Safe hello
Xin chào
Hello
Use this when you need a polite, neutral hello.
Southern Vietnamese
Vietnamese Greetings for Beginners
Basic greetings, first-meeting lines, and simple goodbyes for foreigners learning Vietnamese.
Quick answer
In one sentence
Start with relationship-aware greetings, simple how-are-you lines, and clear goodbyes you can use in daily Vietnamese.
- Use this page when meeting someone, greeting staff, starting small talk, or closing a friendly conversation in Vietnam.
- Start with: Xin chào, Chào anh, Chào chị.
Mini lesson
Use this when...
Use this page when meeting someone, greeting staff, starting small talk, or closing a friendly conversation in Vietnam.
Farewells
Goodbye in Vietnam
The clear phrase is tạm biệt, but everyday goodbyes in Vietnam often sound warmer with chào nhé, hẹn gặp lại, gặp lại sau, or a leaving phrase like em về nhé.
Learn goodbye in VietnamRespectful greetings
How to greet elders in Vietnamese
The respectful pattern is con/cháu + chào + title + ạ. Use ông or bà for elderly people, bác for someone older than your parents, and cô or chú for adults around your parents' age.
Learn how to greet elders in VietnamesePhrase guide shortcuts
Useful quick answers
Day 9 greeting focus
Basic greetings
Start with the safest hello, a friendly peer greeting, and a clear goodbye before choosing age-aware address terms.
Address tip
Use anh for an older male, chị for an older female, em when speaking to someone younger, and bạn for a peer.
Friendly peer
Chào bạn
Hi
Use this with a peer or when the relationship is neutral.
Clear goodbye
Tạm biệt
Goodbye
Use this to close a conversation clearly.
Ready for the next step?
Mark this task complete, then continue without going back to the checklist.
Day 9 vocabulary focus
Vocabulary: xin chào, tạm biệt, cảm ơn, xin lỗi, không có gì
These five phrases cover the first social loop: hello, goodbye, thanks, apology, and a warm response.
Hello
Xin chào
Hello
A safe greeting for most beginner situations.
Goodbye
Tạm biệt
Goodbye
A simple closing line.
Thank you
Cảm ơn
Thank you
Use after help, service, or a kind answer.
Sorry / excuse me
Xin lỗi
Sorry / excuse me
Use to apologize or politely get attention.
You're welcome
Không có gì
You're welcome / no problem
Use after someone thanks you.
Ready for the next step?
Mark this task complete, then continue without going back to the checklist.
Day 9 speaking skill
Speaking skill: choose greeting by age
Vietnamese greetings often include a relationship word. Pick the address term first, then say the whole phrase.
Older male
anhChào anh
Hello, older brother / male
Use anh for an older male or male service worker.
Older female
chịChào chị
Hello, older sister / female
Use chị for an older female or female service worker.
Younger person
emChào em
Hello, younger person
Use em when speaking to someone clearly younger.
Peer
bạnChào bạn
Hi
Use bạn for a peer or neutral friendly greeting.
Ready for the next step?
Mark this task complete, then continue without going back to the checklist.
Day 9 grammar focus
Grammar note: chào + address term
Chào is the greeting verb. Add the right address term after it to sound warmer and more natural.
chào + anh
Chào anh
Greeting an older male.
chào + chị
Chào chị
Greeting an older female.
chào + em
Chào em
Greeting someone younger.
chào + bạn
Chào bạn
Greeting a peer or neutral person.
Ready for the next step?
Mark this task complete, then continue without going back to the checklist.
Day 9 greeting exercise
Exercise: greet 5 different people
Listen once, repeat slowly, then say the greeting as if the person were in front of you.
Greeting 1: Peer
Chào bạn
Hi
Imagine greeting a classmate or person your age.
Greeting 2: Older male
Chào anh
Hello, older brother / male
Imagine greeting a male server or neighbor older than you.
Greeting 3: Older female
Chào chị
Hello, older sister / female
Imagine greeting a female shop worker older than you.
Greeting 4: Younger person
Chào em
Hello, younger person
Imagine greeting someone clearly younger.
Greeting 5: Older auntie
Chào cô
Hello, older woman / auntie
Imagine greeting an older woman respectfully.
Ready for the next step?
Mark this task complete, then continue without going back to the checklist.
Real situations
Greeting someone politely
Choose the greeting by relationship or apparent age so your Vietnamese sounds warmer than a flat hello.
When unsure, Xin chào is safe; when you know the relationship, anh/chị/em sounds more natural.
