Getting around Vietnam is no easy task. The infrastructure (although improving) is still behind many other Asian countries like China, Malaysia, and Thailand. For this reason, it’s very important to learn Vietnamese transportation vocabulary to make the process as hassle-free as possible.
Ready to learn Vietnamese? Then let’s study straight away the Vietnamese transportation vocabulary.
Common Transportation Vocabulary In Vietnamese
If you’re traveling to other countries, it’s not new for you to know that it’s valuable to pick up words from your destination country. So, if you’re desiring to explore the Mekong Delta or cruising along Halong Bay, then check out these words first!
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| English | Vietnamese | Sound |
|---|---|---|
| Airplane | Máy bay | |
| Bicycle | Xe đạp | |
| Bus | Xe buýt | |
| Canoe | Ca nô | |
| Car | Xe hơi | |
| Cruise Ship | Tàu du lịch | |
| Helicopter | Trực thăng | |
| Paddleboard | Ván chèo | |
| Ship | Vận chuyển | |
| Skateboard | Ván trượt | |
| Taxi | Xe tắc xi | |
| Train | Xe lửa | |
| Walking | Đi dạo | |
| Yacht | Thuyền buồm |
Vocabulary For Places To Go In Vietnam
We know all too well that you have places to go and people to meet in Vietnam. Hanoi is known for its famous egg coffee. Ho Chi Minh, on the other hand, is a bustling urban city filled with history. Sure, you might find some locals understanding English words at the local airport. But, when you’re traveling around Vietnam, it’s handy to pack a few vocabulary words for asking where is the bus or train station every now and then.
Remember, Vietnam also uses the Vietnamese dong, so don’t forget to exchange your currency at the airport or at your home country! Examine this vocabulary too, so that you can get around the city with ease.
| English | Vietnamese | Sound |
|---|---|---|
| Airport | Phi trường | |
| Bus Station | Trạm xe buýt | |
| Bus Stop | Điểm dừng xe buýt | |
| Highway | Xa lộ | |
| Metro Station | Ga tàu điện ngầm | |
| Road | Đường | |
| Street | Đường phố | |
| Train Station | Ga xe lửa |
Questions To Ask To Help You Get Around
And here are some phrases so you can be more specific. Once you get to hear local words often, it will be easy to pick up and retain this information for later use. However, it’s best to practice memorizing on your own. We suggest that you pick up the Ling app, which is available to download on the Play Store or App Store.
| English | Vietnamese | Sound |
|---|---|---|
| How do I get to the airport? | Làm thế nào để tôi đến được sân bay? | |
| What is the fastest way to get around Hanoi? | Cách nhanh nhất để đi vòng quanh Hà Nội là gì? | |
| Where is the train station? | Nhà ga xe lửa ở đâu? | |
| Where can I get a taxi? | Tôi có thẻ đón taxi ở đâu? | |
| Which train station do I get off at? | Tôi xuống ở nhà ga nào? |
Different Types Of Transportation Tickets In Vietnam
When going around Vietnam, you can put your language-learning skills to the test. Most of Vietnam’s roads, signage, and even their railways app are in Vietnamese.
These words are useful to know when traveling or booking trips.
| English | Vietnamese | Sound |
|---|---|---|
| Bus ticket | Vé xe buýt | |
| One-way | Một chiều | |
| Plane ticket | Vé máy bay | |
| Round trip | khứ hồi | |
| Train ticket | Vé tàu |
Car-Related Vocabulary In Vietnamese
Cars are the most universal means of transport. Here are some key terms should you wish to drive along the long roads of Vietnam.
| English | Vietnamese | Sound |
|---|---|---|
| Bumper | Bội thu | |
| Door | Cửa | |
| Engine | Động cơ | |
| Fuel | Nhiên liệu | |
| Gas station | Trạm xăng | |
| Gas tank | Bình xăng | |
| Headlight | đèn pha | |
| Seat | Ghế | |
| Tire | Lốp xe | |
| Wheel | Bánh xe | |
| Windscreen | Kính ô tô |
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Phrases Related To Getting Around By Car
Renting or borrowing a car can be a great way to get around, albeit really hectic in Vietnam. Here are some questions and phrases you’ll need.
