Learning Vietnamese: a practical guide
This is a written companion to the free Vietnamese course on LanguagePath: what the language is like, how it sounds, the phrases you will use first, how the course is structured, and what to watch out for. Everything here comes from the same lessons you can practise interactively above.
What Vietnamese is like
Vietnamese is a tonal language — the tone of a syllable changes its meaning, so the accent marks matter. The letters are mostly read as written. đ sounds like the English 'd' but with a flatter tongue, and ng is like the 'ng' in sing. Vietnamese has no articles (no 'the' or 'a'), so cà phê can mean coffee or the coffee. Use tôi (I) for yourself, and add ạ to sound extra polite.
Words you may already know
Pronunciation notes
Vietnamese is a tonal language — the same syllable said with a different tone means a different word, so the accent marks matter. Nail the six tones and a few key sounds and you can read almost any word.
- ngang — the flat tone — level and steady, no mark, as in ma = ghost.
- sắc — the rising tone — sharp, like an excited question, as in má = mother.
- huyền — the falling tone — low and a little breathy, as in mà = but.
- hỏi — the hook tone — dips down then rises, as in mả = a grave.
- ngã — the creaky tone — rises with a glottal catch, as in mã = a code.
- nặng — the heavy tone — short, low and cut off, as in mạ = rice seedling.
- đ — like English "d" but with a flatter tongue, no puff of air, as in đi = to go.
- nh — like "ny" in canyon, as in nhà = house.
First phrases
The pocket phrases below are the ones learners reach for most often. Say each one out loud a few times before moving on.
| Vietnamese | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Xin chào | sin chow | Hello |
| Chào buổi sáng | chow boo-ee sang | Good morning |
| Tạm biệt | tam byeet | Goodbye |
| Bạn khỏe không? | ban khweh kong | How are you? |
| Tôi tên là Alex | toy ten lah | My name is... |
| Cảm ơn | gum uhn | Thank you |
| Cảm ơn nhiều | gum uhn nyew | Thanks a lot |
| Xin lỗi | sin loy | Sorry / excuse me |
| Vâng | vuhng | Yes |
| Không | kong | No |
| Làm ơn | lam uhn | Please |
| Một | moht | 1 |
| Hai | high | 2 |
| Ba | bah | 3 |
| Bốn | bohn | 4 |
| Năm | nam | 5 |
| Mười | moo-ee | 10 |
| Phở | fuh | beef noodle soup |
| Cà phê | kah feh | coffee |
| Nước | nook | water |
| Tính tiền | tin tyen | the bill |
| Ở đâu? | uh dow | Where is...? |
| Bên trái | ben chai | to the left |
| Bên phải | ben fai | to the right |
| Thẳng | thung | straight ahead |
| Nhà vệ sinh | nyah veh sing | the bathroom |
| Cái này bao nhiêu tiền? | kai nyay bow nyew tyen | how much is this? |
| Đắt quá | dat kwah | too expensive |
| Tôi lấy cái này | toy lay kai nyay | I'll take this |
| Cứu tôi! | goo toy | Help! |
How the Vietnamese course is structured
The course has 16 short lessons that build on each other. Each one introduces a few new pieces and then asks you to construct sentences you have never seen, before revealing the answer:
- Greetings — Xin chào · chào · tạm biệt · cảm ơn
- Polite phrases — cảm ơn · xin lỗi · vâng · không
- Numbers 1–10 — một · hai · ba · mười
- I want" — tôi muốn — tôi muốn · cho tôi · một
- Food & drink — phở · cà phê · nước · cơm
- Directions — Ở đâu? · bên trái · bên phải · thẳng
- Questions & "do you have" — có…? · không? · bao nhiêu? · gì?
