Choose the drink
Pick the coffee first, then add quantity with một ly if you want one cup.
Bạc xỉu is common in the south and usually sweeter or milkier than black coffee.
Southern Vietnamese
Southern Vietnamese Coffee Phrases
Order coffee and adjust sweetness in Ho Chi Minh City cafes.
Quick answer
In one sentence
Learn how to order Southern Vietnamese coffee, choose here or takeaway, and control sugar, ice, and milk.
- Use this page in Saigon-style cafes, takeaway stands, and small coffee shops where orders are short and repeated fast.
- Start with: Một ly cà phê sữa đá, Cà phê đen đá, Uống ở đây.
Mini lesson
Use this when...
Use this page in Saigon-style cafes, takeaway stands, and small coffee shops where orders are short and repeated fast.
Phrase guide shortcuts
Useful quick answers
Real situations
Choose size and temperature
Adjust hot or iced orders, cup size, and separate ice before the drink is made.
Vietnamese coffee is often strong, so ice and size matter.
Adjust sweetness and milk
Control sugar and milk clearly so the drink matches what you can actually enjoy.
Say these before the drink is mixed.
Cafe logistics
Answer here or takeaway, ask for straw, Wi-Fi, restroom, or a place to sit.
Uống ở đâyMang điCho tôi ống hútCó wifi không?Mật khẩu wifi là gì?Nhà vệ sinh ở đâu?Tôi ngồi ở đây được không?
These phrases turn a coffee order into a full cafe interaction.
Payment and small problems
Ask about wait time, change the drink, request a receipt, or give simple feedback.
Bao lâu có?Chờ tôi một chútCho tôi đổi mónCho tôi xin hóa đơnTính tiền giúpNgon quáCà phê này đắng quá
Keep feedback short and calm.
All phrases
Play normal audio first, then slow audio, then save only the phrases you will actually need.
Một ly cà phê sữa đá
One iced milk coffee
Add một ly before the drink.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
MộtmotheavyDrop the voice low and short.lylylevelKeep the voice steady and level.càcafallingLet the voice fall gently.phêphelevelKeep the voice steady and level.sữasuabrokenUse a short broken rise.đádarisingĐ starts like English d; do not say z.
Vietnamese spelling
Một→mờ ôt môt nặng Một
ly→lờ y ly
cà→cờ a ca huyền cà
phê→phờ ê phê
sữa→sờ ưa sưa ngã sữa
đá→đờ a đa sắc đá
Cà phê đen đá
Iced black coffee
Common if you do not want milk.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
CàcafallingLet the voice fall gently.phêphelevelKeep the voice steady and level.đendenlevelĐ starts like English d; do not say z.đádarisingĐ starts like English d; do not say z.
Vietnamese spelling
Cà→cờ a ca huyền Cà
phê→phờ ê phê
đen→đờ en đen
đá→đờ a đa sắc đá
Bạc xỉu
Vietnamese milk coffee with more milk
Common southern cafe order.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
BạcbacheavyDrop the voice low and short.xỉuxiudippingDip slightly, then recover.
Vietnamese spelling
Bạc→bờ ac bac nặng Bạc
xỉu→xờ iu xiu hỏi xỉu
Uống ở đây
Drink here
Use when staying in the cafe.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
UốnguongrisingLift the voice upward.ởodippingDip slightly, then recover.đâydaylevelĐ starts like English d; do not say z.
Vietnamese spelling
Uống→uông sắc Uống
ở→ơ hỏi ở
đây→đờ ây đây
Mang đi
Take away
Common cafe phrase.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
MangmanglevelKeep the voice steady and level.đidilevelĐ starts like English d; do not say z.
Vietnamese spelling
Mang→mờ ang mang
đi→đờ i đi
Thêm đá
More ice
Short and clear.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
ThêmthemlevelKeep the voice steady and level.đádarisingĐ starts like English d; do not say z.
Vietnamese spelling
Thêm→thờ êm thêm
đá→đờ a đa sắc đá
Ít đá
Less ice
Useful for drinks.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
ÍtitrisingLift the voice upward.đádarisingĐ starts like English d; do not say z.
Vietnamese spelling
Ít→it sắc Ít
đá→đờ a đa sắc đá
Ít đường thôi
Less sugar, please
Vietnamese drinks can be sweet by default.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
ÍtitrisingLift the voice upward.đườngduongfallingĐ starts like English d; do not say z.thôithoilevelKeep the voice steady and level.
Vietnamese spelling
Ít→it sắc Ít
đường→đờ ương đương huyền đường
thôi→thờ ôi thôi
Không đường
No sugar
Direct sweetness request.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
KhôngkhonglevelKeep the voice steady and level.đườngduongfallingĐ starts like English d; do not say z.
Vietnamese spelling
Không→khờ ông không
đường→đờ ương đương huyền đường
Không sữa
No milk
Useful for dairy-free orders.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
KhôngkhonglevelKeep the voice steady and level.sữasuabrokenUse a short broken rise.
