Learn Vietnamese Fast - Master Essential Words and Phrases for Quick Fluency

What you'll learn

• Master the 6 Vietnamese tones with Hanoi accent
• Learn 30 core survival words for daily life
• Use 35 essential phrases for greetings and shopping
• Order food and drinks at restaurants confidently
• Navigate Hanoi with directions and transport vocab
• Engage in social conversations with proper politeness
• Handle emergencies with safety-critical vocabulary
• Build sentences using 25 reusable grammar patterns

What's inside: all 200 cards

Every card in this set, free to read. Pro adds native audio on each one and a review schedule that brings it back before you forget it.

Tones and Pronunciation · 15

ma/ mah (flat, steady voice) /

ghost - Level tone (ngang). Keep your voice steady, no rise or fall.

má/ mah (sharp upward rise) /

cheek - Rising tone (sác). Voice rises sharply from mid to high pitch.

mà/ mah (dropping low gently) /

but, yet - Falling tone (huyền). Voice drops from mid to low pitch.

mả/ mah (dips down then comes back up) /

tomb, grave - Dipping tone (hỏi). Voice falls then rises, like asking a question.

mã/ mah (rises with a crack in the middle) /

horse - Broken tone (ngã). Voice rises, catches with a glottal break, then rises again.

mạ/ mah (drops hard and stops abruptly) /

rice seedling - Heavy tone (nặng). Voice drops sharply and cuts off.

mười/ moo-ee (spread lips, not rounded) /

ten - Key vowel: ư is an unrounded 'oo' (lips spread, not rounded).

mùi/ moo-ee (rounded lips) /

smell, nose - Key vowel: u is a rounded 'oo' (lips rounded like English 'oo').

cơm/ kuhm (open jaw 'aw') /

rice (cooked) - Key vowel: ơ is an open 'aw' sound (jaw drops).

côm/ kohm (tight 'oh') /

not a common word - Key vowel: ô is a closed 'oh' sound (lips tight circle).

ăn/ an (short, clipped 'a') /

eat - Key vowel: ă is a short clipped 'a' sound.

ân/ uhn (short 'uh') /

grace, kindness - Key vowel: â is a short 'uh' sound (like 'u' in English 'but').

đi/ dee (English 'd' sound) /

go - Key consonant: đ sounds like English 'd'. In Hanoi, plain 'd' sounds like 'z'.

bán/ bahn (rising tone = sell) /

sell - Minimal pair with bẩn (dirty). Same word, different tone changes meaning entirely.

bẩn/ bahn (dipping tone = dirty) /

dirty - Minimal pair with bán (sell). Same word, different tone changes meaning entirely.

Core Survival Words · 30

tôi/ toy /

I, me

bạn/ bahn /

you (friendly, same age)

anh/ ahng /

you (polite, to older male); older brother

chị/ chee /

you (polite, to older female); older sister

là/ la /

to be (am, is, are)

có/ kaw /

to have; there is

muốn/ moo-ohn /

to want

cần/ kuhn /

to need

đi/ dee /

to go

ăn/ an /

to eat

uống/ oo-ohng /

to drink

biết/ bee-et /

to know (a fact)

nói/ noy /

to speak, to say

hiểu/ hee-oh /

to understand

mua/ moo-ah /

to buy

cho/ chaw /

to give; for

tốt/ toht /

good

xấu/ soh /

bad, ugly

nhiều/ nyee-oh /

many, much, a lot

ít/ eet /

few, little, not much

to/ taw /

big, large

nhỏ/ nyaw /

small, little

đắt/ dahk /

expensive

rẻ/ zeh /

cheap, inexpensive

không/ kohm /

no; not (negation word, placed before verb)

vâng/ vuhng /

yes (polite, to older person)

và/ va /

and

nhưng/ nyoong /

but, however

rất/ zuht /

very

cũng/ koong /

also, too

Essential Phrases · 35

Xin chào/ sin chow /

Hello (formal)

Chào anh/ chow ahng /

Hi (to older male)

Chào chị/ chow chee /

Hi (to older female)

Tạm biệt/ tahm bee-et /

Goodbye

Cảm ơn/ kahm uhn /

Thank you

Xin lỗi/ sin loy /

Sorry; Excuse me

Không có gì/ kohm kaw zee /

You're welcome; No problem

Bạn khỏe không?/ bahn kweh kohm? /

How are you?

Tôi khỏe, cảm ơn./ toy kweh, kahm uhn /

I'm fine, thank you.

Bạn tên gì?/ bahn ten zee? /

What is your name?

Tôi tên là/ toy ten la /

My name is...

Tôi là người Mỹ./ toy la ngoo-ee mee /

I am American.

Tôi không hiểu./ toy kohm hee-oh /

I don't understand.

Nói lại được không?/ noy lai doo-uk kohm? /

Can you say that again?

Nói chậm hơn được không?/ noy chuhm huhn doo-uk kohm? /

Can you speak more slowly?