- Family & people — gia đình · bố · mẹ · anh · em
- Time, days & weather — hôm nay · ngày mai · trời · mưa · nắng
- Small talk & your name — tôi tên là · bạn tên gì? · rất vui
- Health & emergency — cứu tôi! · bác sĩ · hiệu thuốc · tôi không hiểu
- Tying it together — a capstone scene · greetings · ordering · directions
- Airport & tickets — sân bay · hộ chiếu · vé · chuyến bay
- The taxi — taxi · đi · khách sạn · dừng
- The hotel — đặt phòng · phòng · chìa khóa · đêm
- Ask for help — không hiểu · chậm hơn · tiếng Anh
Inside the lessons
Here is how a few of the lessons explain the language, with worked examples and the word-by-word breakdown the course uses.
Greetings
Key pieces: Xin chào · chào · tạm biệt · cảm ơn
Let's start with the word you'll use every day: Xin chào — hello. Say it out loud.
- Xin chào (sin chow) — hello
- Chào (chow) — hi (casual)
- Tạm biệt (tam byeet) — goodbye
- Chào buổi sáng (chow boo-ee sang) — good morning
- Chào buổi tối (chow boo-ee toy) — good evening
To say “Hello, thank you” in Vietnamese: Xin chào, cảm ơn (sin chow, gum uhn). Built from xin chào = hello; cảm ơn = thank you.
A big difference in politeness: vâng is a plain yes, but dạ is the polite yes. Adding ạ to the end of anything you say makes it gentler and more respectful.
To say “Hello, how are you?” in Vietnamese: Xin chào, bạn khỏe không? (sin chow, ban khweh kong). Built from xin chào = hello; bạn = you; khỏe không? = are you well?.
Polite phrases
Key pieces: cảm ơn · xin lỗi · vâng · không
Cảm ơn is thank you. You'll hear it all day — and you'll say it constantly. Add ạ to be extra polite: Cảm ơn ạ .
- Cảm ơn (gum uhn) — thank you
- Cảm ơn nhiều (gum uhn nyew) — thanks a lot
- Xin lỗi (sin loy) — sorry / excuse me
- Vâng (vuhng) — yes
- Không (kong) — no / not
To say “Thank you very much” in Vietnamese: Cảm ơn nhiều (gum uhn nyew). Built from cảm ơn = thank you; nhiều = a lot.
Xin lỗi does double duty as 'sorry' and 'excuse me' — use it to politely get someone's attention.
To say “Excuse me / Sorry” in Vietnamese: Xin lỗi (sin loy). Built from xin lỗi = sorry / excuse me.
Numbers 1–10
Key pieces: một · hai · ba · mười
Numbers are the fastest win. Listen and repeat: một, hai, ba .
- một (moht) — 1
- hai (high) — 2
- ba (bah) — 3
- bốn (bohn) — 4
- năm (nam) — 5
- sáu (sow) — 6
- bảy (by-ee) — 7
- tám (tahm) — 8
- chín (chin) — 9
- mười (moo-ee) — 10
To say “Two coffees, please” in Vietnamese: Hai cà phê, làm ơn (high kah feh, lam uhn). Built from hai = two; cà phê = coffee; làm ơn = please.
To ask a price, use Bao nhiêu tiền? — how much?
To say “How much is it?” in Vietnamese: Bao nhiêu tiền? (bow nyew tyen). Built from bao nhiêu = how much; tiền = money.
To say “It's five thousand” in Vietnamese: Năm nghìn (nam ngeen). Built from năm = five; nghìn = thousand.
I want" — tôi muốn
Key pieces: tôi muốn · cho tôi · một
The key verb for ordering anything: Tôi muốn — I want.
- tôi muốn (toy moo-uhn) — I want
- tôi (toy) — I / me
- một (moht) — a / one
- làm ơn (lam uhn) — please
- thực đơn (thuk duhn) — the menu
To say “I want a coffee” in Vietnamese: Tôi muốn một cà phê (toy moo-uhn moht kah feh). Built from tôi = I; muốn = want; một cà phê = a coffee.
For a gentler 'give me / for me', use Cho tôi . Cho tôi một nước = a water, please.
