Heritage Cruises
Heritage Cruises
US$180 US$202
Ambassador Cruise
Ambassador Cruise
US$180 US$198
Peony Cruise
Peony Cruise
US$140 US$161
Orchid Cruises
Orchid Cruises
US$180 US$198
Stellar of the Seas
Stellar of the Seas
US$180 US$189

30+ Most Useful Vietnamese Phrases and Vocabulary for Travelers

An interesting fact about the Vietnamese language is that it’s the only Asian language that use the Roman alphabet instead of characters.

30+ Most Useful Vietnamese Phrases and Vocabulary for Travelers

Vietnamese is a fascinating language because it’s a tonal language. This means that even though a lot of words are spelled the same, they sound totally different. The tones are marked using several accents, usually placed on vowels. When speaking Vietnamese it’s very important to try and mimic the pronunciation as best you can. For instance: "bánh mì chay" means a vegetarian baguette and "bánh mì cháy" means burned bread. The pronunciation is only slightly different but the words have completely different meanings!

Below we’ve compiled a list of useful Vietnamese phrases and vocabulary for tourists to use in day to day situations.

Greetings

  • Xin chào (sin ciao): Hello 
  • Cảm ơn (calm on): Thank you 
  • Bạn khỏe không? (ban kway kh-o-ng): How are you?

Directions

  • Tôi nghỉ tại (toi nji tie): My hotel address is… 
  • Bạn chỉ đường giúp (ban chi duong jup): Can you show me the way to…? 
  • Tôi muốn đi (toi mooun dee): I want to go to… 
  • Tôi muốn xem (toi mooun sem): I want to see…

At a restaurant

  • Em ơi (m oii): Use this to call over the waiter (literally translates as ‘my dear’) 
  • Ngon quá (non kwa): Delicious! 
  • Không sao (kh-o-ng sao, sao as in Sao Paulo): No problem/It’s okay.

A famous Vietnamese Grilled Pork Sausage: Nem Nướng (Nem Neung) 

At the market

  • Không (kh-o-ng, ng like in sing): No, Thank you 
  • Bao nhiêu tiền (bow nieu tien): How much is this? 
  • Đắt quá (dut wa, dut like in “Dutch”): Too expensive! 
  • Tôi muốn (toi mooun): I want to have… 
  • Đẹp quá (dep kwa, depth without th): So beautiful! 
  • Không mua (kh-o-ng m-our, our in tour): I don’t want to buy it. 
  • Bạn tốt quá! (ban tot wa): It’s nice of you

Emergency

  • Tôi không biết bơi (toi kh-o-ng bet boi): I don’t know how to swim 
  • Cứu tôi với (kyu toi voi): Help me 
  • Ôi dời ơi (oi zoi oi): Oh My God 
  • Nguy hiểm quá (nuya him wa): It’s too dangerous 

Besides these handy and useful phrases we’ve also compiled a list of essential vocabulary words for when you go to Halong Bay.

  • Đảo (dow): island 
  • Vịnh (Ving): bay 
  • Du thuyền (Zoo thien): Cruise/boat
  • Thạch nhũ (Tack njoo): stalactite/stalagmite 
  • Cảng (Kang): port/harbor 
  • Nước (Nuok): water 
  • Hang (Haang): cave, den, hole, burrow 
  • Hải sản (Hai san): sea-foods 
  • Biển (Bee en): sea 
  • Tàu (T ou): ship 
  • Khách sạn (Khike San): hotel 
  • Lễ tân (Lay ten): receptionist 
  • Làng chài (Lang chai): fishing village
  • Hòn (Hon): Islet

Questions and Answers (0)

Ask your question
Contact Information

Be the first to ask a question on this page!

Halong Bay Cruises & Tours

Explore Halong Bay

Discover the charming and exotic landscapes of Halong bay on an all-inclusive luxury cruise!

Need assistance?

+84 987 246 600 (Whatsapp)
+84 969 606 606 (Whatsapp)
Request a call back
Or Email us

Top cruises in Halong bay

Essence Grand Cruise

Essence Grand Cruise

FROM US$677/person
DAYS 2
Heritage Cruises Binh Chuan

Heritage Cruises Binh Chuan

FROM US$180/person
DAYS 2
Ambassador Cruise

Ambassador Cruise

FROM US$180/person
DAYS 2
Capella Cruise

Capella Cruise

FROM US$195/person
DAYS 2
Indochine Premium Cruise

Indochine Premium Cruise

FROM US$385/person
DAYS 2