Basic Vietnamese Phrases for Travellers

English is widely understood in tourist-facing parts of District 1 and other central areas, so you can travel comfortably without any Vietnamese — but even a few basic phrases, attempted sincerely, tend to get a warm response, and are genuinely useful once you step slightly off the main tourist paths.

A starting handful

Xin chào — hello. Cảm ơn — thank you. Xin lỗi — sorry / excuse me (useful both to apologise and to get attention politely). Bao nhiêu tiền? — how much? Không, cảm ơn — no, thank you (useful for politely declining persistent vendors). Ngon — delicious (a genuinely appreciated compliment to a street food vendor).

A note on tones

Vietnamese is a tonal language, meaning the same syllable can mean entirely different things depending on pitch and inflection — this is why a phrase that looks simple written down can be hard to get right spoken, and why locals may not immediately understand an attempted phrase even when the words are technically correct. Don't be discouraged; the attempt is appreciated regardless, and pointing or using a translation app alongside a spoken attempt works well.

Regional note

Southern Vietnamese pronunciation, spoken in Ho Chi Minh City, differs somewhat from the Hanoi-based pronunciation often taught in language apps and courses — don't worry if a phrase you learned doesn't land exactly as expected; it's a genuine regional difference, not a mistake on your part.