At a Restaurant
Street food stalls and local restaurants are where Vietnamese shines. These phrases will enhance your eating experience immensely.
Cultural Context:
Pointing at menu items or what others are eating is totally acceptable. Food culture is casual and welcoming. Don't expect fast service—meals are social, not rushed.
Cho tôi một phần
Cho toy mote fun
Literal: "Give me one portion"
"One portion please"
When to use:
Ordering food at stalls or restaurants
Cultural Tip:
Point at what you want as you say this
Không cay
Khom kai
Literal: "Not spicy"
"Not spicy"
When to use:
If you can't handle heat—VERY useful
Cultural Tip:
Vietnamese food isn't super spicy compared to Thai, but this helps
Tính tiền
Teen tee-en
Literal: "Calculate money"
"Check please / Bill please"
When to use:
When you want to pay
Cultural Tip:
May need to call the server over first with 'Em ơi!' (em oy - excuse me)
Ngon lắm!
Ngon lam!
Literal: "Delicious very!"
"Very delicious!"
When to use:
Complimenting the food—makes vendors incredibly happy
Cultural Tip:
This phrase creates instant warmth and often leads to conversations
Món này là gì?
Mon nay la zee?
Literal: "Dish this is what?"
"What is this dish?"
When to use:
Asking about unfamiliar food
Cultural Tip:
Point at the dish and ask—people love explaining their food
Tôi ăn chay
Toy an chai
Literal: "I eat vegetarian"
"I'm vegetarian"
When to use:
Indicating dietary restrictions
Cultural Tip:
Vietnam has great vegetarian food—look for 'cơm chay' restaurants
Không bột ngọt
Khom bot ngot
Literal: "Not powder sweet"
"No MSG"
When to use:
If you want to avoid MSG
Cultural Tip:
MSG is common in Vietnamese cooking—this requests without
Cho tôi nước lọc
Cho toy noo-oc lock
Literal: "Give me water filtered"
"Filtered water please"
When to use:
Ordering water
Cultural Tip:
Usually they bring bottled water—tap water isn't safe to drink
Món nào ngon?
Mon now ngon?
Literal: "Dish which delicious?"
"What's good here? / What do you recommend?"
When to use:
Asking for recommendations
Cultural Tip:
Locals love sharing their favorites—leads to best discoveries
Cho tôi đũa
Cho toy doo-a
Literal: "Give me chopsticks"
"Chopsticks please"
When to use:
If you need chopsticks
Cultural Tip:
Most places have them, but sometimes you need to ask
Em ơi!
Em oy!
Literal: "Younger sibling hey!"
"Excuse me! (to get server's attention)"
When to use:
Calling a waiter or server
Cultural Tip:
Standard way to get attention—not rude at all
Cay một chút
Kai mote chute
Literal: "Spicy one little"
"A little bit spicy"
When to use:
If you want some spice but not too much
Cultural Tip:
Vietnamese usually add chili sauce themselves at the table
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.