What you'll say, and what you'll hear back

You walk out of arrivals. First stop: a SIM card kiosk.

1. You say
   Xin chào! sin chow Hello!
   Word 1: xin chào · hello

   Works with anyone, any time of day.

2. You say
   Tôi muốn mua sim. toy moo-un moo-ah sim I want to buy a SIM card.
   Word 2: muốn · want
3. You hear
   Anh cho em xem hộ chiếu. ang chaw em sem hoh chee-oh Can I see your passport?
   Word 3: hộ chiếu · passport

   SIM cards are registered to your passport, so have it ready.

4. You say
   Dạ, đây. yah, day Yes, here you go.
   Word 4: dạ · yes (polite)

   Dạ is the polite yes in central and southern Vietnam. You will hear it constantly.

5. You hear
   Anh dùng mấy ngày? ang yoong may ngai How many days will you use it?
   Word 5: ngày · day
6. You say
   Bảy ngày. bai ngai Seven days.
   Word 6: bảy · seven
7. You hear
   Hai trăm ngàn. hai chahm ngahn Two hundred thousand (dong).
   Word 7: ngàn · thousand

   Prices are said in thousands: 200,000 dong is "hai trăm ngàn", often written 200k.

8. You say
   Đổi tiền ở đâu? doy tee-en uh dow Where can I change money?
   Word 8: ở đâu · where

   Put any place in front: Grab ở đâu? Where is the Grab pickup?

Your Grab car pulls up. The driver checks where you are going.

1. You hear
   Anh đi đâu ạ? ang dee dow ah Where are you going?
   Word 9: đi · go

   The little ạ on the end just makes it polite.

2. You say
   Cho tôi đến khách sạn này. chaw toy den khak sahn nay Take me to this hotel. (show your screen)
   Word 10: khách sạn · hotel
3. You say
   Đi thẳng. dee tahng Go straight.
   Word 11: thẳng · straight
4. You say
   Rẽ trái. zeh chai Turn left.
   Word 12: trái · left
5. You say
   Rẽ phải. zeh fai Turn right.
   Word 13: phải · right
6. You say
   Dừng ở đây. zung uh day Stop here.
   Word 14: dừng · stop
7. You hear
   Tới rồi anh. toy zoy ang We're here.
   Word 15: rồi · already, done

   Rồi turns things into "done": ăn rồi, already eaten.

8. You say
   Cảm ơn anh! gahm un ang Thank you!
   Word 16: cảm ơn · thank you

   Add anh or chị to thank a man or a woman.

A hotel near My Khe beach. The receptionist smiles.

1. You say
   Tôi đã đặt phòng. toy dah dat fawng I have a booking.
   Word 17: phòng · room
2. You hear
   Anh tên gì ạ? ang ten zee ah What's your name?
   Word 18: tên · name
3. You say
   Tôi tên là Mark. toy ten lah Mark My name is Mark.
   Word 19: tôi · I, me
4. You hear
   Phòng anh ở tầng năm. fawng ang uh tung nahm Your room is on the fifth floor.
   Word 20: tầng · floor
5. You hear
   Ăn sáng từ sáu giờ. an sahng tuh sow zuh Breakfast is from six o'clock.
   Word 21: giờ · o'clock, hour
6. You say
   Mật khẩu wifi là gì? mut khoh wai-fai lah zee What's the wifi password?
   Word 22: mật khẩu · password
7. You say
   Máy lạnh không chạy. my lang khome chai The air-con isn't working.
   Word 23: máy lạnh · air-con

   In Hanoi you will hear điều hòa instead.

8. You say
   Mấy giờ trả phòng? may zuh chah fawng What time is checkout?
   Word 24: trả · give back, pay

Da Nang's convenience stores are Circle K, GS25 and WinMart+. It is late and you want water and a snack.

1. You say
   Có nước suối không? gaw nuh-uk soo-ee khome Do you have bottled water?
   Word 25: nước · water

   Nước suối is still bottled water. Don't drink from the tap.