Vietnamese spelling
Không→khờ ông không
sữa→sờ ưa sưa ngã sữa
Cho tôi ống hút
Please give me a straw
Small cafe request.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
ChocholevelKeep the voice steady and level.tôitoilevelKeep the voice steady and level.ốngongrisingLift the voice upward.húthutrisingLift the voice upward.
Vietnamese spelling
Cho→chờ o cho
tôi→tờ ôi tôi
ống→ông sắc ống
hút→hờ ut hut sắc hút
Tính tiền giúp
Bill, please
Use when ready to pay.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
TínhtinhrisingLift the voice upward.tiềntienfallingKeep the final n short.giúpgiuprisingLift the voice upward.
Vietnamese spelling
Tính→tờ inh tinh sắc Tính
tiền→tờ iên tiên huyền tiền
giúp→giờ up giup sắc giúp
Ngon quá
So good
Friendly reaction.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
NgonngonlevelStart with the back-of-mouth ng sound.quáquarisingQu is closer to kw than English q.
Vietnamese spelling
Ngon→ngờ on ngon
quá→quờ a qua sắc quá
Cà phê sữa nóng
Hot milk coffee
Hot version of milk coffee.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
CàcafallingLet the voice fall gently.phêphelevelKeep the voice steady and level.sữasuabrokenUse a short broken rise.nóngnongrisingLift the voice upward.
Vietnamese spelling
Cà→cờ a ca huyền Cà
phê→phờ ê phê
sữa→sờ ưa sưa ngã sữa
nóng→nờ ong nong sắc nóng
Cà phê đen nóng
Hot black coffee
Useful if you do not want ice.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
CàcafallingLet the voice fall gently.phêphelevelKeep the voice steady and level.đendenlevelĐ starts like English d; do not say z.nóngnongrisingLift the voice upward.
Vietnamese spelling
Cà→cờ a ca huyền Cà
phê→phờ ê phê
đen→đờ en đen
nóng→nờ ong nong sắc nóng
Một ly bạc xỉu
One Vietnamese milk coffee
Common sweeter southern order.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
MộtmotheavyDrop the voice low and short.lylylevelKeep the voice steady and level.bạcbacheavyDrop the voice low and short.xỉuxiudippingDip slightly, then recover.
Vietnamese spelling
Một→mờ ôt môt nặng Một
ly→lờ y ly
bạc→bờ ac bac nặng bạc
xỉu→xờ iu xiu hỏi xỉu
Ly nhỏ
Small cup
Ask for a smaller size.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
LylylevelKeep the voice steady and level.nhỏnhodippingDip slightly, then recover.
Vietnamese spelling
Ly→lờ y ly
nhỏ→nhờ o nho hỏi nhỏ
Ly lớn
Large cup
Ask for a bigger size.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
LylylevelKeep the voice steady and level.lớnlonrisingKeep the final n short.
Vietnamese spelling
Ly→lờ y ly
lớn→lờ ơn lơn sắc lớn
Ít sữa thôi
Less milk, please
Adjust milk sweetness.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
ÍtitrisingLift the voice upward.sữasuabrokenUse a short broken rise.thôithoilevelKeep the voice steady and level.
Vietnamese spelling
Ít→it sắc Ít
sữa→sờ ưa sưa ngã sữa
thôi→thờ ôi thôi
Nhiều sữa
More milk
For a milkier drink.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
NhiềunhieufallingLet the voice fall gently.sữasuabrokenUse a short broken rise.
Vietnamese spelling
Nhiều→nhờ iêu nhiêu huyền Nhiều
sữa→sờ ưa sưa ngã sữa
Cho tôi ly đá riêng
Please give me ice separately
Useful for controlling ice.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
ChocholevelKeep the voice steady and level.tôitoilevelKeep the voice steady and level.lylylevelKeep the voice steady and level.đádarisingĐ starts like English d; do not say z.riêngrienglevelKeep the voice steady and level.
Vietnamese spelling
Cho→chờ o cho
tôi→tờ ôi tôi
ly→lờ y ly
đá→đờ a đa sắc đá
riêng→rờ iêng riêng
Có wifi không?
Is there Wi-Fi?
Cafe question.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
CócorisingLift the voice upward.wifiwifilevelKeep the voice steady and level.khôngkhonglevelKeep the voice steady and level.
Vietnamese spelling
Có→cờ o co sắc Có
wifi→wifi
không→khờ ông không
Mật khẩu wifi là gì?
What is the Wi-Fi password?
More specific cafe question.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
MậtmatheavyDrop the voice low and short.khẩukhaudippingDip slightly, then recover.wifiwifilevelKeep the voice steady and level.làlafallingLet the voice fall gently.gìgifallingLet the voice fall gently.