To say “Give me a water, please” in Vietnamese: Cho tôi một nước, làm ơn (chaw toy moht nook, lam uhn). Built from cho tôi = give me; một nước = a water; làm ơn = please.
To say “I want the menu” in Vietnamese: Tôi muốn thực đơn (toy moo-uhn thuk duhn). Built from tôi muốn = I want; thực đơn = the menu.
Food & drink
Key pieces: phở · cà phê · nước · cơm
Welcome to a phở shop: Phở is Vietnam's famous noodle soup and cà phê is coffee.
- phở (fuh) — beef noodle soup
- cà phê (kah feh) — coffee Memory hook: ≈ French café.
- nước (nook) — water
- cơm (kuhm) — rice
- thực đơn (thuk duhn) — the menu
To say “A phở and a coffee, please” in Vietnamese: Một phở và một cà phê, làm ơn (moht fuh vah moht kah feh, lam uhn). Built from một = a; phở = noodle soup; và = and; cà phê = coffee; làm ơn = please.
Ngon = delicious. Say it after a great meal — Vietnamese people love the compliment.
To say “Delicious!” in Vietnamese: Ngon quá! (ngon kwah). Built from ngon = delicious; quá = very (intensifier).
To say “The bill, please” in Vietnamese: Tính tiền, làm ơn (tin tyen, lam uhn). Built from tính tiền = the bill; làm ơn = please.
Directions
Key pieces: Ở đâu? · bên trái · bên phải · thẳng
The most useful question in any city: Ở đâu? — where is…?
- Ở đâu? (uh dow) — Where is...?
- bên trái (ben chai) — to the left
- bên phải (ben fai) — to the right
- thẳng (thung) — straight ahead
- nhà vệ sinh (nyah veh sing) — the bathroom
To say “Where is the bathroom?” in Vietnamese: Nhà vệ sinh ở đâu? (nyah veh sing uh dow). Built from nhà vệ sinh = bathroom; ở đâu = where.
Rẽ trái (turn left) and rẽ phải (turn right) tell you which way to go.
To say “Where is the bus stop?” in Vietnamese: Trạm xe buýt ở đâu? (cham seh bweet uh dow). Built from trạm xe buýt = bus stop; ở đâu = where. ≈ French bus.
To say “Go straight, then turn left” in Vietnamese: Đi thẳng, rồi rẽ trái (dee thung, roy chai). Built from đi = to go; thẳng = straight; rồi = then; rẽ trái = turn left.
Questions & "do you have"
Key pieces: có…? · không? · bao nhiêu? · gì?
To ask if someone has something or if something exists, use có (to have) and finish with không (the question marker).
To say “Do you have a menu?” in Vietnamese: Có thực đơn không? (kaw thuk duhn kong). Built from có = have; thực đơn = menu; không = question marker.
To say “Do you have a table?” in Vietnamese: Có bàn không? (kaw ban kong). Built from có = have; bàn = table; không = question marker.
Bao nhiêu? = how much/how many, and gì? = what. Perfect for prices.
To say “How much is this?” in Vietnamese: Cái này bao nhiêu? (kai nyay bow nyew). Built from cái này = this; bao nhiêu = how much.
To say “What's your name?” in Vietnamese: Bạn tên gì? (ban ten zee). Built from bạn = you; tên = name; gì = what.
Family & people
Key pieces: gia đình · bố · mẹ · anh · em
Family words: gia đình (family), bố (dad), mẹ (mom).
- gia đình (yah dinh) — family
- bố (boh) — dad
- mẹ (meh) — mom
- anh (ahn) — older brother
- em (em) — younger sibling
To say “I have a family” in Vietnamese: Tôi có gia đình (toy kaw yah dinh). Built from tôi = I; có = have; gia đình = family.
Có means to have. Vietnamese often drops 'I' in casual speech, but it's nice to keep it clear.
To say “I have an older brother” in Vietnamese: Tôi có anh trai (toy kaw ahn chai). Built from tôi = I; có = have; anh trai = older brother.