2. You hear
   Ở trong tủ lạnh. uh chong too lang It's in the fridge.
   Word 26: tủ lạnh · fridge
3. You say
   Cái này bao nhiêu? guy nay bow nyew How much is this?
   Word 27: bao nhiêu · how much
4. You hear
   Anh có cần hâm nóng không? ang gaw gun hum nong khome Do you want it heated up?
   Word 28: nóng · hot

   They will microwave buns and rice boxes for you.

5. You hear
   Anh có lấy túi không? ang gaw lay tooy khome Do you want a bag?
   Word 29: túi · bag
6. You say
   Không cần, cảm ơn. khome gun, gahm un No need, thanks.
   Word 30: cần · need
7. You hear
   Anh có thẻ thành viên không? ang gaw teh tang vee-en khome Do you have a member card?
   Word 31: thẻ · card
8. You say
   Không. khome No.
   Word 32: không · no, not

   Also ends yes-or-no questions: Có ... không? means "Is there ...?"

9. You hear
   Tiền mặt hay chuyển khoản? tee-en mut hai chwee-en khwahn Cash or bank transfer?
   Word 33: tiền mặt · cash

   Locals pay by scanning a QR code. As a visitor, cash or card is fine.

A street café with tiny plastic stools. Strong coffee, condensed milk, lots of ice.

1. You say
   Em ơi! em uh-ee Excuse me! (calling the server)
   Word 34: em ơi · excuse me (to staff)

   The single most useful phrase in a café or restaurant. Say it to anyone younger than you.

2. You hear
   Anh uống gì ạ? ang oo-ong zee ah What would you like to drink?
   Word 35: uống · drink
3. You say
   Cho tôi một cà phê sữa đá. chaw toy moht gah feh suh-ah dah One iced coffee with milk, please.
   Word 36: cho tôi · I'll have, give me

   Cho tôi + anything is how you order. No "please" needed.

4. You say
   Ít đường thôi. it doo-ung toy Just a little sugar.
   Word 37: đường · sugar

   Đường also means road. Context does the rest.

5. You hear
   Uống đây hay mang đi? oo-ong day hai mahng dee Drink here or take away?
   Word 38: mang đi · take away
6. You say
   Một cà phê muối nữa. moht gah feh moo-ee nuh-ah One more salt coffee.
   Word 39: nữa · more, another

   Cà phê muối, coffee with salted cream, is from nearby Huế. Try it.

7. You say
   Em ơi, tính tiền! em uh-ee, tin tee-en The bill, please!
   Word 40: tính tiền · the bill

A bánh mì cart on the corner and a mì Quảng shop with plastic chairs. This is Da Nang's best food.

1. You hear
   Anh ăn gì? ang an zee What will you eat?
   Word 41: ăn · eat
2. You say
   Cho tôi một ổ bánh mì. chaw toy moht oh bang mee One bánh mì, please.
   Word 42: bánh mì · bread roll, sandwich
3. You hear
   Thêm trứng không? tem chung khome Add an egg?
   Word 43: trứng · egg
4. You hear
   Ăn cay được không? an gai duh-uk khome Can you eat spicy food?
   Word 44: cay · spicy
5. You say
   Ít cay thôi. it gai toy Just a little spicy.
   Word 45: ít · a little
6. You say
   Không bỏ rau mùi. khome baw zow moo-ee No coriander.
   Word 46: rau · herbs, greens
7. You say
   Cho hai tô mì Quảng. chaw hai toh mee kwahng Two bowls of mì Quảng.
   Word 47: tô · bowl

   Mì Quảng is the local noodle dish: thick turmeric noodles, a little broth, peanuts and a rice cracker.

8. You say
   Món này là gì? mon nay lah zee What is this dish?
   Word 48: món · dish
9. You say
   Tôi ăn chay. toy an chai I'm vegetarian.
   Word 49: chay · vegetarian
10. You say
    Ngon quá! ngon kwah So delicious!
    Word 50: ngon · delicious

    Say it to the cook. Quá means "so" or "too".

