Essential Vietnamese phrases for travelers visiting Vietnam

Vietnamese is the national and official language of Vietnam. Most people in Vietnam speak it. Unlike many other Asian languages that use symbols, Vietnamese uses the Latin alphabet. This makes it easier to read street signs and learn to speak Vietnamese.

Key takeaways

• Learn basic Vietnamese greetings and phrases.
• English is increasingly spoken in major cities.
• Tonal pronunciation is crucial in Vietnamese.
• Cultural awareness enhances your travel experience.

Can people in Vietnam speak English too?

In big cities and tourist spots in the south, talking in English is getting easier because Vietnam is becoming more popular with tourists. The government has started programs to improve English lessons in schools because of the high demand. But if you want to visit smaller cities or villages, it might be helpful to know some basic Vietnamese.

In the south, many people can speak English well because they used to work with Americans in the past. Most older Vietnamese people don’t speak any English, but young people usually speak it better. Even though some young people might be shy around foreigners, they will still be happy to help if you get lost and need directions. Others might want to talk to you to practice their English. In hotels and restaurants in tourist areas, most Vietnamese people also speak English.

Common Vietnamese Greetings

How you greet and talk to someone in Vietnam depends a lot on their gender, age, and social status compared to yours. As a general rule, if you call a man “ông” and a woman “bà,” you can be sure that you are being polite. If you are talking with someone who seems to be about your age, you can use “anh” (for a man) and “chị” (for a woman).

Understanding the proper pronunciation can greatly improve your speaking skills.

The hard part of the Vietnamese language is the pronunciation. Vietnamese is a tonal language with single-syllable words. Each syllable can be spoken in six different tones: flat, rising, quick falling, slow falling, high rising, or broken. Marks above the letters show the tone. Changing the tone can make a word mean six different things, and pronouncing it wrong can easily cause confusion.

Travel Dictionary

General talk

Dining and refreshments

Ask for direction

Sapa Local Guide hopes that the above information will help you and wish you an enjoyable and meaningful vacation in Vietnam