| English | Vietnamese | Sound |
|---|---|---|
| How much is the car rental? | Giá thuê xe là bao nhiêu? | |
| The car has a flat tire | Xe bị xì lốp | |
| The car won’t start | Xe sẽ không khởi động | |
| Where can I rent a car? | Tôi có thể thuê xe ở đâu? | |
| Where’s the closest gas station? | Trạm xăng gần nhất ở đâu? |
Airplane-related Vocabulary In Vietnamese
Travel by air is becoming increasingly popular within Vietnam. Here are common words to know when traveling by air.
| English | Vietnamese | Sound |
|---|---|---|
| Aisle seat | Ghế lối đi | |
| Arrival | Đến | |
| Boarding pass | Thẻ lên máy bay | |
| Cancelled | Đã hủy | |
| Check-in | Đăng ký vào | |
| Delayed | Trì hoãn | |
| Flight attendant | Tiếp viên hàng không | |
| Gate number | Số cổng | |
| Luggage | Hành lý | |
| One-way ticket | Vé một chiều | |
| Pilot | Phi công | |
| Transit | Quá cảnh | |
| Window seat | Ghế ngồi gần cửa sổ |
Getting Around Via Water In Vietnamese- Vietnamese Transportation Vocabulary
Ahoy! Is there anything more fun than hitting the high seas or winding riverways of Vietnam? Enjoy some of these words when you ask the local guide for a boat ride around Halong Bay, Hoi An, Mekong Delta, or the Cai Rang Floating Market.
| English | Vietnamese | Sound |
|---|---|---|
| Anchor | Mỏ neo | |
| Boat | Con thuyền | |
| Docked | Cập bến | |
| Jet ski | Máy bay phản lực trượt tuyết | |
| Life jacket | Áo phao | |
| Lifeboat | Xuồng cứu sinh | |
| Port | Hải cảng | |
| Sailboat | Thuyền buồm | |
| Sea | Biển | |
| Ship | Vận chuyển |
General Phrases In Vietnamese For Getting Around
| English | Vietnamese | Sound |
|---|---|---|
| Excuse me, could you help me? | Xin lỗi bạn có thể giúp tôi? | |
| Go faster | Đi nhanh hơn | |
| Go slower | đi chậm hơn | |
| Go straight | Đi thẳng | |
| How much is it? | Cái này giá bao nhiêu? | |
| Journey | Hành trình | |
| Money | Tiền bạc | |
| Pedestrian | Đi bộ | |
| To the left | Qua bên trái | |
| To the right | Rẽ phải | |
| Travel | Đi du lịch |
So What Is The Best Way To Get Around Vietnam?
Phew! That was a long list. But we still need to answer the question that most people came for. Is it better to take buses, taxis, cars, or one of the myriad other options available?
Well, the answer is that it largely depends on where you are, how much time you have, and what kind of person you are.
For example, if you’re in Hanoi city center and need to get to the outskirts during rush hour, then a motorbike-taxi service like Grab is the best way to get around (although far from the safest).
If you’re in Halong Bay making your way around the floating islands, then obviously, it’s probably not the best idea to rent a car.
If you’re doing a whistlestop tour of Vietnam, it’s best to fly from one destination to the next with a budget airline. However, if you have the time, there’s a definite allure in taking the 32-hour train from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City.
Here are a few basic tips.
Don’t rent a motorbike or a car, especially not in the cities. The traffic is crazy, to put it mildly, and even experienced drivers and riders won’t know what’s hit them(sometimes literally).
Secondly, avoid xe om drivers (unlicensed motorbike taxis), and I’d probably go as far as to say all taxis unless they’re with the Grab app. The Grab app sets a fixed price, so you won’t find yourself arriving at a destination and the driver demanding more money than the previously agreed-upon price. It’s happened more times than I care to remember.
Learn Vietnamese Words And Phrases With Ling
We hope you enjoyed our list of Vietnamese transportation vocabulary. I’ve lived in Vietnam for five years, and there is nothing more fun than getting out there and seeing the country.
Ling has been invaluable in that time because you can have more authentic and enriching experiences with local people if you speak a little of the language. Ling‘s Vietnamese courses will take you from language learning zero to hero.
If you enjoyed this blog, why not check out a few others here: gym vocabulary in Vietnamese and weather conditions in Vietnamese.