A big seafood restaurant on the beach road. You pick your seafood from tanks and pay by the kilo.

1. You say
   Bàn cho bốn người. bahn chaw bohn ngoo-ee A table for four.
   Word 51: bàn · table
2. You hear
   Anh xem thực đơn ạ. ang sem tuk dun ah Here's the menu.
   Word 52: thực đơn · menu
3. You say
   Con này bao nhiêu một ký? gon nay bow nyew moht kee How much per kilo for this one?
   Word 53: ký · kilo

   Always ask the price per kilo before they weigh it.

4. You hear
   Anh muốn nướng hay hấp? ang moo-un noo-ung hai hup Grilled or steamed?
   Word 54: nướng · grilled
5. You say
   Tôi bị dị ứng tôm. toy bee zee ung tome I'm allergic to shrimp.
   Word 55: dị ứng · allergic

   For a serious allergy, carry a written card checked by a native speaker.

6. You say
   Thêm hai chai bia. tem hai chai bee-ah Two more bottles of beer.
   Word 56: bia · beer

   Bia Larue is the local Da Nang beer.

7. You say
   Một, hai, ba, dô! moht, hai, bah, zoh One, two, three, cheers!
   Word 57: dô · cheers

   Everyone counts together, then shouts dô and drinks.

8. You say
   Nhà vệ sinh ở đâu? nyah veh sin uh dow Where is the toilet?
   Word 58: nhà vệ sinh · toilet

Chợ Hàn, the riverside market. Sellers call out, nothing has a price tag, and bargaining is expected.

1. You hear
   Mua gì anh ơi? moo-ah zee ang uh-ee What are you buying?
   Word 59: mua · buy
2. You say
   Tôi chỉ xem thôi. toy chee sem toy I'm just looking.
   Word 60: xem · look, see
3. You say
   Có size lớn hơn không? gaw sai lun hun khome Do you have a bigger size?
   Word 61: lớn · big
4. You hear
   Ba trăm ngàn. bah chahm ngahn Three hundred thousand.
   Word 62: trăm · hundred
5. You say
   Mắc quá! mak kwah Too expensive!
   Word 63: mắc · expensive

   Central and southern Vietnam say mắc. In Hanoi it is đắt.

6. You say
   Bớt đi chị. but dee chee Give me a discount.
   Word 64: bớt · reduce, discount

   Smile while you say it. Start at about half and meet in the middle.

7. You say
   Hai trăm được không? hai chahm duh-uk khome Is two hundred OK?
   Word 65: được · OK, can

   ... được không? is how you ask "can I?" for anything.

8. You hear
   Thôi, lấy đi. toy, lay dee Fine, take it.
   Word 66: lấy · take
9. You say
   Tôi lấy hai cái. toy lay hai guy I'll take two.
   Word 67: hai · two

The easy way to reach the Sơn Trà peninsula and the Hải Vân Pass. Only ride if you hold the right licence.

1. You say
   Thuê xe máy một ngày bao nhiêu? twheh seh my moht ngai bow nyew How much to rent a motorbike for a day?
   Word 68: xe máy · motorbike
2. You hear
   Một trăm năm chục ngàn. moht chahm nahm chook ngahn A hundred and fifty thousand.
   Word 69: năm · five
3. You hear
   Anh có bằng lái không? ang gaw bang lai khome Do you have a licence?
   Word 70: bằng lái · driving licence

   You need a licence valid in Vietnam. Travel insurance often won't cover you without one.

4. You hear
   Đặt cọc hai triệu. dat gawp hai chee-oo A deposit of two million.
   Word 71: triệu · million

   2,000,000 dong is about 80 US dollars. Count the zeros twice.

