The importance of local language in Vietnam

How important is the local language for daily tasks such as shopping, transport, health and other services in Vietnam?

Cheryl
Expat.com Team
-@Cheryl

As much as I think that it's highly advisable to learn to use the Google Translate app prior to coming to Vietnam, over the years I've learned that the use of images--pictures that describe the item or place in question--is perhaps an even more important skill to hone.

It only takes a minute or two to find the relevant image online (a carrot, a fish, a local monument, a landmark, etc) and save that (the image or a screenshot) in a photo album on your mobile device along with a screenshot of the translation that you prepare ahead of time, prior to a shopping trip or an outing.

Learning to take a screenshot may be one of the top necessary skills for people who want to navigate their way freely in Vietnam.

I'm continually amazed how many people come to Vietnam and have never really learned how to use Google maps, The Google translate app, Google lens (the new Wonder app that makes reading menus and signs and labels extraordinarily easy) or the screenshot function on their mobile device.

It would probably improve many people's experience if this were required preparation in order to receive a Visa.

These skills will definitely come in handy when dealing with a taxi driver or Grab rideshare driver who appears clueless as to where you want to go.

How important is the local language for daily tasks such as shopping, transport, health and other services in Vietnam?

Cheryl
Expat.com Team
-@Cheryl

As much as I think that it's highly advisable to learn to use the Google Translate app prior to coming to Vietnam, over the years I've learned that the use of images--pictures that describe the item or place in question--is perhaps an even more important skill to hone.

It only takes a minute or two to find the relevant image online (a carrot, a fish, a local monument, a landmark, etc) and save that (the image or a screenshot) in a photo album on your mobile device along with a screenshot of the translation that you prepare ahead of time, prior to a shopping trip or an outing.

Learning to take a screenshot may be one of the top necessary skills for people who want to navigate their way freely in Vietnam.

I'm continually amazed how many people come to Vietnam and have never really learned how to use Google maps, The Google translate app, Google lens (the new Wonder app that makes reading menus and signs and labels extraordinarily easy) or the screenshot function on their mobile device.

It would probably improve many people's experience if this were required preparation in order to receive a Visa.

These skills will definitely come in handy when dealing with a taxi driver or Grab rideshare driver who appears clueless as to where you want to go.
-@OceanBeach92107

Good advice but you would think that the average tourist, world traveller or what ever would have the common sense to know it.

Personally & as have said before I have now lived here for coming up next month 15 years. I am lazy & dont want any stress in my life about learning a language that even if I did learn it no Vietnamese would understand a word I say & I have met many foreigners here in my time that boast they can speak Vietnamese but you watch them talking to a Vietnamese person & watch the reaction, like blank look cos the local does not have a clue what they are saying! Google is great but best if you switch back & forth the translation to make sure the translation is actually what you want.

Since I was 21 years old I have basically travelled the world & the 7 seas working & living & like OB describes on the ships & oil rigs when I was "on the tools as Engineer & Chief Engineer & manager" long before Google I managed fine to communicate using comical & various graphic sign language & photos. When I first went International I worked on a rig offshore Italy & I was one of only 4 English speakers as all the crew were either Italian or Yugoslavian & I had a book eventually of day to day things I needed to do my job & would ask the helper to get me this & that showing a photo of a  3/4"af spanner or a hammer or what ever.

Some might find this story amusing....................when I first came to Vietnam to live out in the sticks at Trang Bang (village then) I wanted some eggs, so wandered down the local grocery shop & had a look but could not see them, so I asked one of the ladies if they sold eggs. Of course she could not understand a word I said so I started strutting about flapping my arms & clucking like a chicken & then squatted down & made like I had laid an egg out my ass. Bit of a delay & then she thought she understood & got me some toilet roll. Well we just killed ourselves laughing & eventually she got it & got me the eggs & that story went the rounds at every wedding, funeral, happy bd party for years & I became a living local legend!

I have to mostly agree with goodolboy above.  When you grow up speaking a language that typically has two sounds for each vowel (hard and soft or long and short) when you hear &/or try to speak a language that can have up to 6 sounds per vowel, the ear has a difficult time discerning the difference.  My wife (Vietnamese lady) will say words to me in Vietnamese that are similar (but with different tonal accents) and I just am not able to hear the difference.  And like he says above, when I try to speak my limited Vietnamese to a waiter (for example), all I get is a blank look until someone who knows me - translates.