To say “Do you have a family?” in Vietnamese: Bạn có gia đình không? (ban kaw yah dinh kong). Built from bạn = you; có = have; gia đình = family; không = question marker.
Time, days & weather
Key pieces: hôm nay · ngày mai · trời · mưa · nắng
Today is hôm nay , tomorrow is ngày mai , yesterday is hôm qua .
- hôm nay (hom nai) — today
- ngày mai (ngai my) — tomorrow
- hôm qua (hom kwah) — yesterday
- mưa (muh-ah) — rain
- nắng (nahng) — sunny
- lạnh (lahn) — cold
To say “See you tomorrow” in Vietnamese: Hẹn gặp lại ngày mai (hen gap lai ngai my). Built from hẹn gặp lại = see you again; ngày mai = tomorrow.
Ask about the weather: Trời hôm nay thế nào? — what's the weather today?
To say “It's raining” in Vietnamese: Trời đang mưa (choy dang muh-ah). Built from trời = the sky/weather; đang = (ongoing); mưa = rain.
To say “It's sunny and hot” in Vietnamese: Trời nắng và nóng (choy nahng vah nawng). Built from trời = weather; nắng = sunny; và = and; nóng = hot.
Small talk & your name
Key pieces: tôi tên là · bạn tên gì? · rất vui
Introduce yourself: Tôi tên là… — my name is…
To say “My name is Alex” in Vietnamese: Tôi tên là Alex (toy ten lah Alex). Built from tôi = I; tên = name; là = is; Alex = your name.
To ask someone's name: Bạn tên gì? And to say you're glad to meet them: Rất vui được gặp bạn .
To say “What's your name?” in Vietnamese: Bạn tên gì? (ban ten zee). Built from bạn = you; tên = name; gì = what.
To say “Nice to meet you” in Vietnamese: Rất vui được gặp bạn (zut vwee duhk gap ban). Built from rất vui = very glad; được gặp = to meet; bạn = you.
Health & emergency
Key pieces: cứu tôi! · bác sĩ · hiệu thuốc · tôi không hiểu
The words that matter if you need help: Cứu tôi! (help!), bác sĩ (doctor), hiệu thuốc (pharmacy).
- Cứu tôi! (goo toy) — help!
- bác sĩ (bahk see) — doctor
- hiệu thuốc (hyew thook) — pharmacy
- Tôi không hiểu (toy kong hyew) — I don't understand
- Tôi bị ốm (toy bee ohm) — I'm sick
To say “Help!” in Vietnamese: Cứu tôi! (goo toy). Built from cứu = to rescue; tôi = me.
To say “I don't understand” in Vietnamese: Tôi không hiểu (toy kong hyew). Built from tôi = I; không = not; hiểu = to understand.
To say “I need a doctor” in Vietnamese: Tôi cần bác sĩ (toy kuhn bahk see). Built from tôi = I; cần = to need; bác sĩ = doctor.
Tying it together
Key pieces: a capstone scene · greetings · ordering · directions
Great — you've built a real toolbox. This capstone uses only words you've met. Build each line yourself before revealing.
To say “Hello, how are you?” in Vietnamese: Xin chào, bạn khỏe không? (sin chow, ban khweh kong). Built from xin chào = hello; bạn khỏe không? = are you well?.
To say “I want a phở and a coffee, please” in Vietnamese: Tôi muốn một phở và một cà phê, làm ơn (toy moo-uhn moht fuh vah moht kah feh, lam uhn). Built from tôi muốn = I want; một phở = a phở; và = and; cà phê = coffee; làm ơn = please.
To say “Where is the bathroom?” in Vietnamese: Nhà vệ sinh ở đâu? (nyah veh sing uh dow). Built from nhà vệ sinh = bathroom; ở đâu = where.
To say “How much is it?” in Vietnamese: Cái này bao nhiêu tiền? (kai nyay bow nyew tyen). Built from cái này = this; bao nhiêu = how much; tiền = money.
