Essential Vietnamese Phrases for Travel: 24 Phrases You'll Actually Use
Vietnam — Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Ha Long Bay, Hoi An — is a top destination in Southeast Asia. Vietnamese uses the Latin alphabet with many accent marks that show its six tones, so reading is easy but pronunciation takes practice.
Updated October 2026
Basics and greetings
| English | Vietnamese |
|---|---|
| Hello | Xin chào |
| Goodbye | Tạm biệt |
| Please | Làm ơn |
| Thank you | Cảm ơn |
| Yes | Vâng / Dạ |
| No | Không |
| Excuse me / Sorry | Xin lỗi |
| I don't understand | Tôi không hiểu |
| Do you speak English? | Bạn có nói tiếng Anh không? |
At the restaurant
| English | Vietnamese |
|---|---|
| A table for two, please | Cho tôi một bàn hai người |
| The menu, please | Cho tôi xem thực đơn |
| Water, please | Cho tôi nước |
| The bill, please | Tính tiền giúp tôi |
| It's delicious | Ngon quá! |
Getting around and shopping
| English | Vietnamese |
|---|---|
| Where is the toilet? | Nhà vệ sinh ở đâu? |
| Where is the station? | Nhà ga ở đâu? |
| How much is it? | Bao nhiêu tiền? |
| Can you write it down? | Bạn viết ra giúp tôi được không? |
Emergencies and health
| English | Vietnamese |
|---|---|
| Help! | Cứu tôi với! |
| I need a doctor | Tôi cần bác sĩ |
| Where is the pharmacy? | Nhà thuốc ở đâu? |
| Call the police! | Gọi cảnh sát! |
| I'm lost | Tôi bị lạc |
Practical tips
- The accent marks are tones, not decoration: "ma", "má" and "mà" are different words.
- North (Hanoi) and South (Saigon) accents differ — "yes" is often "vâng" in the North and "dạ" in the South.
- Street food is a highlight: point, smile and use "Cái này" (this one).
- In markets, agree on the price first; in restaurants with printed menus, prices are fixed.
Too many phrases to remember?
With OIEM Translator you can simply talk. Choose English and Vietnamese, tap the microphone once and speak normally: the translation appears in about half a second and is spoken out loud in Vietnamese. When the other person answers, OIEM detects their language automatically and translates back — no need to tap again.
- Hands-free two-way conversation
- Text translation also works offline
- Photo translation for menus and signs
Free to download with free voice translations to try. The weekly plan includes a 3-day free trial.
Frequently asked questions
Do people in Vietnam speak French?
Some older people do, from history, but today English is far more common among young people and in tourism.
Can my phone speak Vietnamese for me?
Yes. With a voice translator like OIEM Translator you speak in English and your iPhone says it out loud in Vietnamese, then translates the answer back. It is useful when a phrase list is not enough.
Do these phrases work offline?
This page works offline if you save it or take screenshots before your trip. In OIEM Translator, text translation works offline; voice translation needs an internet connection.