Thank heavens for the French Jesuit priest  Alexandre de Rhodes who converted the middle Vietnamese character based language to a Latin based alphabet in the 17th century. At least we can mostly read signs even if we can't correctly pronounce them.

Interesting tales.  I have lived here five years now.   I have taken courses off and online and for the Vietnamese  language.  I am not a great student and to be honest, not very good at using it....but I use it when I can.  Sure some people give me the "what in the wide, wide, world of sports are you saying" look.  But most don't.  In a lot of cases, when you speak Vietnamese, the locals smile and appreciate it.  For me, it's a question of respect for the country, culture, and people.  And yes, I still take classes.  And to be sure I am not great at it....but what the hay.....

As a rule Vietnamese don't understand Vietnamese spoken by a foreigner. There are exceptions but not many. Hey - learn Vietnamese for the odd word that your friends might understand. Education level of a native Vietnamese has nothing to do with it; to understand a foreigner speaking Vietnamese the listener must have a talent in that direction or long exposure.

@goodolboy

lucky she didn't give you dry banana leaves for toilet paper, that was used before paper became avail for toilletry funny stuff.

As a rule Vietnamese don't understand Vietnamese spoken by a foreigner. There are exceptions but not many. Hey - learn Vietnamese for the odd word that your friends might understand. Education level of a native Vietnamese has nothing to do with it; to understand a foreigner speaking Vietnamese the listener must have a talent in that direction or long exposure.
-@I do believe

Most Vietnamese I meet want & are very happy to speak English to me in conversation but when a Vietnamese lady asks me oh can you speak Vietnamese I say just a little bit & whisper Anh Yêu Em in their ear & that gets lots of giggles.

There is one guy from USA who has mastered the language to a level where he even appears on Vietnamese TV shows & they just love him, Phuc Map other than him I personally have never met any ex pats who speak Vietnamese. I have met many who say they can though.

Even if Phuc Map is informative, I never could get myself to watch his videos because I consider his choice of a stage name to be distasteful and disrespectful to the language.

Even if Phuc Map is informative, I never could get myself to watch his videos because I consider his choice of a stage name to be distasteful and disrespectful to the language.
-@THIGV

Have to disagree. My neighbour Viet, a rather rotund fellow (to put it mildly)  when calling one of his friends will say on the phone something like, "Hey, it's Viet. Viet Map" without giving it even a second thought. The other party will then acknowledge him, and they proceed from there.

As far as Phuc Map (Happy Fat)  speaking Vietnamese, I'm told that it's understandable due to the context used, but that many words have the wrong tone. Without context many of the individual words are unintelligible. Still, miles ahead of me!

I don't know if I can get this past moderation but my assumption is that he was working at a multi-language play on words of "Fat F**k"

I don't know if I can get this past moderation but my assumption is that he was working at a multi-language play on words of "Fat F**k"
-@THIGV

No, no. He calls himself Phúc Mập = Happy Fat. Had he chosen this(as a foreigner) for a name, then yes, well...

I honestly don't think that that "fat" translation carries the same negative connotation as it might in the west. I'm inclined to think that they are implying big when used in conjunction with a person's name. Much like in the west, to describe an obese man as being big is a preferable and acceptable alternative adjective to calling him fat.

Hi lub1, and welcome to expat.com. Thank you for your first post.

My Vietnamese friends tell me that he is on tv as a token foreigner, more to be laughed at than respected
-@lub1

I think there might be a bit of both. He's certainly a curiosity.

My Vietnamese friends tell me that he is on tv as a token foreigner, more to be laughed at than respected
-@lub1

who said he wants to be respected he is a clown. You being Malaysian I suspect his stuff would go right over your head. He is a funny guy & just look at his following on YouTube & 99% of them Vietnamese. Most of his stuff on You Tube is made tongue in cheek but he still gets like 100k views & I for one take my hat off to him. That's not to say I follow him I just know he is way ahead of any other non Vietnamese that I know or have heard of with the lingo!

Even if Phuc Map is informative, I never could get myself to watch his videos because I consider his choice of a stage name to be distasteful and disrespectful to the language.
-@THIGV

OFFS get real man, (disrespectful to the language) he is a joker, a clown & the Vietnamese love him, just check his YouTube following & views. Like in the 100k plus & 99% of them Vietnamese. His Humour is right where the Vietnamese understand. The Vietnamese love Mr Bean & thats humour as basic as it comes!

@goodolboy

His "Likes" to "Dislikes" ratio on YouTube is impressive. And yes, he is certainly funny and entertaining. I'll give him that.