Cái này là gì?/ kai nay la zee? /

What is this?

Tiếng Việt là gì?/ tee-eng vee-et la zee? /

What is it in Vietnamese?

Tôi nói tiếng Việt một chút./ toy noy tee-eng vee-et moht choot /

I speak a little Vietnamese.

Bạn nói tiếng Anh được không?/ bahn noy tee-eng ahng doo-uk kohm? /

Can you speak English?

Làm ơn/ lahm uhn /

Please

Được/ doo-uk /

OK; can; allowed

Không được/ kohm doo-uk /

Cannot; not allowed

Bao nhiêu tiền?/ bow nyee-oh tee-en? /

How much does it cost?

Đắt quá!/ daht kwa! /

Too expensive!

Nhà vệ sinh ở đâu?/ nya veh sing uh doh? /

Where is the toilet?

Tôi muốn đi/ toy moo-ohn dee /

I want to go (to...)

Cho tôi/ chaw toy /

Give me...; I'll have...

Tôi bị lạc./ toy bee lahk /

I am lost.

Wi-Fi mật khẩu là gì?/ why-fai muht koh la zee? /

What is the Wi-Fi password?

Chờ một chút./ chuh moht choot /

Wait a moment.

Không sao/ kohm sow /

It's OK; No worries; Never mind

Hay quá!/ hai kwa! /

That's great! Awesome!

Tôi đồng ý./ toy dohng ee /

I agree.

Tôi cần giúp đỡ!/ toy kuhn zoop duh! /

I need help!

Tôi thích Việt Nam./ toy tick vee-et nahm /

I like Vietnam.

Numbers, Time and Money · 20

một/ moht /

one (1)

hai/ hai /

two (2)

ba/ ba /

three (3)

bốn/ bohn /

four (4)

năm/ nahm /

five (5); also means 'year'

mười/ moo-ee /

ten (10)

một trăm/ moht chahm /

one hundred (100)

một nghìn/ moht ngeen /

one thousand (1,000)

một triệu/ moht chee-oh /

one million (1,000,000)

đồng/ dohng /

Vietnamese dong (currency)

Bớt được không?/ boht doo-uk kohm? /

Can you lower the price?

Tính tiền/ tin tee-en /

Check please; the bill

tiền mặt/ tee-en maht /

cash

sáng/ sahng /

morning

chiều/ chee-oh /

afternoon

tối/ toy /

evening, night

hôm nay/ hohm nai /

today

ngày mai/ ngai mai /

tomorrow

hôm qua/ hohm kwa /

yesterday

bây giờ/ bay zuh /

now

Food and Dining · 25

phở/ fuh /

pho (rice noodle soup)

bún chả/ boon cha /

grilled pork with rice noodles (famous Hanoi dish)

bánh mì/ bahng mee /

Vietnamese baguette sandwich

cơm/ kuhm /

rice (cooked); a meal

bún/ boon /

rice vermicelli noodles

thịt bò/ tit baw /

beef

thịt gà/ tit ga /

chicken

thịt lợn/ tit luhn /

pork

cá/ ka /

fish

tôm/ tohm /

shrimp

rau/ zow /

vegetables

trứng/ choong /

egg

cà phê sữa đá/ ka feh soo-ah da /

Vietnamese iced coffee with condensed milk

trà đá/ cha da /

iced tea

bia hơi/ bee-ah huh-ee /

fresh draft beer (Hanoi specialty)

nước lọc/ noo-uhk lawk /

purified water

ngon quá!/ ngawn kwa! /

So delicious!

cay/ kai /

spicy

Tôi ăn chay./ toy an chai /

I am vegetarian.

đói/ doy /

hungry

no/ naw /

full (not hungry anymore)

khát/ kaht /

thirsty

Cho tôi xem thực đơn./ chaw toy sem took duhn /

Let me see the menu.

nước mắm/ noo-uhk mahm /

fish sauce

nem/ nem /

fried spring rolls

Directions and Transport · 15

xe ôm/ seh ohm /

motorbike taxi

Gọi Grab/ goy grap /

Call a Grab (ride-hailing app)

taxi/ tahk-see /

taxi

đi thẳng/ dee tahng /

go straight

rẽ trái/ zeh chai /

turn left

rẽ phải/ zeh fai /

turn right

gần/ guhn /

near, close

xa/ sa /

far

Dừng lại ở đây./ zoong lai uh day /

Stop here. (to a driver)

sân bay/ suhn bai /

airport

khách sạn/ kahk sahn /

hotel

Bao lâu?/ bow loh? /

How long? (time duration)

Bao xa?/ bow sa? /

How far?

