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🛍️ Markets & Bargaining Cheat Sheet
The full bargaining script, clothing phrases, quality checks, and market vocabulary — stop paying tourist prices.
📜 The Full Bargaining Script
Use this sequence at any Vietnamese market. The opening price is usually 3–5x the real price — expect to pay 40–60% of the ask.
1
Cái này bao nhiêu tiền?
kai nay bow nyew tyen
How much is this? — Establish the opening price
2
Đắt quá!
dat kwah
Too expensive! — Say this with a smile. Always.
3
Bớt giá đi
buht yah dee
Give me a better price — Make your counter offer
4
Tôi trả [X] thôi
toy chah [X] thoy
I'll only pay [X] — State your price firmly
5a
Được rồi, tôi mua
duh-uk roy, toy moo-ah
OK deal, I'll buy it — If they agree
5b
[Turn and walk away slowly]
—
If they don't agree — they'll often call you back with a lower price
💡 The walk-away is your most powerful tool. If you genuinely start walking away slowly, 8 out of 10 vendors will call you back with a better price. Don't rush. Don't look back. Wait for them to call.
Key Bargaining Phrases
| English | Vietnamese | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| How much? | Bao nhiêu tiền? | bow nyew tyen |
| Too expensive! | Đắt quá! | dat kwah |
| Give me a discount | Bớt giá đi | buht yah dee |
| Lower it more | Bớt nữa đi | buht nyuh dee |
| What's your best price? | Giá tốt nhất là bao nhiêu? | yah tote nyut lah bow nyew |
| Final price | Giá cuối cùng | yah koo-oy koong |
| I'll buy two if cheaper | Nếu bớt giá tôi mua hai cái | neh-oo buht yah toy moo-ah hi kai |
| I saw it cheaper there | Chỗ kia bán rẻ hơn | choh kyah bahn reh huhn |
| OK deal | Được rồi | duh-uk roy |
| No deal | Không được | khome duh-uk |
| Bulk discount? (buying a lot) | Mua nhiều được giảm giá không? | moo-ah nyew duh-uk yahm yah khome |
💳 Paying & Wrapping Up
| English | Vietnamese | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Do you accept card? | Có nhận thẻ không? | kaw nyun theh khome |
| Cash only (vendor's reply) | Chỉ nhận tiền mặt | chee nyun tyen mut |
| Can I have a receipt? | Cho tôi hóa đơn | chaw toy hwah duhn |
| Thank you, see you next time | Cảm ơn, hẹn gặp lại | cahm uhn, hen gup lie |
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Upgrade to Pro — $9.99/mo →👀 Browsing Phrases
| English | Vietnamese | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| I'm just looking | Tôi chỉ xem thôi | toy chee sem thoy |
| Can I see it? | Cho tôi xem | chaw toy sem |
| Can I try it on? | Cho tôi thử | chaw toy thuh |
| I don't want it | Tôi không muốn | toy khome moo-uhn |
| Do you have...? | Có... không? | kaw... khome |
| This one | Cái này | kai nay |
| That one | Cái kia | kai kyah |
| Which one? | Cái nào? | kai now |
| One piece / item | Một cái | moht kai |
| A pair | Một đôi | moht doy |
| A set | Một bộ | moht boh |
| Is it genuine? | Hàng thật không? | hahng thut khome |
| Is it durable? | Bền không? | ben khome |
| Can you wrap it as a gift? | Gói quà được không? | goy kwah duh-uk khome |
💡 Never show enthusiasm before agreeing on a price. If you pick something up and say "oh I love this!", the vendor will hold firm. Browse casually, show mild interest, then start negotiating.
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Upgrade to Pro — $9.99/mo →👕 Clothing & Sizing
| English | Vietnamese | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Do you have a bigger size? | Có size lớn hơn không? | kaw size luhn huhn khome |
| Do you have a smaller size? | Có size nhỏ hơn không? | kaw size nyaw huhn khome |
| It fits perfectly | Vừa lắm | vyuh-ah lahm |
| Too tight | Hơi chật | huh-ee chut |
| Too loose | Hơi rộng | huh-ee rawng |
| Too long | Hơi dài | huh-ee die |
| Too short | Hơi ngắn | huh-ee ngun |
| Do you have another color? | Có màu khác không? | kaw mow khahk khome |
| I like this color | Tôi thích màu này | toy tick mow nay |
| Where is the fitting room? | Phòng thử đồ ở đâu? | fawng thuh doh uh doh |
💡 Vietnamese sizing runs small. If you wear a Medium in Western clothes, try Large or XL at Vietnamese markets. Always try before you buy — "Cho tôi thử" is one of the most useful phrases in this subject.
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Upgrade to Pro — $9.99/mo →🏪 Market Types & Famous Markets
| English | Vietnamese | Pronunciation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Market (general) | chợ | chuh | |
| Wet market (fresh food) | chợ ướt | chuh oo-ut | Best fresh produce — go early morning |
| Night market | chợ đêm | chuh dem | Souvenirs, street food, clothing |
| Morning market | chợ buổi sáng | chuh boo-oy sahng | Freshest produce of the day |
| Supermarket | siêu thị | syew tee | Fixed prices — no bargaining |
| Shop / store | cửa hàng | kyuh-ah hahng | Fixed prices — no bargaining |
| Market stall | quầy hàng | kway hahng | Individual stall at a market |
Souvenir Vocabulary
| English | Vietnamese | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Souvenir | đồ lưu niệm | doh lyew nyem |
| Handmade / handicraft | hàng thủ công | hahng thoo kohng |
| Local specialty | đặc sản | dak sahn |
| Gift / present | quà tặng | kwah tung |
| Fake / counterfeit | hàng giả | hahng yah |
| Genuine / authentic | hàng thật | hahng thut |
| Silk | lụa | loo-ah |
| Lacquerware | đồ sơn mài | doh suhn my |
| Conical hat | nón lá | nawn lah |
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Upgrade to Pro — $9.99/mo →🎯 Quick Reference
Bao nhiêu tiền?bow nyew tyenHow much?
Đắt quá!dat kwahToo expensive!
Bớt giá đibuht yah deeGive me a discount
Tôi chỉ xem thôitoy chee sem thoyJust looking
Cho tôi thửchaw toy thuhLet me try it
Vừa lắmvyuh-ah lahmFits perfectly
Được rồiduh-uk royOK / deal
Tôi muatoy moo-ahI'll buy it
Hàng thật không?hahng thut khomeIs it genuine?
Có màu khác không?kaw mow khahk khomeAnother color?
💡 Bargaining Rules
Rule 1: Opening price at tourist markets = 3–5x the real price. Start your counter at 40% of the ask.
Rule 2: Never show enthusiasm before agreeing on a price.
Rule 3: The walk-away is your most powerful move — use it.
Rule 4: Buying multiple items = serious leverage. "Nếu bớt giá tôi mua hai cái"
Rule 5: Don't bargain in shops with price tags — it's rude and won't work.
Rule 6: Always smile. Bargaining is a social activity, not a confrontation.
Rule 2: Never show enthusiasm before agreeing on a price.
Rule 3: The walk-away is your most powerful move — use it.
Rule 4: Buying multiple items = serious leverage. "Nếu bớt giá tôi mua hai cái"
Rule 5: Don't bargain in shops with price tags — it's rude and won't work.
Rule 6: Always smile. Bargaining is a social activity, not a confrontation.
💡 Where to bargain: Ben Thanh Market (Saigon), Dong Ba Market (Hue), Hoi An Night Market, any street vendor or market stall. Where NOT to bargain: Any shop with fixed price tags, supermarkets, or restaurants.
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