Vietnamese

Vietnamese is the official language of Vietnam. It is also spoken in small communities in the following countries: the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, France, Germany, Cote d'Ivoire, New Caledonia, Laos, Norway, Philippines, Canada, Cambodia, Finland, Martinique, Vanuatu, Netherlands, Senegal, Thailand and China.¹

Fast Facts

1. Language family: Austro-Asiatic¹
2. Number of speakers: More than 70 million²
3. Official language: Vietnam
4. Major dialects: Southern Vietnamese, Central Vietnamese, Northern Vietnamese¹
5. Number of letters in alphabet: 29 letters
6. Most Vietnamese words are single syllable³

Common Words and Phrases

• Welcome: Chao mung ban
• How are you?: Khoe khong?
• What's your name?: Ban ten gì?
• Pleased to meet you: Han hanh gap ong
• What's new?: Co gi moi khong?
• Good morning: Chao buoi sang
• Good evening: Chao buoi toi
• Good night: Chuc ngu ngon
• Good bye: Tam biet
• I don't understand: Toi khong hieu
• How much is this?: Cai nay gia bao nhieu?
• Thank you: Cam on
• Can you help me?: Ban giup toi duoc khong?

History

Vietnam was under the control of China from 111 BC until the monarchy was established in 939 AD. Strong Chinese influence continued until the late 1800s. As would be expected, the Chinese language had a direct impact on Vietnamese. Han characters and script were used in Vietnamese writing until missionaries arrived in Vietnam and introduced the Roman alphabet in the 17th century.³

Related Pages on Mahalo

Vietnam | Hanoi Vacation | Ho Chi Minh City Vacation | Ho Chi Minh City Restaurants | Vietnam War

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