Hello in Vietnamese: Xin Chào & Common Tourist Greetings

If you only learn one Vietnamese greeting before your trip, make it "Xin chào" (pronounced "/seen ciao/". It's polite, friendly, and works in almost any situation, from greeting your hotel receptionist to meeting a local at a countryside market.

In Vietnam, greetings are more than just words; they're a way to show respect and make a good first impression. There’s even a saying: "Lời chào cao hơn mâm cỗ" (A greeting is worth more than a banquet).

Many tourists worry about mispronouncing Vietnamese greetings. So, in this travel guide, you'll learn:

• How to say hello in Vietnamese in different situations.
• The meaning of xin chào and other polite greetings in Vietnamese.
• Cultural tips on how to greet in Vietnamese like a local.
• Other useful Vietnamese phrases to make your trip smoother.

Written by Oliver PHUNG (Local expert)Updated on 11-08-2025

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Quick Start: Common Vietnamese Greetings for Tourists

💡 Local tip: If you aren't sure how to address someone older, younger, or with a higher seniority, simply using 'hello' is the safest choice.

How to Pronounce “Hello” in Vietnamese

• Xin → pronounced like seen in English.
• Chào → falling tone, similar to Italian ciao but starting slightly higher.

Even if your tones aren’t perfect, locals will still understand you. A warm smile will help even more.

Vietnamese Greeting Etiquette – How to Say Hello Respectfully

In Vietnam, greeting someone is more than just saying “hello in Vietnamese”. It's an important part of Vietnamese greeting etiquette that reflects respect, age hierarchy, and cultural traditions. The most common way to say hello in Vietnamese is with the word chào (ciao), often followed by a pronoun to show politeness based on the other person’s age or relationship to you.

Here’s how polite greetings work in everyday life:

• Anh: older brother (slightly older man)
• Chị: older sister (slightly older woman)
• Em: younger person (any gender)
• Bạn: friend/peer (same age)
• Ông / Bà – grandfather / grandmother (much older person)
• Chú / Cô – uncle / aunt (middle-aged)

How to say hello in Vietnamese in Real Conversations

• To greet someone slightly older than you: Chào anh (man) / Chào chị (woman)
• To greet someone younger: Chào em
• For much older individuals: Chào chú / Chào cô (middle-aged), Chào ông / Chào bà (elderly)

💡 Pro tip for tourists: Adding "ạ" at the end makes your Vietnamese hello sound softer and more polite.

First-Person & Second-Person Pronouns in Greetings

Vietnamese doesn’t have a fixed “I” or “you.” Instead, the word changes depending on who you’re talking to:

• Talking to someone much older (cô, chú, ông, bà): Use cháu before chào.
• When addressing someone slightly older (anh, chị): Use em before chào.
• When you're speaking to someone younger: Use anh (male speaker) or chị (female speaker) before chào.

Examples with Pronunciation

Below is the basic phonetic transcription of the words and phrases “"hello in Vietnamese"” which are mentioned above. While this pronunciation guide may not be entirely accurate compared to standard Vietnamese pronunciation, it will help you read and pronounce these words more easily. After all, something is better than nothing!

• Em chào chị / [em chow chee] – For a woman slightly older than you.
• Em chào anh / [em chow ahn] – For a man slightly older than you.
• Cháu chào cô / [chow chow koh] – When greeting a middle-aged woman.
• Cháu chào chú / [chow chow choo] – When greeting a middle-aged man.
• Cháu chào bà / [chow chow ba] – To an elderly woman (grandmother-aged).
• Cháu chào ông / [chow chow ong] – To an elderly man (grandfather-aged).
• Anh (chị) chào em / [ahn (chee) chow em] – For a younger person.

Real-Life Vietnamese Phrases for Travelers

🏪 In a shop or market

Smile and say: Chào chị ạ! (female vendor) or Chào anh ạ! (male vendor).

🍜 At a restaurant

• To call a waiter: Anh ơi! (male) / Chị ơi! (female)
• Then: Cho em menu với ạ (Please give me the menu).

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Meeting your guide or host

Chào anh/chị, rất vui được gặp anh/chị (Hello, nice to meet you).

📞 On the phone

• Start with: A-lô!
• Example: A-lô, tôi là Oliver Phung từ đơn vị lữ hành Kam pá Tour.... (Hello, this is Oliver Phung from the tour company KampaTour...)

Non-Verbal Vietnamese Greetings

Sometimes it's not necessary to say "xin chào" because your gestures and actions can also serve as a greeting. Below are some common actions used by locals.

