Essential Vietnamese phrases

The words that make your first weeks in Ho Chi Minh City smoother — with pronunciation you can actually say.

Greetings

Xin chào
sin chow
Hello
Cảm ơn
gam un
Thank you
Tạm biệt
tam bee-et
Goodbye
Xin lỗi
sin loy
Sorry / excuse me

Daily life

Bao nhiêu?
bow nyew
How much?
Đắt quá!
dat kwa
Too expensive!
Nhà vệ sinh ở đâu?
nya ve sin uh dow
Where's the restroom?

Food

Ngon quá!
ngon kwa
So delicious!
Tính tiền
ting tien
The bill, please
Không cay
khong kai
Not spicy

Social

Không sao
khong sao
No problem

Emergency

Giúp tôi với
yup toy voy
Help me

Actually learn to speak Ho Chi Minh City’s language

Globe Quest drills these with spaced repetition and a patient AI tutor you can practice with by voice — a few minutes a day. Free to start.