Textbooks teach you "Xin chào." Real life is different. Vietnamese greetings are surprisingly short and simple but choosing the right pronoun matters more than the greeting itself.
Based on our two-part video series (both free!) with Như Ý, plus later lessons on "Ăn cơm chưa?," Tết wishes, and the line between casual and too-casual. The core series covers the words, the forms of address that actually matter, and the common mistakes learners make. Watch the full series on Langiri to see both episodes in order.
Vietnamese greetings are not complex. As Như Ý explains, you only need a handful of words to handle most everyday situations. The trick is knowing which word to use with which person.
Watch the Lesson: Do People in Vietnam Really Say “Xin Chào”? (Free)
One of the most common mistakes learners make is using grammar that's too formal. For example, "Xin chào, dạo này bạn có khỏe không?" is grammatically correct but Vietnamese people rarely speak like that in real life.
Vietnamese people also greet each other with phrases that sound like questions but aren't. "Đi đâu đó?" (Where are you going?) and "Làm gì vậy?" (What are you doing?) are casual greetings, not actual questions. You don't need to give a real answer. The most famous of these is "Ăn cơm chưa?" (Have you eaten yet?). Thái Linh's lesson is built around that line: it signals care, not a request for your menu. Sometimes, just a nod and a smile is a perfectly polite greeting.
Watch the Lesson: Do People in Vietnam Really Say “Xin Chào”? (Free)
Watch the Lesson: Have you eaten yet? (Free)
Watch the Lesson: When NOT to say: “Have you eaten yet?” (Free)
In Vietnamese, how you address someone (xưng hô) is more important than the greeting itself. Picking the wrong pronoun isn't rude, Như Ý says it's just "a bit awkward" (hơi kỳ), but getting it right instantly makes you sound natural.
Như Ý's tip: if you're not sure how old someone is, default to anh (for men) or chị (for women). It's the safest choice and people won't mind.
Watch the Lesson: Beyond “Xin Chào”: Addressing People Like a Local (Free)
When you greet someone older (like a parent, teacher, or someone your parents' age) add dạ at the beginning and use con to refer to yourself. Vietnamese people hear "dạ" and immediately feel you are being respectful.
Như Ý's later politeness lesson goes one step further: in Vietnamese, being polite often means saying less. Short words like dạ, vâng, and cảm ơn are social glue. Tone decides whether a short reply sounds respectful or cold.
Watch the Lesson: Beyond “Xin Chào”: Addressing People Like a Local (Free)
Watch the Lesson: The Art of Saying Less: Vietnamese Politeness (Premium)
Saying "Xin chào bạn" to a friend sounds distant and overly formal. Vietnamese friends greet each other casually, often with a single word or a playful non-question.
As Như Ý puts it: Vietnamese is polite when you use the right words in the right context. Being overly formal all the time actually makes you sound more distant, not more polite.
Casual still has a line. Dropping "Xin chào bạn" is good. Jumping to close-friend slang is not. Như Ý's danger-zone lesson covers lines like "Điên hả?" (Are you crazy?), "Xàm vừa thôi" (That's enough nonsense), and "Mệt mày ghê" that only work with people you are already close to. Tâm's free lesson on words you should never say is the same line from another speaker: "mày / tao" and personal questions that sound normal in English can land as rude. The Southern slang guide is the fuller treatment of those videos.
Watch the Lesson: Words You Should NEVER Say (Free)
Watch the Lesson: Danger Zone Vietnamese: Slang Only for Close Friends (Premium)
Everyday Vietnamese greetings are short. Lunar New Year wishes are not. Ngọc's Tết lesson walks through six set phrases and which ones fit grandparents, business owners, and friends. The pronoun still matters; the wish is just longer.
If you want the holiday itself before the set phrases, Như Ý's What is Tết? covers family reunions, lì xì, and "Chúc mừng năm mới" at beginner level.
Watch the Lesson: 6 Essential Tết Greetings and Their Meanings (Free)
Start with both greeting lessons with Như Ý to hear the natural pronunciation and intonation. Both videos are free and include practice sections. Then add "Ăn cơm chưa?," Tết wishes, and the close-friend slang line when you are ready.
Watch the full series · Browse all Vietnamese videos · More learning guides
Vietnamese greetings are short and simple. The most common way is to say "Chào" followed by the appropriate pronoun: "Chào anh" (to an older male), "Chào chị" (to an older female), "Chào em" (to someone younger). Vietnamese people also greet with phrases that sound like questions but aren't, such as "Ăn cơm chưa?" (Have you eaten yet?), "Đi đâu đó?" (Where are you going?), or "Làm gì vậy?" (What are you doing?). Sometimes just a nod and a smile is enough.
"Dạ" is a polite acknowledgment used when speaking to someone older than you, such as parents, teachers, or elders. It signals respect immediately to Vietnamese ears. You can use it as a response on its own, or add it before a greeting for politeness: "Dạ con chào cô" (polite hello to an older woman) or "Dạ con chào chú" (polite hello to an older man).
Vietnamese pronouns depend on the age and relationship between speakers. Use "anh" for an older male, "chị" for an older female, "cô" for a woman roughly your parents' age, and "chú" for a man roughly your parents' age. If you are unsure of someone's age, default to "anh" (for men) or "chị" (for women); it is the safest choice. Using the wrong pronoun is not rude, just a bit awkward.
Saying "Xin chào bạn" to a friend sounds distant and overly formal. Vietnamese friends greet each other casually with "Ê!" (Hey!), "Mới tới hả?" (Just got here?), or "Khỏe không?" (How are you?). These phrases that sound like questions are not actual questions; they are just casual greetings. Being overly formal all the time makes you sound more distant, not more polite. Casual still has a line: slang like "Điên hả?" is only for people you are already close to.
"Ăn cơm chưa?" (Have you eaten yet?) is a warm, everyday greeting, not a real question about lunch. Thái Linh's lesson shows neighbors answering with a short "Ăn rồi" and moving on. Use it with people you already know. With a new boss, an elder you just met, or someone having a hard day, a simple "Chào anh" or "Bạn khỏe không?" is safer.
The basic Tết wish is "Chúc mừng năm mới." Ngọc's Tết greetings lesson also covers set phrases like "An khang thịnh vượng" (peace and prosperity) and "Vạn sự như ý" (may everything go as you wish), and which ones fit grandparents, business owners, and friends.