First small talk
After the greeting, ask one easy question and give one short answer.
Do not ask every question at once; one question plus one answer is enough for a beginner exchange.
Closing the conversation
End with a short goodbye that matches how formal or casual the conversation feels.
Hẹn gặp lại feels warmer than a bare goodbye when you expect to meet again.
All phrases
Play normal audio first, then slow audio, then save only the phrases you will actually need.
Xin chào
Hello
Safe and polite in most situations.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
XinxinlevelKeep the final n short.chàochaofallingLet the voice fall gently.
Vietnamese spelling
Xin→xờ in xin
chào→chờ ao chao huyền chào
Cảm ơn
Thank you
Core polite phrase for closing an interaction warmly.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
CảmcamdippingDip slightly, then recover.ơnonlevelKeep the final n short.
Vietnamese spelling
Cảm→cờ am cam hỏi Cảm
ơn→ơn
Xin lỗi
Sorry / excuse me
Use this for apology or to politely get attention.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
XinxinlevelKeep the final n short.lỗiloibrokenUse a short broken rise.
Vietnamese spelling
Xin→xờ in xin
lỗi→lờ ôi lôi ngã lỗi
Không có gì
You're welcome / no problem
Polite response after someone thanks you.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
KhôngkhonglevelKeep the voice steady and level.cócorisingLift the voice upward.gìgifallingLet the voice fall gently.
Vietnamese spelling
Không→khờ ông không
có→cờ o co sắc có
gì→gờ i gi huyền gì
Chào bạn
Hi
Friendly and neutral with peers.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
ChàochaofallingLet the voice fall gently.bạnbanheavyKeep the final n short.
Vietnamese spelling
Chào→chờ ao chao huyền Chào
bạn→bờ an ban nặng bạn
Chào anh
Hello, older brother / male
Use with an older male or male service worker.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
ChàochaofallingLet the voice fall gently.anhanhlevelKeep the voice steady and level.
Vietnamese spelling
Chào→chờ ao chao huyền Chào
anh→anh
Chào chị
Hello, older sister / female
Use with an older female or female service worker.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
ChàochaofallingLet the voice fall gently.chịchiheavyDrop the voice low and short.
Vietnamese spelling
Chào→chờ ao chao huyền Chào
chị→chờ i chi nặng chị
Chào em
Hello, younger person
Use with someone clearly younger.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
ChàochaofallingLet the voice fall gently.ememlevelKeep the voice steady and level.
Vietnamese spelling
Chào→chờ ao chao huyền Chào
em→em
Chào cô
Hello, older woman / auntie
Respectful greeting for an older woman.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
ChàochaofallingLet the voice fall gently.côcolevelKeep the voice steady and level.
Vietnamese spelling
Chào→chờ ao chao huyền Chào
cô→cờ ô cô
Chào chú
Hello, older man / uncle
Respectful greeting for an older man.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
ChàochaofallingLet the voice fall gently.chúchurisingLift the voice upward.
Vietnamese spelling
Chào→chờ ao chao huyền Chào
chú→chờ u chu sắc chú
Chào ông
Hello, older man / grandfather
Respectful greeting for an elderly man or grandfather-age person.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
ChàochaofallingLet the voice fall gently.ôngonglevelKeep the final ng nasal and short.
Vietnamese spelling
Chào→chờ ao chao huyền Chào
ông→ông
Chào bà
Hello, older woman / grandmother
Respectful greeting for an elderly woman or grandmother-age person.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
ChàochaofallingLet the voice fall gently.bàbafallingLet the voice fall gently.
Vietnamese spelling
Chào→chờ ao chao huyền Chào
bà→bờ a ba huyền bà
Chào bác
Hello, older auntie / uncle
Use bác for someone older than your parents or in a respectful family setting.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
ChàochaofallingLet the voice fall gently.bácbacrisingLift the voice upward.
Vietnamese spelling
Chào→chờ ao chao huyền Chào
bác→bờ ac bac sắc bác
Cháu chào ông ạ
Hello, sir / grandfather
Extra respectful greeting from a younger person to an elderly man.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
CháuchaurisingLift the voice upward.chàochaofallingLet the voice fall gently.ôngonglevelKeep the final ng nasal and short.ạaheavyDrop the voice low and short.