There is one guy from USA who has mastered the language to a level where he even appears on Vietnamese TV shows ... other than him I personally have never met any ex pats who speak Vietnamese.
-@goodolboy

I have a fairly young American English-teacher friend living in Quy Nhơn who first spent about 3 years teaching & living outside any expat bubble in Kon Tum before moving to Quy Nhơn about 4 years ago.

I threw a dinner party there in QN for Ciambella's nephew & wife (my former Vũng Tàu landlords) when they were on their annual vacation to Bình Định & Phú Yên provinces.

I invited my San Diego homie to come to the party because I was aware he often spoke Tiếng Việt successfully in conversations with the local Vietnamese citizens.

The nephew (the former HCMC tax official) carried on a long and detailed conversation with my buddy throughout the entire course of the dinner, never once breaking into English or resorting to the use of a translation app.

As I mentioned elsewhere, it seems that immersion in the local culture outside of expat bubbles is what's necessary in order for foreigners to truly become fluent in conversation with Vietnamese people here.

@OceanBeach92107

Yep that is what I believe as well....my VNese instructor has gone to mostly all VNese during a class..even to explanations...can be frustrating,,,,,but it sinks in slowly....

I am still rather new to learning Vietnamese. I did online courses and used some software to learn vocabulary and when I arrived in Vietnam after 5 months of learning, none of the locals could understand a word of what I was saying. However, after 2 months in country, and tutoring by a local, things slowly started to improve.

I have been back in Canada for 6 months and have continued learning online with my HCMC based teacher, and things are improving. Here is the big "secret", enunciation is far more important than pronunciation. In other words, if you don’t master the various tones, you are wasting your time.

After my less than successful start, I found an experienced local teacher and demanded that she be brutal regarding tones and the Southern accent. It’s really starting to pay off.

@I do believe This works both ways.  When I met my Vietnamese lady in Phnom Penh '96, I had about 200 video movie tapes, while I was at work, she would watch any movie, just pick one out that had a nice picture on it and that's how she learned 'tinglish'.  When the war broke out in Cambodia, I took her and a pickup truck full of women and men to the River Ferry to go back to Vietnam.........I would joke and say "Trang goes on da boat". Trang goes on da boat". To this day when she sees a ship, she calls it 'On da boat'. no matter how many times I correct her, it's still (to her) an 'On da boat'. not a ship or a boat................I chose to learn as much Vietnamese as I can rather than force her to learn my language. We foreigners think nothing of forcing our foreign-born wives to learn our language while we choose not to learn a (correctly pronounced) word or sentence in Vietnamese. My lady has a good handle on English, when we are talking together, but if a stranger speaks English to her, she doesn't understand as well........Don't get me wrong, Vietnamese is listed in the top '6 hardest languages' to learn on earth, and a lot of us can't get the tonal annunciations correct...........I have a handi-cap, I am almost deaf in my left ear from the Vietnam war, but strategically turn my right ear to the speaker and can get by.

@tunnelrat69 I hear you - sometimes. I lost my hearing in my right ear so I am constantly arranging myself to the speaker. I have lived in Vietnam for 15 years and taught English for 8 years in Saigon. I have met just about every level of English literacy there is. When I meet a Vietnamese with a decent English fluency they often tell me they are self taught from TV rather than from a school. Some people have an aptitude in that direction. My wife doesn't speak English so we get by on my lousy Vietnamese. Fluency in conversation requires an orderly logical mind. We get along great with patience and understanding. We each forgive the other's occasional outburst of frustration.  Mosquito, smell and salt all sound the same to me in Vietnamese, making for the oft used phrase; Say  again......

Mosquito, smell and salt all sound the same to me in Vietnamese, making for the oft used phrase; Say again......
-@I do believe

"Mosquito, smell and salt..." and the number 10, the words "each" and "nose"

@Aidan in HCMC Haha, reading your reply making me enunciate salt and mosquito in Vietnamese to see if I can hear the difference :-).

@Aidan in HCMC Haha, reading your reply making me enunciate salt and mosquito in Vietnamese to see if I can hear the difference :-).
-@CHN90

Mosquito, smell, salt, each, nose and the number 10! I can hear the difference in those 6 now, but when I first arrived...forget it. I thought they were all the same word LOL

The northerner and southerner can understand each other easily but understanding the central VN dialect can be a challenge. It’s interesting to note that just like in US, the southerners speak with a heavier accent.