Description

Vietnam is pretty linguistically rich. Here’s a clear breakdown 👇

🇻🇳 Official & Main Language

  • Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt)
    • Spoken by ~85–90% of the population
    • Austroasiatic language
    • Uses the Latin-based quốc ngữ script with tone marks
    • Many regional accents (Northern/Hanoi, Central/Huế, Southern/Saigon)

🗣️ Minority & Regional Languages

Vietnam recognizes 50+ ethnic minority groups, each with their own languages. Some major ones:

  • Tày, Nùng, Thái – Tai–Kadai family (north)
  • Khmer – Austroasiatic (south, Mekong Delta)
  • Hmong (Mông) – Hmong–Mien family (mountain regions)
  • Cham – Austronesian (central & southern coast)
  • Gia Rai, Ê Đê – Austronesian (Central Highlands)
  • Bahnar, Sedang, Mnong – Austroasiatic (Central Highlands)

🌍 Foreign & Second Languages

  • English – most widely studied foreign language today
  • French – legacy of colonial period; still used in diplomacy/education
  • Chinese (Mandarin & Cantonese) – spoken by ethnic Chinese communities
  • Korean & Japanese – growing fast due to business and migration
  • Russian – still known among older generations

📝 Historical Scripts (no longer in daily use)

  • Chữ Hán – Classical Chinese (used by scholars historically)
  • Chữ Nôm – Old Vietnamese writing system using Chinese characters

Some useful phrases in Vietnamese

Even if you are not likely to travel to Vietnam, there might be chances of you encountering people who speak the languages. Here are some phases that might prove useful:

Welcome (Hoan nghênh / Được tiếp đãi ân cần)

Hello (Chào anh (if speaking to a male / Chào chị (if speaking to a female) / Á-lô! (if speaking on the phone)

How are you? (Anh khỏe không? (to a male) / Chị khỏe không? (to a female)

Fine, thanks. And you? (Khoẻ, cám ơn. Bạn thì sao?)

Long time no see (Lâu quá không gặp)

What’s your name? (Bạn tên gì?)

My name is... (Tôi tên là …)

Yes (correct): Đúng
No: Không

I don’t understand: Tôi không hiểu

That’s too expensive: Đắt quá

How much? Bao nhiêu?

How much (money) is this? Bao nhiêu tiền?

Cheap: Rẻ

Ok, I’ll take it: Ok, tôi lấy!

I can’t speak Vietnamese: Tôi không biết nói tiếng Việt

Where are you from? (Ông/Bà từ đâu đến?)

I am from… (Tôi đến từ…)

Pleased to meet you (Hân hạnh gặp ông)

Good morning (Chào buổi sang)

Good afternoon (Chào buổi chiều)

Good evening (Chào buổi tối)

Good night (Chúc ngủ ngon)

Goodbye (Chào anh (to a male / Chào chị (to a female / Tạm biệt (general)

Good luck (Chúc may mắn!)

Excuse me/Sorry (Xin lỗi)

Thank you (Cảm ơn ông (to a male) / Cảm ơn bà (to a female) / Xin cảm ơn (general)

You’re welcome (Không có gì (response to thank you))

If you want, I can:

  • Compare Vietnamese dialects
  • List languages by region
  • Explain how Vietnamese tones work
  • Or help you start learning Vietnamese 🇻🇳✨