How to Learn Vietnamese

Co-authored by Nguyen Huyen Trang

Last Updated: November 28, 2022

Learning a new language like Vietnamese is an exciting adventure! It will not only build your confidence, but it may also expand your employment and cultural opportunities. Start developing a solid foundation in the language by taking an introductory class or by studying an introductory textbook. Then keep building on that foundation until you can read, write, and speak Vietnamese like a native.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Getting the Basics Down

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1
Enroll in an introductory Vietnamese class. In an introductory class, you will learn the alphabet and how to pronounce Vietnamese letters and tone marks. You will also learn basic words and phrases. By taking an introductory class, you will be able to develop a solid foundation in the language.^{[1]
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- Enroll in an introductory class at a community college, language learning center, or take an online class if you want to learn from home.
- The cost of an introductory class can range from $150 to $700.
2
Invest in an introductory textbook if you want to learn at your own pace. An introductory textbook will provide you with the basics, plus much more. Textbooks contain assignments, quizzes, and fun activities so you can test your knowledge as you learn. Set a goal to learn 1 chapter per week.^{[2]
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- You can find textbooks at your local library or bookstore.
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Learn 50 words, verbs, and phrases at a time. Learning 50 words at a time is not only manageable, but it is also a relatively fast way to learn new language. Write common words and phrases on flashcards. Write words and phrases that are common in your native language and easy to picture, like “I am going,” “my name is,” “how are you,” “people,” and the like. Devote 1 to 2 weeks to learning 50 words. Try to study your flashcards for 30 minutes to 1 hour each day.^{[3]
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- If you can't study for 30 minutes to an hour each day, then study for 30 minutes every other day.
- Review your flashcards whenever you have down time like during school or work breaks, or while you are on the bus or train.
- Once you have learned all 50 words, learn 50 more over the course of a couple of weeks.
EXPERT TIP

Nguyen Huyen Trang
Native Vietnamese Speaker
Nguyen Huyen Trang is a native Vietnamese Speaker, translator and international project manager.

Nguyen Huyen Trang
Native Vietnamese Speaker

Start by learning basic phrases. Learn easy, and basic phrases like "Xin chào," which means "Hello." Then move on to “Cảm ơn bạn" (Thank you), “Xin lỗi bạn” (Sorry), and “Tạm biệt nhé” (Bye bye).
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Download a language app onto your phone. Language apps are a convenient way to learn a new language like Vietnamese, especially while on the go. There are a variety of apps to choose from that can help you learn basic words, phrases, and verbs in Vietnamese.^{[4]
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- Language apps that you should look into are Memrise, Leaf, Duolingo, Babbel, Mindsnacks, and others.
EXPERT TIP

Nguyen Huyen Trang
Native Vietnamese Speaker
Nguyen Huyen Trang is a native Vietnamese Speaker, translator and international project manager.

Nguyen Huyen Trang
Native Vietnamese Speaker

Our Expert Agrees: Downloading an app is an excellent way to learn Vietnamese. I recommend Vietnamesepod101.
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Label household items with sticky notes in Vietnamese. Write down the names of household items, like refrigerator, couch, lamp, table, and bed, on sticky notes in Vietnamese. Place the sticky notes on the items. Whenever you use one of the items, practicing saying the Vietnamese word for it.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Building on Your Foundation

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1
Watch Vietnamese shows and movies with the subtitles on. If you are just starting out, use English or French subtitles, for example. As you advance, use the Vietnamese subtitles. Pay attention to the way the actors pronounce words and use tone marks. If you come across an unfamiliar word or pronunciation, write it down. Look up the definition and pronunciation later, and add the word to your list of vocabulary words.^{[5]
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- If you don’t have access to Vietnamese shows or movies, then watch your favorite shows and movies with the Vietnamese subtitles on.
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Translate your favorite reading material into Vietnamese. This is a great way to practice writing Vietnamese. Translate a short article from a magazine or newspaper written in your native language into Vietnamese. Make a list of words, verbs, and phrases that you do not know the translation of in Vietnamese. Add these words to your flashcards.^{[6]
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Read Vietnamese magazines and newspapers if you have time. Reading Vietnamese magazines and newspapers is a great way to advance your reading comprehension skills. If you encounter unfamiliar words and phrases, write them down and look up their meanings at a later time. Add these words and phrases to your vocabulary list.
- Check out popular Vietnamese newspapers and magazines like Thanh Nien News, Saigon Times, Viet Nam News, Tuoi Tre, and Sài Gòn Giai Phòng. You can find these publications online, or at your local Asian or Vietnamese grocery store.
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Buy a Vietnamese audio CD. Audio CDs are a great way to work on your pronunciation. Focus on the way words are pronounced and repeat them out loud. Listen to the CD whenever you have downtime, like while you are driving, before you go to bed, or during your lunch break.
- You can purchase audio CDs from your local bookstore, language learning center, or online.
- Language learning software like Speechace and Rosetta Stone can also help you improve your pronunciation. The cost of language learning software ranges from $100 to $500.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Developing Your Speaking Skills

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Take a trip to Vietnam to immerse yourself in the language. Plan a vacation to Vietnam for a couple of weeks. You could also volunteer at an international organization in Vietnam, or enroll in a 6-month to 1-year exchange or study abroad program. While you are in Vietnam, try to avoid speaking your native language as much as possible.^{[7]
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- Make sure to bring a Vietnamese phrasebook with you on your travels.
- Plan your trip ahead of time so you can budget appropriately.
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Practice speaking with native speakers online if you can’t travel. Sign up for an Internet exchange program. These programs will connect you with a native Vietnamese speaker online. Through video chat, you will be able to practice speaking Vietnamese.^{[8]
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- Check out online language exchange programs like Bilingua, Tandem, Hello Pal, HelloTalk, and others.
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Have a conversation with yourself in Vietnamese. Talk to yourself about what you are doing at the moment or how your day went. You can also pretend as if you are talking to a friend about a certain topic or what you did that day.^{[9]
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- Holding a conversation with yourself may seem silly at first, but the more you do it, the less silly you will feel. It is a great way to practice speaking Vietnamese.
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Learn Vietnamese with a friend or family member. Learning Vietnamese with a partner will make the learning process fun and easy. You may be able to learn Vietnamese faster as well. Practice speaking with each other on a daily basis, and frequently quiz each other over new vocabulary.^{[10]
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Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. When you are learning a new language, mistakes are a big part of the learning process. If you make a mistake, let the person who you are talking to correct you. If you don't understand the correction, ask for clarification. Then practice saying the word or phrase correctly.^{[11]
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- Keep in mind that native speakers usually have a lot of respect and patience for people who are trying to learn their language.

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Can learning French help you with Vietnamese?

Benjamin Reyes

Community Answer

French is an Indo-European language while Vietnamese is Austro-Asiatic, meaning they are not related at all. There may be some French loanwords from colonial days, but you are better off just skipping the extra step and learning Vietnamese.

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I'm Southern Vietnamese and these apps only teach me the northern accent. Is there an app that teaches me the southern accent?

Ming

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Yes there is. Search Rising Storm 2, this will teach you the southern accent.

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If you are Malay people, can you learn Vietnamese and if you are Vietnamese people, can you learn Malayan?

Lingomaster2012

Community Answer

Yes, and you can also throw Chinese into the mix. Malay and Vietnamese aren’t directly related, but they both descended from Chinese.

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