Basic Vietnamese Phrases for Travellers
A handful of Vietnamese words goes a long way — locals genuinely appreciate the effort, even if your tones aren't perfect.
You don’t need to be fluent to travel Vietnam, but a few polite phrases earn warm smiles and smoother interactions. English is common in tourist areas, yet effort in the local language is always welcomed.
Vietnamese is tonal
Vietnamese is a tonal language — the same syllable can mean different things depending on pitch. Don’t let that stop you: people are forgiving with travellers, and context usually carries your meaning. The pronunciations below are rough approximations to get you close.
Everyday phrases
| Vietnamese | Meaning | Rough pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Xin chào | Hello | sin chow |
| Cảm ơn | Thank you | gam un |
| Vâng / Dạ | Yes (polite) | vung / ya |
| Không | No | khong |
| Xin lỗi | Sorry / excuse me | sin loy |
| Bao nhiêu? | How much? | bao nyew |
| Tạm biệt | Goodbye | tam byet |
Numbers 1–10
| Number | Vietnamese | Rough pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | một | mot |
| 2 | hai | hi |
| 3 | ba | ba |
| 4 | bốn | bon |
| 5 | năm | nam |
| 6 | sáu | sow |
| 7 | bảy | bye |
| 8 | tám | tam |
| 9 | chín | chin |
| 10 | mười | mui |
Numbers are handy for prices and markets — pair them with the money guide to handle change confidently.
Ordering food and drinks
| Vietnamese | Meaning | Rough pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Cho tôi… | I’d like… / give me… | cho toy |
| Nước | Water | nuoc |
| Cà phê | Coffee | ca feh |
| Bia | Beer | bee-a |
| Ngon quá! | Delicious! | ngon kwa |
| Không cay | Not spicy | khong kai |
Asking for the bill
| Vietnamese | Meaning | Rough pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Tính tiền | The bill, please | ting tien |
A simple “Xin chào” on arrival and “Cảm ơn” when you leave will carry you a surprisingly long way.
A few words for your dental trip
Travelling for treatment? Don’t worry about the language barrier at the clinic — we work with English-speaking dental teams and coordinators in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, so every appointment is clear and comfortable.
Want treatment without the language stress? Get a free assessment.