Praktisch · Kapitel 13
By the HolidayGenie editorial team ·
Vietnamese is a tonal language with six tones — perfect pronunciation is almost impossible for Europeans. But attempting a few words will be rewarded with broad smiles. Here are the most important phrases for your journey.
Basics & Greetings
Pronunciation Note
Vietnamese has 6 tones, marked by accent marks. For travelers, it's almost impossible to hit the tones correctly — but don't worry: With context and gestures, the Vietnamese will usually understand you. Smiling always helps!
| German | Vietnamese | Pronunciation (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | Xin chào | Sin tschau |
| Goodbye | Tạm biệt | Tam biet |
| Thank you | Cảm ơn | Kam öhn |
| Yes | Vâng (N) / Dạ (S) | Vung / Ya |
| No | Không | Kohm |
| Please / Excuse me | Xin lỗi | Sin loy |
| No problem | Không sao | Kohm sau |
| I don't understand | Tôi không hiểu | Toy kohm hiu |
| Do you speak English? | Bạn nói tiếng Anh không? | Ban noy tieng An kohm? |
| What is your name? | Bạn tên gì? | Ban ten yi? |
| My name is... | Tôi tên là... | Toy ten la... |
| Nice to meet you! | Rất vui được gặp bạn | Rat vui döck gap ban |
In the Restaurant & Dining
| German | Vietnamese | Pronunciation (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| The bill please | Tính tiền | Tin tien |
| Delicious! | Ngon! | Ngon! |
| Very delicious! | Ngon lắm! | Ngon lam! |
| Not spicy please | Không cay | Kohm kai |
| Water | Nước | Nöck |
| Beer | Bia | Bia |
| Coffee (iced) | Cà phê sữa đá | Ka feh süa da |
| Coffee (hot, black) | Cà phê đen nóng | Ka feh den nong |
| Cheers! | Một, hai, ba, dô! | Mot, hai, ba, yo! |
| I am vegetarian | Tôi ăn chay | Toy an tschai |
| Menu please | Xin cho menu | Sin tscho menü |
| Rice | Cơm | Köhm |
| Noodles | Phở / Bún / Mì | Föh / Bun / Mi |
| Chicken | Gà | Ga |
| Beef | Bò | Bo |
| Pork | Heo / Lợn | Heo / Lon |
| Shrimp | Tôm | Tom |
| Fish | Cá | Ka |
Tipp
"Ngon lắm!" (Very delicious!) is the phrase that opens most hearts. Say it to the cook at the street stall — and you're guaranteed a second helping or a smile.
On the Go & Shopping
| German | Vietnamese | Pronunciation (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| How much does this cost? | Cái này bao nhiêu? | Kai nay bau njeu? |
| Too expensive! | Đắt quá! | Dat kwa! |
| Cheaper please | Giảm giá đi | Yam ya di |
| Where is...? | ...ở đâu? | ...ö dau? |
| Toilet | Nhà vệ sinh | Nja we sin |
| Hotel | Khách sạn | Katsch san |
| Airport | Sân bay | San bay |
| Train station | Ga tàu | Ga tau |
| Left | Bên trái | Ben tschai |
| Right | Bên phải | Ben fai |
| Straight ahead | Đi thẳng | Di tang |
| Help! | Cứu tôi! | Küu toy! |
| Hospital | Bệnh viện | Ben vien |
| Police | Công an | Kong an |
Paying
| Number | Vietnamese | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Không | Kohm |
| 1 | Một | Mot |
| 2 | Hai | Hai |
| 3 | Ba | Ba |
| 4 | Bốn | Bon |
| 5 | Năm | Nam |
| 6 | Sáu | Sau |
| 7 | Bảy | Bay |
| 8 | Tám | Tam |
| 9 | Chín | Tschin |
| 10 | Mười | Möi |
| 100 | Một trăm | Mot tram |
| 1,000 | Một nghìn (N) / ngàn (S) | Mot ngin / ngan |
| 10,000 | Mười nghìn | Möi ngin |
| 100,000 | Một trăm nghìn | Mot tram ngin |
| 1,000,000 | Một triệu | Mot trieu |
Understanding Prices
Vietnamese often abbreviate prices by omitting the last three zeros. When someone says "năm mươi" (50), they mean 50,000 VND. "Một trăm" (100) = 100,000 VND. This is confusing at first, but quickly becomes second nature.
Tipp
When bargaining: Showing the numbers on the mobile calculator is the easiest method. The seller types in their price, you type in yours. No misunderstandings possible.
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