Vietnamese survival kit
Useful Vietnamese phrases (FR & EN → Vietnamese)
Greetings, transport, dining, emergencies: essentials with pronunciation to get by on the ground.
Tap the speaker icon to hear the Vietnamese pronunciation.
Basics
Politeness and greetings — always useful.
| French / English | Vietnamese | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Hello / Hi | Xin chào | sin chow |
| Thank you | Cảm ơn | gam un |
| Thank you very much | Cảm ơn nhiều | gam un nyew |
| Please | Làm ơn | lam un |
| Excuse me / Sorry | Xin lỗi | sin loy |
| Yes / No | Vâng / Không | vung / khom |
| I don't understand | Tôi không hiểu | toy khom hyoo |
| Do you speak English / French? | Bạn có nói tiếng Anh / Pháp không? | ban co noi tyeng anh / fap khom? |
Transport & directions
For Grab, taxis or asking directions.
| French / English | Vietnamese | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Where is…? | … ở đâu? | … oh dow? |
| How much is the ride? | Bao nhiêu tiền? | bow nyew tyen? |
| Stop here | Dừng lại đây | zoong lai day |
| Too expensive | Đắt quá | dat kwah |
| Slowly | Chậm thôi | cham toy |
Restaurant & street food
Ordering, allergies and diets.
| French / English | Vietnamese | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| The bill, please | Tính tiền | tin tyen |
| It's delicious | Ngon quá | ngon kwah |
| Not spicy / mildly spicy | Không cay / ít cay | khom cay / it cay |
| I'm vegetarian | Tôi ăn chay | toy an chay |
| A beer / water | Một bia / nước | mot bia / nuok |
Shopping & markets
Bargain with a smile.
| French / English | Vietnamese | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| How much is it? | Bao nhiêu? | bow nyew? |
| It's too expensive | Mắc quá | mak kwah |
| A bit cheaper? | Bớt chút được không? | bot chut dwok khom? |
| Just looking | Chỉ xem thôi | chi sem toy |
Emergencies & health
Save these on your phone.
| French / English | Vietnamese | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Call the police / ambulance | Gọi cảnh sát / xe cấp cứu | goy can sat / se cap koo |
| I need a doctor | Tôi cần bác sĩ | toy can bak see |
| Where is the hospital? | Bệnh viện ở đâu? | ben vyen oh dow? |
| I lost my passport | Tôi mất hộ chiếu | toy mat ho chyoo |
Useful numbers
For markets and taxis.
| French / English | Vietnamese | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 – 5 – 10 | Một – Năm – Mười | mot – nam – moo-ee |
| 100 – 1,000 – 10,000 | Một trăm – nghìn – mười nghìn | mot tram – ngin – moo-ee ngin |
Speak a few words of Vietnamese
Greetings, temples, dining, bargaining: the right gestures to travel respectfully and be welcomed.