15 Useful Vietnamese Phrases for Travelers Part 2

Vietnam, with its breathtaking landscapes, rich history, and vibrant culture, is a destination that beckons travelers from around the world. English is spoken in many tourist areas. However, learning some basic Vietnamese language can greatly enhance your experience. It also helps foster connections with the warm and welcoming locals. If you already learned some basic Vietnamese phrases with our part 1, here are some essential new materials. These will help you navigate Vietnam with ease in common social situations.

Asking for directions

1. Đi đường nào đến (somewhere)?

This is a typical question to ask which route you should take to get to a specific place. If you want to make it easier, by simply asking where a place is, you should say “Somewhere ở đâu?” An important tip is that, in Vietnamese language, if you are talking to someone who is older than you, add “ạ” (sounds like a short and abrupt ah) to show respect. For example, “Toilet ở đâu ạ?” which means “Where is the toilet?”

2. Rẽ phải/Rẽ trái

Sometimes if you are taking a Grab or a taxi and you know where the desired location is, you can instruct the driver by telling him to turn right (Rẽ phải) or turn left (Rẽ trái).

3. Dừng lại!

When you have reached your destination, tell him to stop – dừng lại to let him know it is where you are expecting to arrive. 

4. Chậm lại.

This might be a phrase in Vietnamese language you need to repeat many times to your driver when you arrive in Vietnam for the first time and experience the traffic here. It could be a bit scary if you think the driver is driving too fast so tell him to slow down – Chậm lại.

5. Đến somewhere bao nhiêu tiền?

Make sure to ask first how much it costs to go somewhere if you are reaching out to a bike taxi or a taxi. If they don’t turn on the meter, it is likely that they charge you a higher price than usual. In Vietnamese language, the order might be different, so when you ask Đến somewhere bao nhiêu tiền?, it literally means To go to somewhere how much does it cost?

At the airport

1. Đến ga nội địa/ga quốc tế.

If you are on a bus or taxi to the airport, make sure you tell the driver to drop you off at the domestic terminal – ga ná»™i địa or international terminal – ga quốc tế as these two terminals might be kilometers away from each other.

2. Quầy check-in –name of airline- ở đâu?

Where is the -name of airline- check-in counter? is the question you may need when you get to the big airports in Vietnam. In Vietnamese language, there is no translation for check-in so it’s easier not to remember too many words.

3. Cổng A/B ở đâu?

It’s easy to apply the same structure when you want to ask where something is by adding “ở đâu” at the end of the question, which means where. In Vietnamese language, the question word like where, or how much is always at the end of the sentence. It’s important to know where the gate you need to go to is, especially when you are in a rush, so ask Cổng A/B/etc. ở đâu?, meaning Where is gate A/B/etc.?

4. Tôi không tìm thấy hành lý.

Find help by saying the above Vietnamese phrase if you cannot find your baggage. It means I cannot find my luggage.

At the hotel 

1. Tôi muốn check in/check out

In Vietnamese language, if you want to do something, say “Tôi muốn” and add the action. When you arrive at your hotel, go to the receptionist and say Tôi muốn check in, meaning I want to check in, or Tôi muốn check out when you finish your stay there.

2. Tôi cần dọn phòng.

The similar structure to Tôi muốn – I want is Tôi cần – I need in Vietnamese language. They are interchangeable sometimes. When you need house cleaning, tell the reception “Tôi cần dọn phòng“.

3. Ăn sáng ở đâu?

Most hotels in Vietnam include breakfast, so if you want to know where to have breakfast, ask the staff Ä‚n sáng ở đâu? A reminder that breakfast time in Vietnamese hotels starts and finishes quite early, mostly from 6:30 – 10 am so make sure you are up on time. 

Asking for help

1. Giúp tôi với!

This is a command in Vietnamese language, which means “Help me!”. 

2. Tôi cần bác sÄ©. 

We do hope you will never have to use this Vietnamese phrase, but in case you have some health problems that you need a doctor, say “Tôi cần bác sÄ©” to someone to ask for help. They can call the ambulance for you or show you where to get to the hospital or clinics.

3. Gọi cảnh sát!

Another Vietnamese phrase that you should keep in your pocket. “Gọi cảnh sát” means “Call the police”, a command that you use in an emergency, for example, when you see a crime on the street, or you encounter one yourself. 

Learning these basic Vietnamese phrases will not only assist you in practical situations but will also endear you to the locals who appreciate when visitors make an effort to communicate in Vietnamese language. So, pack your bags, embrace the culture, and savor the beauty of Vietnam with these essential phrases at your fingertips.

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