Numbers & Money
Understanding Vietnamese numbers is crucial for shopping, taxis, and daily transactions. These basics will help you navigate prices and payments.
Cultural Context:
Vietnamese dong has lots of zeros (20,000 = about $1). Get comfortable with thousands. Vendors will often show you numbers on a calculator to avoid confusion.
Một
Mote
Literal: "One"
"One"
When to use:
Counting or ordering one item
Cultural Tip:
Foundation for all numbers—master this first
Hai
High
Literal: "Two"
"Two"
When to use:
Counting or ordering two items
Cultural Tip:
Pronounced like English 'high'
Ba
Ba
Literal: "Three"
"Three"
When to use:
Counting or ordering three items
Cultural Tip:
Simple and straightforward
Năm
Nam
Literal: "Five"
"Five"
When to use:
Counting or ordering five items
Cultural Tip:
Watch the tone—different from 'năm' (year)
Mười
Moo-oy
Literal: "Ten"
"Ten"
When to use:
Counting or ordering ten items
Cultural Tip:
Building block for larger numbers
Một trăm
Mote cham
Literal: "One hundred"
"One hundred"
When to use:
Larger quantities or prices
Cultural Tip:
Add 'nghìn' (ngin) for thousand: 'một trăm nghìn' = 100,000
Tiền thối
Tee-en toy
Literal: "Money return"
"Change (money back)"
When to use:
Asking for or referring to change
Cultural Tip:
Always count your change—mistakes happen
Trả tiền ở đâu?
Cha tee-en ur dow?
Literal: "Pay money at where?"
"Where do I pay?"
When to use:
Looking for the checkout or payment location
Cultural Tip:
Some places you pay at table, some at counter
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.