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Vietnamese phrases for street food: what to say at a plastic-stool table
The Vietnamese for ordering, asking the price, skipping chilli or ice, saying it was delicious and toasting, with the north and south words that differ.
Updated · lowstool
You can eat your way through Việt Nam by pointing and smiling. A few words make it much more fun, and people light up when you try. Vietnamese has six tones, so don’t worry if it comes out wrong: say it, point, and laugh together.
Sitting down and ordering
| Vietnamese | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Xin chào | Hello | Polite and always safe. |
| Ăn gì chưa? | Eaten yet? | A greeting, not a question about your lunch. |
| Bàn này còn trống không? | Is this table free? | Or just point at the stool and smile. |
| Cho tôi cái này | I’ll have this one | Point at the dish or the picture. |
| Cho tôi một / hai / ba… | One / two / three…, please | Then the dish: một bát phở. |
| Thêm một bát nữa | One more bowl | In the south, a bowl is a tô. |
| Trà đá | Iced tea | Often free or very cheap. |
| Cà phê sữa đá | Iced coffee with condensed milk | The national drink, more or less. |
Spice, ice and allergies
| Vietnamese | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Không cay | Not spicy | |
| Ít cay | A little spicy | |
| Không đá | No ice | |
| Không hành | No spring onion | |
| Không rau mùi | No coriander | |
| Tôi ăn chay | I’m vegetarian | Fish sauce hides everywhere; ask. |
| Tôi bị dị ứng lạc | I’m allergic to peanuts | North: lạc. South: đậu phộng. |
Paying and thanking
| Vietnamese | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bao nhiêu tiền? | How much? | Ask before you eat if there are no prices. |
| Tính tiền | The bill, please | Or catch someone’s eye and mime writing. |
| Ngon quá! | So good! | The one to learn. Cooks love it. |
| Cảm ơn | Thank you |
At the beer table
| Vietnamese | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ngồi đi! | Sit down! | What you will hear when someone makes room for you. |
| Một, hai, ba, dzô! | One, two, three, cheers! | Then everyone drinks. |
| Trăm phần trăm | A hundred percent | Empty the glass. Optional. |
A note on “you” and “I”
Vietnamese picks words for “you” and “I” by age: anh, chị, em, cô, chú… As a visitor, tôi for “I” is always fine. Your Stoolmate will teach you the rest at the table.
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