Vietnamese Greetings People Use Every Day

Also the polite choice for a man about your age you do not know.

Also the polite choice for a woman about your age you do not know.

For teens, younger staff and younger friends.

Friendly and neutral among young people and in online chat.

When you join a group, a class or the office. Both regions.

Correct and safe for a visitor. Locals hear it from TV hosts, teachers and shop staff, but rarely use it with friends or neighbors.

North, and heard in the South too. Ạ at the end adds respect.

North, and heard in the South too.

North.

South. Southern speakers call themselves con with elders, as they do with their own parents.

South.

North, for your grandparents' generation; use bà for a woman. The South more often says Dạ, con chào ông ạ.

Both regions. A greeting that shows care, often from family, neighbors and older people. Usually with the right word for the person, such as Em ăn cơm chưa? to someone younger.

North. It works as a greeting, so a vague answer is fine.

South. Same use as the Northern Đi đâu đấy?

Both regions, with friends and family. In the North you also hear Lâu lắm không gặp.

North, casual. Often with a pronoun: Dạo này anh thế nào?

South, casual.

Swap anh for chị, em or bác to fit the person.

Taught first in most courses. Friends more often ask plain Khỏe không?, or Dạo này thế nào? in the North and Dạo này sao rồi? in the South.

The short answer people give. Tôi khỏe, cảm ơn. Còn bạn? is the full textbook version.

A polite answer from a younger person. Southern speakers usually open with dạ: Dạ, em khỏe.

A common, honest answer in both regions.

North.

South.

The answer to Ăn cơm chưa? To an elder: Dạ, cháu ăn rồi ạ in the North, Dạ, con ăn rồi in the South.

Polite, for work and formal introductions. Casual meetings often skip it.

Name yourself with the matching word: em to someone older, anh or chị to someone younger. Tôi tên là… is neutral and sounds more formal.

North. Ạ keeps it polite. Swap anh to fit the person.

South. Same question with the Southern vậy at the end.

Both regions. Then ask who it is: Ai đấy? in the North, Ai vậy? in the South.

North. Chào also means goodbye. The South says Chào anh nha.

North. The usual way to leave friends or coworkers. South: Em về nha.

Correct, but formal among friends, who more often say chào or the English bye.

North. What a host says as you leave. The South says Về nhà cẩn thận nha.

North. The South says Ngủ ngon nha. Chúc ngủ ngon is the fuller form.