Không (khong): No, Thank you
- Bao nhiêu tiền (bow nee-u tyehn): How much is this?
- Đắt quá (dat kwah): Too expensive!
- Tôi muốn (toi mohn): I want to have…
- Đẹp quá (dep kwah): So beautiful!
- Không mua (khong moo-ah): I don’t want to buy it.
- Bạn tốt quá! (ban tote kwah): That’s very kind of you!
Emergency
- Tôi không biết bơi (toi khong beet boy): I don’t know how to swim
- Cứu tôi với (kyu toi voy): Help me
- Ôi dời ơi (oi zoi oi): Oh my God
- Nguy hiểm quá (ngwee him kwah): It’s too dangerous
In addition to these essential phrases, we have compiled a list of crucial vocabulary words for your journey to Halong Bay.
- Đảo (dow): island
- Vịnh (ving): bay
- Du thuyền (zoo thwee-en): cruise/boat
- Thạch nhũ (thahk nyoo): stalactite/stalagmite
- Cảng (kahng): port/harbor
- Nước (nook): water
- Hang (hang): cave, den, hole, burrow
- Hải sản (hai san): seafood
- Biển (bee-en): sea
- Tàu (tau): ship
- Khách sạn (khach san): hotel
- Lễ tân (lay tun): receptionist
- Làng chài (lang chai): fishing village
- Hòn (hon): islet