Vietnamese spelling
Mật→mờ ât mât nặng Mật
khẩu→khờ âu khâu hỏi khẩu
wifi→wifi
là→lờ a la huyền là
gì→gờ i gi huyền gì
Nhà vệ sinh ở đâu?
Where is the restroom?
Cafe survival phrase.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
NhànhafallingLet the voice fall gently.vệveheavyDrop the voice low and short.sinhsinhlevelKeep the voice steady and level.ởodippingDip slightly, then recover.đâudaulevelĐ starts like English d; do not say z.
Vietnamese spelling
Nhà→nhờ a nha huyền Nhà
vệ→vờ ê vê nặng vệ
sinh→sờ inh sinh
ở→ơ hỏi ở
đâu→đờ âu đâu
Tôi ngồi ở đây được không?
Can I sit here?
Ask before taking a seat.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
TôitoilevelKeep the voice steady and level.ngồingoifallingStart with the back-of-mouth ng sound.ởodippingDip slightly, then recover.đâydaylevelĐ starts like English d; do not say z.đượcduocheavyĐ starts like English d; do not say z.khôngkhonglevelKeep the voice steady and level.
Vietnamese spelling
Tôi→tờ ôi tôi
ngồi→ngờ ôi ngôi huyền ngồi
ở→ơ hỏi ở
đây→đờ ây đây
được→đờ ươc đươc nặng được
không→khờ ông không
Cho tôi đổi món
Please let me change the drink
Use if the order is wrong.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
ChocholevelKeep the voice steady and level.tôitoilevelKeep the voice steady and level.đổidoidippingĐ starts like English d; do not say z.mónmonrisingKeep the final n short.
Vietnamese spelling
Cho→chờ o cho
tôi→tờ ôi tôi
đổi→đờ ôi đôi hỏi đổi
món→mờ on mon sắc món
Cho tôi xin hóa đơn
Please give me the receipt
Payment follow-up.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
ChocholevelKeep the voice steady and level.tôitoilevelKeep the voice steady and level.xinxinlevelKeep the final n short.hóahoarisingLift the voice upward.đơndonlevelĐ starts like English d; do not say z.
Vietnamese spelling
Cho→chờ o cho
tôi→tờ ôi tôi
xin→xờ in xin
hóa→hờ oa hoa sắc hóa
đơn→đờ ơn đơn
Chờ tôi một chút
Please wait a moment
Useful while deciding.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
ChờchofallingLet the voice fall gently.tôitoilevelKeep the voice steady and level.mộtmotheavyDrop the voice low and short.chútchutrisingLift the voice upward.
Vietnamese spelling
Chờ→chờ ơ chơ huyền Chờ
tôi→tờ ôi tôi
một→mờ ôt môt nặng một
chút→chờ ut chut sắc chút
Bao lâu có?
How long will it take?
Ask about wait time.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
BaobaolevelKeep the voice steady and level.lâulaulevelKeep the voice steady and level.cócorisingLift the voice upward.
Vietnamese spelling
Bao→bờ ao bao
lâu→lờ âu lâu
có→cờ o co sắc có
Cà phê này đắng quá
This coffee is too bitter
Taste feedback.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
CàcafallingLet the voice fall gently.phêphelevelKeep the voice steady and level.nàynayfallingLet the voice fall gently.đắngdangrisingĐ starts like English d; do not say z.quáquarisingQu is closer to kw than English q.
Vietnamese spelling
Cà→cờ a ca huyền Cà
phê→phờ ê phê
này→nờ ay nay huyền này
đắng→đờ ăng đăng sắc đắng
quá→quờ a qua sắc quá
Mini dialogue
You
Một ly cà phê sữa đá.
One iced milk coffee.
Staff
Uống ở đây hay mang đi?
Drink here or take away?
You
Mang đi, ít đường thôi.
Take away, less sugar please.
You
Tính tiền giúp.
Bill, please.
Practice ladder
- 1Play the first phrase at normal speed once.
- 2Play it slowly, then repeat it aloud without reading English.
- 3Cover the Vietnamese and recall it from the situation.
- 4Save only the phrases you would actually need this week.
- 5Review saved phrases tomorrow before learning new ones.
Common mistakes
- Do not say only coffee if you mean cà phê sữa đá or cà phê đen đá.
- Do not add sweetness changes after the drink is already mixed.
- Do not confuse không sữa with không đường.
Cultural notes
- Cà phê sữa đá is a first-week survival phrase in southern Vietnam.
- Cafe staff often understand mang đi very quickly because it is used all day.
Meaning check
Quick practice
The staff asks if you stay or leave. You want takeaway. What do you say?
Finish this phrasebook
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FAQ
How should I practice this phrasebook?
Start with the Learn these first section, listen at normal speed, repeat slowly, then save only the phrases you expect to use.
Do I need to memorize every phrase on this page?
No. Memorize the first urgent or high-frequency phrases, then use scenarios and spaced review to add the rest gradually.