Directions, transport types, Grab phrases, bargaining with drivers, and emergency vocabulary.
| English | Vietnamese | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Turn left | Rẽ trái | reh chai |
| Turn right | Rẽ phải | reh fai |
| Go straight | Đi thẳng | dee tung |
| Turn around / go back | Quay lại | kway lie |
| Stop here | Dừng ở đây | yung uh day |
| On the left side | Bên trái | ben chai |
| On the right side | Bên phải | ben fai |
| In front | Phía trước | fyah chuh-uk |
| Behind / at the back | Phía sau | fyah sow |
| Near / close | Gần | gun |
| Far | Xa | sah |
| Where is...? | ...ở đâu? | uh doh |
| How far? | Bao xa? | bow sah |
| How long? (time) | Bao lâu? | bow loh |
| English | Vietnamese | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Street / road | đường | duh-ung |
| Alley / lane | hẻm | hem |
| Traffic light | đèn đỏ | den daw |
| Intersection / crossroads | ngã tư | ngah tuh |
| Roundabout | vòng xoay | vawng sway |
| Bridge | cầu | koh |
| Corner | góc đường | gawk duh-ung |
| Here | ở đây | uh day |
| There | ở đó | uh daw |
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Upgrade to Pro — $9.99/mo →| English | Vietnamese | Pronunciation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motorbike taxi (local) | xe ôm | seh ohm | Literal: "hug vehicle" — you hold on to the driver |
| Motorbike / scooter | xe máy | seh my | Most common vehicle in Vietnam |
| Grab (app-based) | Grab | grab | Safer and cheaper than street taxis |
| Taxi | taxi | tak-see | Use Vinasun or Mai Linh — reputable brands |
| Bus | xe buýt | seh bwit | Cheap but slow — good for budget travel |
| Bicycle | xe đạp | seh dap | Popular in Hoi An and Hue |
| Car / automobile | ô tô | oh toh | |
| Train | tàu hỏa | tow hwah | Reunification Express: HCMC to Hanoi |
| Sleeper bus | xe giường nằm | seh yuh-ung num | Budget overnight travel between cities |
| Airplane | máy bay | my bay | VietJet and Bamboo are budget carriers |
| Ferry / boat | tàu thuyền | tow thwyen | Essential for Mekong Delta and islands |
| Airport | sân bay | sun bay | |
| Bus station | bến xe | ben seh | |
| Train station | ga tàu | gah tow |
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Upgrade to Pro — $9.99/mo →| English | Vietnamese | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| I ordered a Grab | Tôi đặt Grab rồi | toy dat grab roy |
| The driver is coming | Tài xế đang đến | tie seh dang den |
| Please wait for me here | Chờ tôi ở đây | chuh toy uh day |
| I'm at the entrance | Tôi ở cổng vào | toy uh kohng vow |
| I'm at the front | Tôi ở phía trước | toy uh fyah chuh-uk |
| Stop here | Dừng ở đây | yung uh day |
| Please drop me off here | Cho tôi xuống đây | chaw toy soo-ung day |
| Take me to this address | Đưa tôi đến địa chỉ này | duh-ah toy den dyah chee nay |
| English | Vietnamese | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| How much to go to...? | Đi... bao nhiêu tiền? | dee... bow nyew tyen |
| Too expensive | Đắt quá | dat kwah |
| Lower the price | Bớt đi | buht dee |
| I'll give you [X] | Tôi trả [X] thôi | toy chah [X] thoy |
| Use the meter please | Bật đồng hồ đi | but dome hoh dee |
| OK deal / agreed | Được rồi | duh-uk roy |
| Can you go faster? | Đi nhanh hơn được không? | dee nyan huhn duh-uk khome |
| Can you go slower? | Đi chậm hơn được không? | dee chum huhn duh-uk khome |
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Upgrade to Pro — $9.99/mo →| English | Vietnamese | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Help! | Cứu tôi với! | kyew toy vuh-ee |
| Call the police! | Gọi cảnh sát! | goy kahn saht |
| Call an ambulance! | Gọi cứu thương! | goy kyew thuh-ung |
| I had an accident | Tôi bị tai nạn | toy bee tie nan |
| I was robbed | Tôi bị cướp | toy bee kyuh-up |
| I'm lost | Tôi bị lạc | toy bee lahk |
| I need help | Tôi cần giúp đỡ | toy kun yoop duh |
| Where is the hospital? | Bệnh viện ở đâu? | beng vyen uh doh |
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