Vietnamese spelling
Cháu→chờ au chau sắc Cháu
chào→chờ ao chao huyền chào
ông→ông
ạ→a nặng ạ
Cháu chào bà ạ
Hello, madam / grandmother
Extra respectful greeting from a younger person to an elderly woman.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
CháuchaurisingLift the voice upward.chàochaofallingLet the voice fall gently.bàbafallingLet the voice fall gently.ạaheavyDrop the voice low and short.
Vietnamese spelling
Cháu→chờ au chau sắc Cháu
chào→chờ ao chao huyền chào
bà→bờ a ba huyền bà
ạ→a nặng ạ
Con chào bác ạ
Hello, auntie / uncle
Respectful greeting for someone older than your parents.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
ConconlevelKeep the final n short.chàochaofallingLet the voice fall gently.bácbacrisingLift the voice upward.ạaheavyDrop the voice low and short.
Vietnamese spelling
Con→cờ on con
chào→chờ ao chao huyền chào
bác→bờ ac bac sắc bác
ạ→a nặng ạ
Con chào cô ạ
Hello, auntie / older woman
Respectful greeting for a woman around your parents' age.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
ConconlevelKeep the final n short.chàochaofallingLet the voice fall gently.côcolevelKeep the voice steady and level.ạaheavyDrop the voice low and short.
Vietnamese spelling
Con→cờ on con
chào→chờ ao chao huyền chào
cô→cờ ô cô
ạ→a nặng ạ
Con chào chú ạ
Hello, uncle / older man
Respectful greeting for a man around your parents' age.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
ConconlevelKeep the final n short.chàochaofallingLet the voice fall gently.chúchurisingLift the voice upward.ạaheavyDrop the voice low and short.
Vietnamese spelling
Con→cờ on con
chào→chờ ao chao huyền chào
chú→chờ u chu sắc chú
ạ→a nặng ạ
Buổi sáng tốt lành
Good morning
Warm complete morning greeting.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
BuổibuoidippingDip slightly, then recover.sángsangrisingLift the voice upward.tốttotrisingLift the voice upward.lànhlanhfallingLet the voice fall gently.
Vietnamese spelling
Buổi→bờ uôi buôi hỏi Buổi
sáng→sờ ang sang sắc sáng
tốt→tờ ôt tôt sắc tốt
lành→lờ anh lanh huyền lành
Chào buổi sáng
Morning greeting
Simple morning greeting.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
ChàochaofallingLet the voice fall gently.buổibuoidippingDip slightly, then recover.sángsangrisingLift the voice upward.
Vietnamese spelling
Chào→chờ ao chao huyền Chào
buổi→bờ uôi buôi hỏi buổi
sáng→sờ ang sang sắc sáng
Chào buổi chiều
Good afternoon
Useful after midday.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
ChàochaofallingLet the voice fall gently.buổibuoidippingDip slightly, then recover.chiềuchieufallingLet the voice fall gently.
Vietnamese spelling
Chào→chờ ao chao huyền Chào
buổi→bờ uôi buôi hỏi buổi
chiều→chờ iêu chiêu huyền chiều
Chào buổi tối
Good evening
Use in the evening.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
ChàochaofallingLet the voice fall gently.buổibuoidippingDip slightly, then recover.tốitoirisingLift the voice upward.
Vietnamese spelling
Chào→chờ ao chao huyền Chào
buổi→bờ uôi buôi hỏi buổi
tối→tờ ôi tôi sắc tối
Lâu rồi không gặp
Long time no see
Use with someone you have met before.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
LâulaulevelKeep the voice steady and level.rồiroifallingLet the voice fall gently.khôngkhonglevelKeep the voice steady and level.gặpgapheavyDrop the voice low and short.
Vietnamese spelling
Lâu→lờ âu lâu
rồi→rờ ôi rôi huyền rồi
không→khờ ông không
gặp→gờ ăp găp nặng gặp
Bạn khỏe không?
How are you?
Safe beginner question.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
BạnbanheavyKeep the final n short.khỏekhoedippingDip slightly, then recover.khôngkhonglevelKeep the voice steady and level.
Vietnamese spelling
Bạn→bờ an ban nặng Bạn
khỏe→khờ oe khoe hỏi khỏe
không→khờ ông không
Anh khỏe không?
How are you? to older male
Natural with an older male.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
AnhanhlevelKeep the voice steady and level.khỏekhoedippingDip slightly, then recover.khôngkhonglevelKeep the voice steady and level.
Vietnamese spelling
Anh→anh
khỏe→khờ oe khoe hỏi khỏe
không→khờ ông không
Chị khỏe không?