đến/ den /

to arrive; to (destination)

ở đây/ uh day /

here

Social and Relationship · 25

em/ em /

younger person (pronoun for someone younger than you)

cô/ koh /

aunt; ma'am (woman your parent's age)

ông/ ohng /

grandfather; sir (elderly man)

bà/ ba /

grandmother; ma'am (elderly woman)

bạn bè/ bahn beh /

friends

vợ/ vuh /

wife

chồng/ chohng /

husband

con trai/ kawn chai /

son; boy

con gái/ kawn gai /

daughter; girl

bố/ boh /

father (Northern/Hanoi)

mẹ/ meh /

mother (Northern/Hanoi)

Bạn bao nhiêu tuổi?/ bahn bow nyee-oh too-oy? /

How old are you?

Bạn làm nghề gì?/ bahn lahm ngeh zee? /

What do you do for work?

Bạn thích Việt Nam không?/ bahn tick vee-et nahm kohm? /

Do you like Vietnam?

vui/ voo-ee /

happy, fun

buồn/ boo-on /

sad

Hẹn gặp lại!/ hen gahp lai! /

See you again!

Chúc mừng!/ chook moong! /

Congratulations!

Một, hai, ba, dô!/ moht, hai, ba, zoh! /

One, two, three, cheers! (drinking toast)

đẹp trai/ dep chai /

handsome (for men)

xinh gái/ sing gai /

pretty (for women)

giỏi quá!/ zoy kwa! /

So talented! So skilled!

Mời anh vào./ muh-ee ahng vow /

Please come in. (polite invitation)

Tôi xin phép về trước./ toy sin fep veh choo-uhk /

May I leave early. (very polite)

nhé/ nyeh /

OK? right? yeah? (softener added to end of sentences)

Emergency and Health · 10

Cứu tôi với!/ koo-oo toy vuh-ee! /

Help me! (emergency)

Gọi cấp cứu!/ goy kuhp koo-oo! /

Call an ambulance!

Gọi cảnh sát!/ goy kahng saht! /

Call the police!

bệnh viện/ beng vee-en /

hospital

nhà thuốc/ nya too-ohk /

pharmacy

Tôi bị đau./ toy bee dow /

I am in pain.

đau đầu/ dow doh /

headache

Tôi bị dị ứng./ toy bee zee oong /

I have an allergy.

bác sĩ/ bahk see /

doctor

Tôi bị mất hộ chiếu./ toy bee muht hoh chee-oh /

I lost my passport.

Sentence Patterns · 25

Tôi không biết./ toy kohm bee-et /

I don't know. (Negation: không + verb)

Bạn có khỏe không?/ bahn kaw kweh kohm? /

Are you well? (Yes/no question: có...không?)

Ngồi đây được không?/ ngoy day doo-uk kohm? /

Can I sit here? (Permission: verb + được không?)

Bạn là người Mỹ, phải không?/ bahn la ngoo-ee mee, fai kohm? /

You're American, right? (Tag question: ...phải không?)

Ăn chưa?/ an choo-ah? /

Have you eaten yet? (Asking if done yet: verb + chưa?)

Ai đó?/ ai daw? /

Who's there? (Question word: ai = who)

Làm gì?/ lahm zee? /

Doing what? (Question word: gì = what)

Đi đâu?/ dee doh? /

Going where? (Question word: đâu = where)

Tại sao?/ tai sow? /

Why?

Tôi đã ăn rồi./ toy da an zoy /

I already ate. (Past tense: đã + verb)

Tôi đang học./ toy dahng hawk /

I am studying. (Present tense: đang + verb)

Tôi sẽ gọi cho bạn./ toy she goy chaw bahn /

I will call you. (Future tense: sẽ + verb)

Phở ngon hơn bún./ fuh ngawn huhn boon /

Pho is tastier than vermicelli. (Comparative: adjective + hơn)

Món này ngon nhất!/ mawn nay ngawn nyuht! /

This dish is the most delicious! (Superlative: adjective + nhất)

Ngon lắm!/ ngawn lahm! /

Very delicious! (Intensifier: adjective + lắm = very)

Tôi bị mất điện thoại./ toy bee muht dee-en twy /

I got my phone stolen. (Passive negative: bị + verb for bad things)

Tôi được mời./ toy doo-uk muh-ee /

I was invited. (Passive positive: được + verb for good things)

Nếu trời mưa thì tôi ở nhà./ neh-oo chuh-ee moo-ah tee toy uh nya /

If it rains then I'll stay home. (Conditional: nếu...thì...)

Càng học càng giỏi./ kahng hawk kahng zoy /

The more you study, the better you get. (Progressive: càng...càng...)

một cái bàn/ moht kai bahn /

a table (Classifier: cái for objects/things)

hai con mèo/ hai kawn meh-ow /

two cats (Classifier: con for animals and people)

Tôi chưa ăn./ toy choo-ah an /

I haven't eaten yet. (Not yet: chưa + verb)

Hiểu rồi!/ hee-oh zoy! /

Got it! I understand now! (Completion: verb + rồi = already done)

Ăn thử đi!/ an too dee! /

Try eating it! (Try: thử + verb)

Đi ăn đi!/ dee an dee! /

Let's go eat! (Suggestion: verb + đi = let's do it)