›  The Vietnamese language is written in the same alphabet as English, so you should have no trouble reading signs and maps, although pronunciation may be tricky.

›  English-speakers are easily found in tourist areas, but most Vietnamese people speak very little English.

›  Although in popular tourist destinations and larger cities it is just about possible to get by without knowing a word of Vietnamese, insisting on speaking your own language all the time will isolate you from the majority of Vietnamese people and leave you less likely to make friends and relationships you will remember from your travels. By learning to speak just a few words of Vietnamese you can greatly improve your experience, reduce misunderstandings and frustrations.

The following are essential Vietnamese Words and Phrases for Travelers to Vietnam

Daily conversations

Vietnamese people love talking to foreigners and we’ve found them to be very welcoming, despite what other people say.

Remember to always be polite when asking for something. Vietnamese people are naturally quiet and polite so raising your voice or speaking in a boisterous tone might turn them away. Remember, a smile is your biggest asset. Use it when interacting with people!

 

Travelling & Directions

Shopping

Dining & Ordering Food

Numbers, Dates & Times

Days of The Week

This is even easier once you got the hang of numbers in Vietnamese because the days are named after numbers in ascending order starting from number 2 (hai). Except for Sunday though.

Time

If you’re REALLY serious about learning Vietnamese, here are a few tips:

Practice Makes Perfect- Either you practice with local friends or you practice with people online, there is no better way than to learn a language than by interacting with native speakers. Listen to their diction and pronunciation and don’t be afraid to ask them questions. Most of them would be more than happy that you are taking the time to actually learn their language.

Get a teacher or enrol yourself in a program- Vietnamese isn’t as easy as English as certain words can look exactly alike but mean two different things depending on how it is pronounced.

Don’t be Afraid to look like a fool- Learning a language is supposed to be a way for you to speak and understand more about another culture so don’t be too self-conscious. Chances are, they will laugh with you and not at you!