🛍️ 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.

Cái này bao nhiêu tiền?

kai nay bow nyew tyen

How much is this? — Establish the opening price

Đắt quá!

dat kwah

Too expensive! — Say this with a smile. Always.

Bớt giá đi

buht yah dee

Give me a better price — Make your counter offer

Tôi trả [X] thôi

toy chah [X] thoy

I'll only pay [X] — State your price firmly

Được rồi, tôi mua

duh-uk roy, toy moo-ah

OK deal, I'll buy it — If they agree

[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

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👀 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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👕 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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🏪 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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🎯 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.

💡 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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