5. You say
   Mũ bảo hiểm đâu? moo bow hee-em dow Where's the helmet?
   Word 72: mũ bảo hiểm · helmet
6. You say
   Đổ xăng ở đâu? doh sang uh dow Where can I get petrol?
   Word 73: xăng · petrol
7. You say
   Xe bị hỏng rồi. seh bee hong zoy The bike has broken down.
   Word 74: hỏng · broken

   You may also hear hư, the southern word.

Tickets, timings and the perfect photo.

1. You say
   Đi Hội An mất bao lâu? dee hoy an mut bow loh How long does it take to get to Hội An?
   Word 75: bao lâu · how long
2. You hear
   Khoảng bốn mươi phút. khwahng bohn muh-ee foot About forty minutes.
   Word 76: phút · minute
3. You say
   Mua hai vé. moo-ah hai veh Two tickets, please.
   Word 77: vé · ticket
4. You hear
   Mấy người? may ngoo-ee How many people?
   Word 78: người · person, people
5. You say
   Mấy giờ đóng cửa? may zuh dong guh-ah What time does it close?
   Word 79: đóng cửa · closed
6. You say
   Chụp hình giúp tôi được không? choop hin zoop toy duh-uk khome Could you take a photo for me?
   Word 80: chụp hình · take a photo
7. You say
   Đẹp quá! dep kwah So beautiful!
   Word 81: đẹp · beautiful
8. You say
   Đi biển thôi! dee bee-en toy Let's go to the beach!
   Word 82: biển · sea, beach

After a day in the sun, a foot massage is cheap and everywhere.

1. You say
   Tôi muốn massage chân. toy moo-un mah-sah chun I'd like a foot massage.
   Word 83: chân · foot, leg
2. You hear
   Sáu mươi phút hay chín mươi phút? sow muh-ee foot hai chin muh-ee foot Sixty minutes or ninety minutes?
   Word 84: hay · or
3. You hear
   Anh nằm xuống đây. ang num soo-ong day Please lie down here.
   Word 85: nằm · lie down
4. You hear
   Mạnh hay nhẹ? mang hai nyeh Strong or gentle?
   Word 86: nhẹ · gentle, light
5. You say
   Mạnh hơn. mang hun Stronger.
   Word 87: hơn · more (than)
6. You say
   Đau quá! dow kwah That hurts!
   Word 88: đau · pain, hurt

A pharmacy, getting lost, and the words you hope not to need.

1. You say
   Xin lỗi, nhà thuốc ở đâu? sin loy, nyah too-ok uh dow Excuse me, where is a pharmacy?
   Word 89: xin lỗi · excuse me, sorry
2. You say
   Tôi bị đau bụng. toy bee dow boong I have a stomach ache.
   Word 90: bụng · stomach
3. You say
   Tôi bị sốt. toy bee soht I have a fever.
   Word 91: bị · (something bad) happens to me

   Bị marks something bad happening to you: bị sốt, bị lạc, bị hỏng.

4. You hear
   Uống ngày ba lần. oo-ong ngai bah lun Take it three times a day.
   Word 92: lần · times
5. You say
   Tôi bị lạc. toy bee lahk I'm lost.
   Word 93: lạc · lost
6. You say
   Tôi không hiểu. toy khome hee-oo I don't understand.
   Word 94: hiểu · understand
7. You say
   Nói chậm lại được không? noy chum lai duh-uk khome Could you speak more slowly?
   Word 95: chậm · slow
8. You say
   Bạn nói tiếng Anh được không? bahn noy tee-eng ang duh-uk khome Can you speak English?
   Word 96: tiếng Anh · English
9. You say
   Cứu tôi với! guh-oo toy vuh-ee Help me!
   Word 97: cứu · help, save
10. You say
    Gọi cảnh sát! goy gang saht Call the police!
    Word 98: cảnh sát · police

    Emergency numbers: police 113, ambulance 115.

11. You hear
    Không sao đâu. khome sow dow It's no problem.
    Word 99: không sao · no problem
12. You say
    Tạm biệt! tahm bee-et Goodbye!
    Word 100: tạm biệt · goodbye