Greetings & Politeness
Vietnamese greetings depend on age and gender. These basics will serve you well and show respect.
Cultural Context:
Age hierarchy is important in Vietnam. Using the right pronoun (anh/chi/em) shows cultural awareness and earns respect. When in doubt, use anh (for men) or chi (for women) for people who look older than you.
Xin chào
Seen chao
Literal: "Please hello"
"Hello"
When to use:
General greeting, safe in any situation
Cultural Tip:
Add 'anh' (male) or 'chị' (female) after for more respect: 'Xin chào anh'
Cảm ơn
Gahm un
Literal: "Thank"
"Thank you"
When to use:
Expressing gratitude—use it often!
Cultural Tip:
Can add 'nhiều' (nyew) for 'thank you very much': Cảm ơn nhiều
Xin lỗi
Seen loy
Literal: "Please sorry"
"Excuse me / Sorry"
When to use:
Apologizing or getting someone's attention
Cultural Tip:
Works for both 'sorry' and 'excuse me'—context makes it clear
Không sao
Khom sao
Literal: "Not anything / Not star"
"No problem / It's okay"
When to use:
Responding when someone apologizes
Cultural Tip:
Literally means 'no star' but means 'no worries'—very common phrase
Tạm biệt
Tam bee-et
Literal: "Temporary farewell"
"Goodbye"
When to use:
Formal goodbye
Cultural Tip:
More casual: 'Chào anh/chị' (just 'chao an/chee') works for bye too
Bạn khỏe không?
Ban kway khom?
Literal: "You healthy not?"
"How are you?"
When to use:
Asking someone how they're doing
Cultural Tip:
Use 'anh/chị' instead of 'bạn' for older people
Tôi khỏe, cảm ơn
Toy kway, gahm un
Literal: "I healthy, thank"
"I'm fine, thank you"
When to use:
Responding to 'how are you?'
Cultural Tip:
Follow up with 'còn bạn?' (còn ban?) meaning 'and you?'
Rất vui được gặp bạn
Zat voo-ee doo-oc gap ban
Literal: "Very happy be able meet you"
"Nice to meet you"
When to use:
Meeting someone for the first time
Cultural Tip:
Smile when you say this—warmth goes far
Hẹn gặp lại
Hen gap lie
Literal: "Promise meet again"
"See you later / See you again"
When to use:
Casual goodbye when you'll see them again
Cultural Tip:
More casual than 'tạm biệt' and friendlier
Chúc ngủ ngon
Chook ngu ngon
Literal: "Wish sleep delicious"
"Good night / Sleep well"
When to use:
Saying goodnight
Cultural Tip:
Sweet phrase—literally wishing someone 'delicious sleep'
Xin phép
Seen fep
Literal: "Please permission"
"Excuse me (to pass by)"
When to use:
When you need to squeeze past someone
Cultural Tip:
Essential in crowded markets and streets
Practice Tips
Start Simple
Master 2-3 phrases before moving on. Use them in real situations. Confidence comes from repetition, not memorization.
Embrace Mistakes
Vietnamese people are incredibly patient and supportive. Your accent will be off—that's okay. Effort matters more than perfection.
Use It Daily
Order coffee in Vietnamese every morning. Say thank you in Vietnamese every time. Language lives in practice, not textbooks.
Ask for Help
"How do you say...?" is a powerful phrase. Locals love teaching their language and will become your best teachers over coffee.