How are you? to older female
Natural with an older female.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
ChịchiheavyDrop the voice low and short.khỏekhoedippingDip slightly, then recover.khôngkhonglevelKeep the voice steady and level.
Vietnamese spelling
Chị→chờ i chi nặng Chị
khỏe→khờ oe khoe hỏi khỏe
không→khờ ông không
Em khỏe không?
How are you? to younger person
Natural with someone younger.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
EmemlevelKeep the voice steady and level.khỏekhoedippingDip slightly, then recover.khôngkhonglevelKeep the voice steady and level.
Vietnamese spelling
Em→em
khỏe→khờ oe khoe hỏi khỏe
không→khờ ông không
Tôi khỏe, cảm ơn
I’m well, thank you
Simple answer to a greeting.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
TôitoilevelKeep the voice steady and level.khỏekhoedippingDip slightly, then recover.cảmcamdippingDip slightly, then recover.ơnonlevelKeep the final n short.
Vietnamese spelling
Tôi→tờ ôi tôi
khỏe→khờ oe khoe hỏi khỏe
cảm→cờ am cam hỏi cảm
ơn→ơn
Bình thường
Normal / okay
Casual response when things are just okay.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
BìnhbinhfallingLet the voice fall gently.thườngthuongfallingLet the voice fall gently.
Vietnamese spelling
Bình→bờ inh binh huyền Bình
thường→thờ ương thương huyền thường
Cũng được
I’m okay
Casual, not overly positive.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
CũngcungbrokenUse a short broken rise.đượcduocheavyĐ starts like English d; do not say z.
Vietnamese spelling
Cũng→cờ ung cung ngã Cũng
được→đờ ươc đươc nặng được
Rất vui được gặp bạn
Nice to meet you
Polite first-meeting line.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
RấtratrisingLift the voice upward.vuivuilevelKeep the voice steady and level.đượcduocheavyĐ starts like English d; do not say z.gặpgapheavyDrop the voice low and short.bạnbanheavyKeep the final n short.
Vietnamese spelling
Rất→rờ ât rât sắc Rất
vui→vờ ui vui
được→đờ ươc đươc nặng được
gặp→gờ ăp găp nặng gặp
bạn→bờ an ban nặng bạn
Hân hạnh được gặp bạn
Pleased to meet you
More formal first-meeting line.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
HânhanlevelKeep the final n short.hạnhhanhheavyDrop the voice low and short.đượcduocheavyĐ starts like English d; do not say z.gặpgapheavyDrop the voice low and short.bạnbanheavyKeep the final n short.
Vietnamese spelling
Hân→hờ ân hân
hạnh→hờ anh hanh nặng hạnh
được→đờ ươc đươc nặng được
gặp→gờ ăp găp nặng gặp
bạn→bờ an ban nặng bạn
Bạn tên gì?
What is your name?
Simple name question.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
BạnbanheavyKeep the final n short.têntenlevelKeep the final n short.gìgifallingLet the voice fall gently.
Vietnamese spelling
Bạn→bờ an ban nặng Bạn
tên→tờ ên tên
gì→gờ i gi huyền gì
Tôi tên là...
My name is...
Add your name after là.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
TôitoilevelKeep the voice steady and level.têntenlevelKeep the final n short.làlafallingLet the voice fall gently.
Vietnamese spelling
Tôi→tờ ôi tôi
tên→tờ ên tên
là→lờ a la huyền là
Bạn đến từ đâu?
Where are you from?
Common first conversation question.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
BạnbanheavyKeep the final n short.đếndenrisingĐ starts like English d; do not say z.từtufallingLet the voice fall gently.đâudaulevelĐ starts like English d; do not say z.
Vietnamese spelling
Bạn→bờ an ban nặng Bạn
đến→đờ ên đên sắc đến
từ→tờ ư tư huyền từ
đâu→đờ âu đâu
Tôi đến từ Mỹ
I’m from the US
Change Mỹ to your country.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
TôitoilevelKeep the voice steady and level.đếndenrisingĐ starts like English d; do not say z.từtufallingLet the voice fall gently.MỹmybrokenUse a short broken rise.
Vietnamese spelling
Tôi→tờ ôi tôi
đến→đờ ên đên sắc đến
từ→tờ ư tư huyền từ
Mỹ→mờ y my ngã Mỹ
Bạn ở đây lâu chưa?
Have you been here long?