Airport & tickets
Key pieces: sân bay · hộ chiếu · vé · chuyến bay
You have landed. The building is the sân bay . Your document is a hộ chiếu .
- sân bay (sun bye) — the airport
- hộ chiếu (hoh chee-ow) — the passport
- vé (veh) — the ticket
- chuyến bay (chwee-un bye) — the flight
- cổng (kohm) — the gate
To say “Where is the airport?” in Vietnamese: Sân bay ở đâu? (sun bye uh doh). Built from sân bay = the airport; ở đâu? = where is it?.
To say “Here is my passport” in Vietnamese: Đây là hộ chiếu của tôi (day lah hoh chee-ow koo-uh toy). Built from đây là = here is; hộ chiếu của tôi = my passport.
To say “A ticket, please” in Vietnamese: Một vé, làm ơn (moht veh, lahm uhn). Built from một vé = a ticket; làm ơn = please.
To say “Where is the gate?” in Vietnamese: Cổng ở đâu? (kohm uh doh). Built from cổng = the gate; ở đâu? = where is it?.
The taxi
Key pieces: taxi · đi · khách sạn · dừng
The driver is waiting. taxi is the word you need. Tell them where to go with tôi muốn đi .
- taxi (TAHK-see) — the taxi
- tài xế (tai say) — the driver
- tôi muốn đi (toy moo-un dee) — I want to go
- dừng ở đây (zung uh day) — stop here
To say “Taxi, please” in Vietnamese: Taxi, làm ơn (TAHK-see, lahm uhn). Built from taxi = taxi; làm ơn = please.
To say “I want to go to the hotel” in Vietnamese: Tôi muốn đi khách sạn (toy moo-un dee khak sahn). Built from tôi muốn đi = I want to go; khách sạn = hotel.
To say “Stop here, please” in Vietnamese: Dừng ở đây, làm ơn (zung uh day, lahm uhn). Built from dừng ở đây = stop here; làm ơn = please.
To say “How much is it?” in Vietnamese: Bao nhiêu tiền? (bao nyew tee-un). Built from bao nhiêu = how much; tiền = money.
The hotel
Key pieces: đặt phòng · phòng · chìa khóa · đêm
At the desk: Tôi có đặt phòng — I have a reservation.
- khách sạn (khak sahn) — the hotel
- đặt phòng (dat fohng) — the reservation
- phòng (fohng) — the room
- chìa khóa (chee-uh khwah) — the key
- một đêm (moht dem) — one night
To say “I have a reservation” in Vietnamese: Tôi có đặt phòng (toy koh dat fohng). Built from tôi có = I have; đặt phòng = a reservation.
To say “A room for one night, please” in Vietnamese: Một phòng một đêm, làm ơn (moht fohng moht dem, lahm uhn). Built from một phòng = a room; một đêm = one night; làm ơn = please.
To say “The key, please” in Vietnamese: Chìa khóa, làm ơn (chee-uh khwah, lahm uhn). Built from chìa khóa = the key; làm ơn = please.
To say “Where is my room?” in Vietnamese: Phòng của tôi ở đâu? (fohng koo-uh toy uh doh). Built from phòng của tôi = my room; ở đâu? = where is it?.
Ask for help
Key pieces: không hiểu · chậm hơn · tiếng Anh
When the language is too fast: Chậm hơn, làm ơn — slower, please.
- chậm hơn (chum hurn) — slower
- lại (lai) — again
- tiếng Anh (tee-ung ahn) — English
- bạn có thể giúp không? (ban koh the yoop khohng) — can you help?
To say “I don't understand” in Vietnamese: Tôi không hiểu (toy khohng hee-ow). Built from tôi = I; không = not; hiểu = understand.
To say “Slower, please” in Vietnamese: Chậm hơn, làm ơn (chum hurn, lahm uhn). Built from chậm hơn = slower; làm ơn = please.
