Travellers Vietnamese - language Vietnam
Xin Chao! Or Hello!
The Vietnamese language has a lovely sing-song quality to it, and at first sight it seems it should be easy to learn as the script is Romanized. However, there are also several sounds not normally found in Western languages and many symbols incorporated that affect the tone or pronunciation, making it very tricky to make much progress unless you spend several months in the country and practise every day.
The development of the Vietnamese language has mirrored the country’s turbulent history. Until the 14th century, the written form of the language used Chinese characters, after which an indigenous script called chu nom was introduced, though this was strongly influenced by Chinese.
In the 17th century, the French Jesuit scholar Alexandre de Rhodes developed a Romanized script called quoc ngu, though it was not immediately popular and until the 20th century, all three types of script could be found in different contexts. Now, however, quoc ngu prevails and is used at every level of society.
Each syllable in Vietnamese can be spoken with one of six tones, which are mid-level, low falling, low rising, low broken, high broken and low rising. Needless to say, it takes some practice to be able to hear the difference between these tones, but this is crucially important as it is the key to both understanding spoken Vietnamese and speaking it in a way that can be understood.
To make things more complicated, pronunciation of the same word can vary wildly between the north of the country and the south, so that people from different ends of the country have difficulty understanding each other.
If you do make some progress with the language, you’ll have to pay special attention to who you are talking to and address them with the appropriate term. For example, you should address an older man as ong, and an older woman as ba, but make sure to get the tones right or you might unwittingly insult them.
Another point to keep in mind is the manner in which the Vietnamese give their names. Unlike in the West, where the given name(s) come first and the family name after, in Vietnam the family name comes first and the given name(s) after, so if you meet someone called Dang Duc Thuc and want to speak in a friendly manner, call him ‘Thuc’, not ‘Dang’.
Basic phrases in Vietnamese
Good morning! chào buổi sáng
Good evening! chào buổi tối
Hi! chào
Welcome! (to greet someone) Chào mừng bạn ( đã đến đây )!
How are you? bạn có khỏe không? or khỏe chứ?
I’m fine, thanks! Cám ơn bạn tôi khỏe
Thank you (very much)! Cám ơn (rất nhiều)
You’re welcome! Đừng ngại
Good/ So-So. Tốt / cũng tàm tạm
Hey! Friend! Này!, Ê!
Good night! Chúc ngủ ngon!
Good bye! Tạm biệt
See you later! Gặp lại sau nhé
Asking for help or directions
Can you help me? Bạn giúp tôi đựơc không?
I’m lost Tôi bị lạc
Where is the bathroom? Phòng tắm nhà thuốc?
Go straight! then turn left/ right! Đi thẳng, sau đó rẽ trái / phải
Come with me! Đi với tôi
I’m looking for Clive. Tôi đang tìm Clive.
One moment please! Làm ơn đợi một lát!
How much is this? Cái này giá bao nhiêu?
Excuse me …! (asking for something) Xin lỗi cho hỏi?
Excuse me! (to pass someone) Xin lỗi, làm ơn nhé!
