When in Vietnam, although English is widely spoken, especially in the main tourist spots, it wouldn’t hurt to learn a few basic words to help you get by.

Some words here can be helpful for you to discover this beautiful land.

Source: Adventure In You

1. Vietnamese: The Basics

Yes – vang (north) /vung/ , da (south) /za/

No- khong /khome/

Thank you- Cám ơn /gahm un/

I’m sorry- Xin lỗi /seen loy/

Can you help me?  Ban giup toi duoc khong? /ban zoop thoy duc khome?/ 

No problem/you’re welcome  Khong co gi /khome koo zi/

Do you speak English?  Ban noi tieng Anh duoc khong? /Banh noi thien an durkh khome?/

Where’s the… toilet?  toilet o dau? /toilet uah dou'/

2. Basic Greetings in Vietnamese

Hello– Xin chào /sin chow/

Goodbye- Tạm biệt /tam bee it/

How are you?  Ban co khoe khong? /ban koo kwe khome?/

3. Basic Vietnamese for Eating and Ordering Food

Phở - Pho /pho/

Bread - bánh mì /banh mee/

Coffee -  cà phê /ka fey/

Hot (spicy)-  Cay /cay/

How much?  Bao nhiêu? /bow neuw?/

4. Basic Numbers

• 1 = Mot /moht/
• 2 = Hai /high/
• 3 = ba /bah/
• 4 = bon /bumh/
• 5 = Nam /nuhm/
• 6 = Sau /sao/
• 7 = Bay /bye/
• 8 = Tam /tahm/
• 9 = Chin cheen/
• 10 = Muoi /meui/

5. Basic Vietnamese phrases for direction (on taxis, buses, airport etc…)

• Where is the taxi rank? = Taxis o dau? /taxis urh dauh?/
• Where is the ATM? =  May rut tien ATM o dau? /may root tien ATM urn dole/
• Go Straight = Di Thang /di thaang/
• Go Left = Re Trai /se chai/
• Go Right = Re Phai /se fih/
• Stop = Dung Lai /duhng laai/
• Go to the airport = Di san bay /di sun bay/
• Can I have a map? = cho toi mot cai ban do /chor toi mot cai ban dor/
• How far is it = Bao xa /bao seh/
• Far = Xa /seh/
• Close = Gan /gunh/
• Downtown = Trung Tam thanh pho /trumh tam tan fo/
• District = Quan /wung/
• Station = Ga /gas/
• Bus stop = Tram xe bus /tram seh butt/
• Where? = O dau /uh dow?/
• Wait 5 minutes = Cho nam phut /churhn num foot/