Friendly small-talk question.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
BạnbanheavyKeep the final n short.ởodippingDip slightly, then recover.đâydaylevelĐ starts like English d; do not say z.lâulaulevelKeep the voice steady and level.chưachualevelKeep the voice steady and level.
Vietnamese spelling
Bạn→bờ an ban nặng Bạn
ở→ơ hỏi ở
đây→đờ ây đây
lâu→lờ âu lâu
chưa→chờ ưa chưa
Gặp lại sau
See you later
Casual goodbye.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
GặpgapheavyDrop the voice low and short.lạilaiheavyDrop the voice low and short.sausaulevelKeep the voice steady and level.
Vietnamese spelling
Gặp→gờ ăp găp nặng Gặp
lại→lờ ai lai nặng lại
sau→sờ au sau
Chào nhé
Bye
Casual friendly goodbye.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
ChàochaofallingLet the voice fall gently.nhénherisingLift the voice upward.
Vietnamese spelling
Chào→chờ ao chao huyền Chào
nhé→nhờ e nhe sắc nhé
Em về nhé
I am heading out now
Natural leaving phrase when speaking to someone older or familiar.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
EmemlevelKeep the voice steady and level.vềvefallingLet the voice fall gently.nhénherisingLift the voice upward.
Vietnamese spelling
Em→em
về→vờ ê vê huyền về
nhé→nhờ e nhe sắc nhé
Con đi nhé
I am going now
Warm family-style goodbye for parents, relatives, or older adults.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
ConconlevelKeep the final n short.đidilevelĐ starts like English d; do not say z.nhénherisingLift the voice upward.
Vietnamese spelling
Con→cờ on con
đi→đờ i đi
nhé→nhờ e nhe sắc nhé
Bye nha
Bye
Very casual modern goodbye with close friends.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
ByebyelevelKeep it short and casual.nhanhalevelKeep the voice light and friendly.
Vietnamese spelling
Bye→bờ ye bye
nha→nhờ a nha
Hẹn gặp lại
See you again
Polite goodbye.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
HẹnhenheavyKeep the final n short.gặpgapheavyDrop the voice low and short.lạilaiheavyDrop the voice low and short.
Vietnamese spelling
Hẹn→hờ en hen nặng Hẹn
gặp→gờ ăp găp nặng gặp
lại→lờ ai lai nặng lại
Chúc một ngày tốt lành
Have a good day
Warm closing phrase.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
ChúcchucrisingLift the voice upward.mộtmotheavyDrop the voice low and short.ngàyngayfallingStart with the back-of-mouth ng sound.tốttotrisingLift the voice upward.lànhlanhfallingLet the voice fall gently.
Vietnamese spelling
Chúc→chờ uc chuc sắc Chúc
một→mờ ôt môt nặng một
ngày→ngờ ay ngay huyền ngày
tốt→tờ ôt tôt sắc tốt
lành→lờ anh lanh huyền lành
Tạm biệt
Goodbye
Clear closing phrase.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
TạmtamheavyDrop the voice low and short.biệtbietheavyDrop the voice low and short.
Vietnamese spelling
Tạm→tờ am tam nặng Tạm
biệt→bờ iêt biêt nặng biệt
Mini dialogue
You
Xin chào, bạn khỏe không?
Hello, how are you?
Local
Tôi khỏe, cảm ơn. Bạn tên gì?
I’m well, thank you. What is your name?
You
Tôi tên là Johnny. Rất vui được gặp bạn.
My name is Johnny. Nice to meet you.
You
Hẹn gặp lại.
See you again.
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 use bạn for every person if anh/chị/em is obvious from context.
- Do not read chào like English chow; keep it short and falling.
- Do not overuse formal greetings in quick cafe or shop interactions.
Cultural notes
- Vietnamese greetings often include relationship words, so chào anh and chào chị can feel more natural than only xin chào.
- A short smile plus a correct relationship word can make beginner Vietnamese feel warm and respectful.
Meaning check
Quick practice
You greet an older female cafe worker. Which line is most natural?
Finish this phrasebook
Ready to mark complete?
Mark complete only after you have listened, practiced, and saved at least one useful phrase. Then continue straight to the next task.
Week 2 · Day 9 in the 90-day path
Listen to at least 3 phrases
Use normal audio first, then slow audio.
Save at least 1 phrase
Only save phrases you would actually reuse.
Finish the quiz or practice task
Check that you can recall the idea, not only read it.
Mark this page complete
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Ready for the next step?
Mark this task complete, then continue without going back to the checklist.
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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.