To say “Can you help me?” in Vietnamese: Bạn có thể giúp không? (ban koh the yoop khohng). Built from bạn có thể = can you; giúp không? = help?.
To say “Do you speak English?” in Vietnamese: Bạn nói tiếng Anh không? (ban noy tee-ung ahn khohng). Built from bạn nói = do you speak; tiếng Anh = English.
Common mistakes and things to watch out for
- Chào (chow): casual.
Culture and etiquette
Phở is a way of life
Phở is Vietnam's iconic breakfast — a bowl of aromatic broth, rice noodles and herbs. Locals judge a shop by its broth, simmered for hours. Go early; many places sell out by midday.
Vietnam's coffee is special
Cà phê sữa đá — Vietnamese iced coffee with sweetened condensed milk — is a national obsession. It's thick, sweet and served over ice, often dripped slowly through a small metal filter.
Bikes rule the road
Motorbikes are the main way around. Traffic can look chaotic, but locals move in a flowing rhythm. To cross, walk slow and steady — drivers steer around you.
Respect with hands
A slight bow with palms together (chắp tay) is a warm, respectful greeting, especially to elders. Adding "ạ" to your words — like dạ or vâng ạ — makes you sound much more polite.
Tết is everything
Tết, the Lunar New Year, is the biggest holiday of the year. Families reunite, share bánh chưng (sticky rice cakes), and give lucky money in red envelopes. Travel gets very busy then.
A little Vietnamese goes far
A "xin chào" and "cảm ơn" open every door. Vietnamese people light up when visitors try their language — effort and tone matter far more than perfect grammar.
Example dialogues
At a phở shop
You: Xin chào! Một phở, một cà phê, làm ơn. (sin chow, moht fuh, moht kah feh, lam uhn) — Hello! A phở and a coffee, please.
Server: Mời bạn ngồi. Ăn ở đây hay mang về? (moy ban ngoy, an uh day high mang vay) — Please sit down. Eat here or take away?
You: Ăn ở đây, cảm ơn. (an uh day, gum uhn) — Eat here, thanks.
Server: Đây ạ. Một phở và một cà phê. (day ah, moht fuh vah moht kah feh) — Here you are. One phở and one coffee.
You: Ngon quá! Tính tiền, làm ơn. (ngon kwah, tin tyen, lam uhn) — Delicious! The bill, please.
Getting around
You: Xin lỗi, trạm xe buýt ở đâu? (sin loy, cham seh bweet uh dow) — Excuse me, where's the bus stop?
Local: Ở kia, rẽ phải. (uh kee-ah, chaw fai) — Over there, turn right.
You: Cảm ơn. Vé đến chợ Bến Thành giá bao nhiêu? (gum uhn, veh den chuh ben tanh zah bow nyew) — Thanks. How much is a ticket to Ben Thanh market?
Driver: Chín nghìn đồng. (chin ngeen dohng) — Nine thousand dong.
You: Cho tôi một vé, làm ơn. (chaw toy moht veh, lam uhn) — Give me a ticket, please.
At a restaurant
Waiter: Xin chào! Mời hai bạn ngồi. (sin chow, moy hai ban ngoy) — Hello! Take a seat, you two.
You: Cảm ơn. Cho xin thực đơn. (gum uhn, chaw sin thuk duhn) — Thanks. The menu, please.
Waiter: Đây ạ. Hôm nay có phở gà rất ngon. (day ah, hom nai kaw fuh gah zuht ngon) — Here you are. Today we have very tasty chicken phở.
You: Cho tôi một phở gà và nước. (chaw toy moht fuh gah vah nook) — I'll have a chicken phở and some water.
You: Ngon quá! Tính tiền, làm ơn. (ngon kwah, tin tyen, lam uhn) — Delicious! The bill, please.
Written by the LanguagePath editorial team from our own course material. Pronunciation guides are approximate English respellings; tap any phrase in the app above to hear it. Native-speaker review of every course is ongoing — tell us if you spot an error.