Before traveling to Vietnam, learning a few basic Vietnamese phrases can be helpful for communication and navigating daily interactions. Here are some useful Vietnamese phrases:
- Hello: Xin chào (sin chow)
- Thank you: Cảm ơn (kahm uhn)
- Yes: Vâng (vahng)
- No: Không (khom)
- Please: Làm ơn (lam uhn)
- Excuse me / Sorry: Xin lỗi (sin loy)
- Goodbye: Tạm biệt (tahm byet)
- I don’t understand: Tôi không hiểu (toy khom hyoo)
- Do you speak English?: Bạn có nói tiếng Anh không? (bahn koh noy tyeng ang khom?)
- How much is this?: Cái này giá bao nhiêu? (kai nay gah bao nyoo?)
- Where is the restroom?: Nhà vệ sinh ở đâu? (nyah veh sinh uh dow?)
- I need help: Tôi cần giúp đỡ (toy kahn joop duh)
- Can you recommend a good restaurant?: Bạn có thể giới thiệu một nhà hàng ngon không? (bahn koh teez jooy mot nyah hahng ngon khom?)
- I would like to order…: Tôi muốn đặt món… (toy mwahn dat mohn…)
- Cheers!: Chúc sức khỏe! (chook sook kweh)
- Where is…?: …ở đâu? (uh dow?)
- Help!: Giúp tôi! (joop toy!)
- I’m sorry, I don’t speak Vietnamese: Xin lỗi, tôi không nói tiếng Việt (sin loy, toy khom noy tyeng vyet)
Remember that pronunciation is important when speaking Vietnamese, so listening to audio recordings or practicing with a native speaker can help you improve. Locals in Vietnam appreciate it when travelers make an effort to learn a few phrases in their language, even if you don’t speak it fluently.