• 😊 Smile: The universal ice-breaker.
• 🙇 Slight bow of the head: Shows respect to older people.
• 🤝 Two-handed handshake: In formal contexts, especially with elders.
• 👋 Nod or wave: Casual encounters with friends.

Understanding Vietnamese Tones & Accents for Saying Hello

Over time, Vietnam transitioned from the Nom script (pictographic like Chinese and Japanese) to the modern Vietnamese writing system known as Quốc Ngữ. Developed from the Latin alphabet and adapted by Portuguese missionaries, Quốc Ngữ consists of 29 letters (slightly more than the 26 in English), while omitting F, J, W, and Z. With its Latin roots, Quốc Ngữ is more approachable for Western visitors learning Vietnamese pronunciation.

You might wonder if Vietnamese tones and accents are crucial for communicating, especially when greeting locals. The truth is, when you say “hello in Vietnamese” (xin chào), even if your accent isn’t perfect, most people will understand you. However, accurate pronunciation becomes more important when forming longer sentences, as mispronunciations can completely change the meaning.

📌 For example, if your friend’s name is Hải (“sea” in Vietnamese) but you say it incorrectly, it could mean:

• Hai: Number 2.
• Hài: Comedy.
• Hái: To pluck (fruit).
• Hãi: Scary.
• Hại: To harm or threaten.

At first, understanding Vietnamese tones can be challenging, but unlike many other tonal languages, Vietnamese tones are integrated into its written form. There are five accent marks (representing six tones), and each one changes the meaning of a word.

📌 Here’s an example using "la":

💡 Tip for travelers: Don’t stress too much about perfect tones when you first learn Vietnamese greetings. Locals are very understanding and will appreciate your effort. Even small attempts to use Vietnamese words, whether it’s xin chào or cảm ơn, will earn you smiles and warmer interactions.

Basic Vietnamese Phrases for Travelers

In addition to greetings, we have made a selection of the most useful Vietnamese expressions during your trip. This will allow you to communicate a bit with the locals, go shopping, or ask for directions if you've gotten lost.

Well, mastering a few basic Vietnamese expressions can significantly enhance your interactions with locals. Greeting someone in Vietnamese not only delights residents but also shows your interest in fully immersing yourself in their culture and traditions. This is a great way to learn more about local life and customs.

Do & Don’t When Greeting Locals

Greetings Beyond "Hello"

Tết (New Year): Chúc mừng năm mới!

• Transcription: "chook mung num moy"
• Note: "ch" is pronounced like "ch" in "church".

>>> Read More: Tet holiday in Vietnam

Wedding: Chúc mừng hạnh phúc!

• Pronunciation: "chook mung han fook"
• Note: "h" is pronounced like "h" in "hello". "fook" is pronounced like "f" in "foot".

>>> Learm more: 5 Powerful Vietnamese Wedding customs you’ll never forget

New baby: Chúc mừng gia đình!

• Transcription: "chook mung za din"
• Note: "z" is pronounced like "d" in English or like "gi" in Vietnamese.

Fun Practice Exercises

Fill in the blanks or choose the correct greeting:

1. To greet a male tour guide slightly older than you:
“____ anh ạ!”
a) Xin chào b) Chào em c) A-lô

2. How do you say “Good evening” in Vietnamese?
a) Chào buổi tối b) Chào buổi chiều c) Chào buổi sáng

3. If you want to call a waiter’s attention at dinner, you say:
“____ ơi!”

Please Answers the question in comment, I'll check it answer all of these :) 

Conclusion

When traveling in Vietnam, especially in rural areas, not everyone speaks English fluently. Thus, Knowing just a few Vietnamese greetings can open doors, build connections, and make your trip more memorable.

Besides, learning some local phrases also shows respect for the culture and people of Vietnam. It demonstrates that you’ve made an effort to understand and engage with their language. This effort often leads to more positive interactions and a warmer reception from locals.

Traveling isn't just about visiting places; it’s about experiencing the local culture. Understanding and speaking some Vietnamese can enrich your journey by allowing you to connect with locals on a deeper level, learn about their traditions, and gain insights you might otherwise miss.

Enjoy your trip to Vietnam! For an even more enriching experience, consider exploring the country with a local guide. For more details, feel free to contact us!

>>>You may also want to consider:

• Vietnam E-Visa 2024
• Vietnam Tourist Map
• Best Time to Visit Vietnam