Lesson 1: Learn basic Vietnamese greetings for daily life. A practical, beginner-friendly guide to saying Hello and Thank You naturally in Vietnam.

Learn Vietnamese • Beginner

Lesson 1: Basic Vietnamese Greetings
For Daily Life

In this lesson, you will learn basic Vietnamese greetings that are commonly used in daily life.

These greetings are simple, natural, and suitable for beginners who want to communicate politely in everyday situations.

1. Key Words & Phrases

Here are the essential words you need to know. Don't worry about grammar yet; just focus on the meaning.

Xin chào Hello A polite and neutral greeting. Use this with people you do not know well or in formal situations.

Chào Hi / Hello A shorter, more casual version of "xin chào". Commonly used in informal situations.

Chào anh Hello (to a man) Use this when greeting a man who appears slightly older than you.

Chào chị Hello (to a woman) Use this when greeting a woman who appears slightly older than you.

Cảm ơn Thank you The universal way to say thank you in daily interactions.

Dạ Yes / Polite particle A soft, polite response used when speaking to someone older or in a respectful situation.

2. Pronunciation Tips (Simple Explanation)

How to sound natural:

• Xin sounds similar to "sin" in English, but softer.
• Chào sounds like "chow" in "chow mein."
• Cảm sounds like "gum" but shorter.
• Ơn sounds like "un" in "sun."

*Tip: Do not worry about perfect tones right now. Clear and confident speech is enough at the beginning.

3. Practical Usage: When & How

Knowing the word is good, but knowing when to use it is better. Here is a quick guide:

• Use "Xin chào" when entering a shop, office, or meeting someone for the first time.
• Use "Chào" with neighbors or staff you see often (casual).
• Use "Chào anh / Chào chị" to show friendliness and respect to specific people.
• Use "Dạ" when responding to questions from older people or service staff (e.g., waiter asks "Menu?", you say "Dạ").

4. Example Dialogues (Song Ngữ)

Let's see these words in action.

Dialogue 1: Greeting a Shop Owner

A: Xin chào. Hello.

B: Xin chào. Mời vào. Hello. Please come in.

A: Dạ, cho tôi xem cái này được không? Yes, may I look at this?

Dialogue 2: Greeting a Café Staff

A: Chào chị. Hello (to female staff).

B: Chào em. Em uống gì? Hello. What would you like to drink?

A: Cho tôi một cà phê, cảm ơn. One coffee, thank you.

5. Common Mistakes Beginners Make

• Using only "Hello" (English) instead of trying the Vietnamese words.
• Avoiding greetings completely because of fear of bad pronunciation.
• Overthinking age and titles — being polite matters more than being perfect!

Vietnamese people usually appreciate the effort, even if the greeting is not grammatically perfect.

6. Practice Tip (Real-Life Action)

🚀 Challenge for Today:

Try using "Xin chào" when entering a small shop, café, or your apartment building today. Add "Cảm ơn" when you receive something.

Small interactions like this build confidence and familiarity quickly.

Final Notes

Vietnamese greetings are less about grammar and more about politeness and tone. Starting with simple greetings is the easiest way to connect with people in daily life. This lesson focuses on useful communication, not textbook perfection.

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Vietnam Explained

This lesson is part of the "Learn Vietnamese" series.

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