Essential Vietnamese Phrases
These are the Vietnamese phrases travelers actually use — grouped by situation, with a simple pronunciation guide and English meaning. This is a free preview; get the full set with native-speaker audio to hear every tone correctly.
Essential Vietnamese Travel Phrases: Tourist Survival Kit
Master 100 must-know Vietnamese phrases for tourists and travelers visiting Vietnam. Perfect for short trips, these beginner-friendly flashcards cover essential vocabulary for ordering food, getting around, shopping, and basic greetings. Learn practical Vietnamese phrases that locals use everyday - no complicated grammar or regional dialects
Every card with native-speaker audio and a built-in spaced-repetition study system. One-time purchase, lifetime access.
Greetings
| Vietnamese | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Xin chào | sin chow | Hello |
| Cảm ơn | kahm uhn | Thank you |
+ 15 more in the full deck
Directions
| Vietnamese | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Ở đâu? | uh dow | Where? |
| Bên trái | ben chai | Left |
+ 3 more in the full deck
Transportation
| Vietnamese | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Taxi | tahk see | Taxi |
| Ga | gah | Train station |
+ 2 more in the full deck
Shopping
| Vietnamese | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Bao nhiêu? | bao nyew | How much? |
| Giảm giá | zahm zah | Discount |
+ 4 more in the full deck
Time
| Vietnamese | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Sớm | suhm | Early |
| Muộn | moohn | Late |
+ 4 more in the full deck
Places
| Vietnamese | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Biển | bee-en | Sea |
| Núi | nooi | Mountain |
+ 6 more in the full deck
Accommodation
| Vietnamese | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Khách sạn | khahch sahn | Hotel |
Weather
| Vietnamese | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Lạnh | lahnh | Cold |
| Trời mưa | choy mooa | It's raining |
+ 1 more in the full deck
Emergency
| Vietnamese | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Giúp tôi | yoop toy | Help me |
| Bệnh viện | benh vee-en | Hospital |
+ 1 more in the full deck
Activities
| Vietnamese | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Bơi | buh-oi | Swim |
| Đi bộ | dee boh | Walk |
+ 1 more in the full deck
Basic
| Vietnamese | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Vâng | vahng | Yes |
| Không | khong | No |
+ 39 more in the full deck
Feelings
| Vietnamese | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Vui | vooi | Happy |
| Buồn | boohn | Sad |
+ 2 more in the full deck
Food
| Vietnamese | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Nhà hàng | nya hahng | Restaurant |
| Bia | bee-ah | Beer |
+ 22 more in the full deck
Health
| Vietnamese | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Đau | dow | Pain |
| Thuốc | thook | Medicine |
Numbers
| Vietnamese | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Một | moht | One |
| Hai | hai | Two |
+ 1 more in the full deck
Hear every phrase with native audio
This is a free preview. Get the full deck to play all 130 phrases with native-speaker audio and track your progress.
Frequently asked questions
How many Vietnamese phrases do I need to get by as a traveler?
A core of about 30 to 50 phrases — greetings, numbers, directions, ordering food, and shopping — covers the vast majority of everyday tourist situations in Vietnam.
Is Vietnamese pronunciation hard for English speakers?
Vietnamese is tonal, so the same syllable can mean different things depending on pitch. The romanized pronunciations here get you close; hearing native audio for each phrase is the fastest way to get the tones right.
Do people in Vietnam speak English?
In major tourist areas and hotels you will find some English, but knowing a handful of Vietnamese phrases makes daily interactions — markets, taxis, street food — far smoother and friendlier.
Keep learning Vietnamese
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