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.
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Common Transportation Vocabulary In Vietnamese
Here we have it! The very basics to get you started.
English | Vietnamese | Sound |
Airplane | Máy bay | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Máy bay[/Speechword] |
Bicycle | Xe đạp | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Xe đạp[/Speechword] |
Bus | Xe buýt | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Xe buýt[/Speechword] |
Canoe | Ca nô | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Ca nô[/Speechword] |
Car | Xe hơi | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Xe hơi[/Speechword] |
Cruise Ship | Tàu du lịch | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Tàu du lịch[/Speechword] |
Helicopter | Trực thăng | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Trực thăng[/Speechword] |
Paddleboard | Ván chèo | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Ván chèo[/Speechword] |
Ship | Vận chuyển | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Vận chuyển[/Speechword] |
Skateboard | Ván trượt | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Ván trượt[/Speechword] |
Taxi | Xe tắc xi | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Xe tắc xi[/Speechword] |
Train | Xe lửa | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Xe lửa[/Speechword] |
Walking | Đi dạo | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Đi dạo[/Speechword] |
Yacht | Thuyền buồm | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Thuyền buồm[/Speechword] |
Places To Go
We know all know too well that you have places to go and people to meet in Vietnam. Let this list guide you.
English | Vietnamese | Sound |
---|---|---|
Airport | Phi trường | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Phi trường[/Speechword] |
Bus Station | Trạm xe buýt | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Trạm xe buýt[/Speechword] |
Bus Stop | Điểm dừng xe buýt | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Điểm dừng xe buýt[/Speechword] |
Highway | Xa lộ | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Xa lộ[/Speechword] |
Metro Station | Ga tàu điện ngầm | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Ga tàu điện ngầm[/Speechword] |
Road | Đường | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Đường[/Speechword] |
Street | Đường phố | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Đường phố[/Speechword] |
Train Station | Ga xe lửa | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Ga xe lửa[/Speechword] |
Questions To Ask To Help You Get Around
And here are some phrases so you can be more specific.
English | Vietnamese | Sound |
---|---|---|
How do I get to the airport? | Làm thế nào để tôi đến được sân bay? | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Làm thế nào để tôi đến được sân bay?[/Speechword] |
What is the fastest way to get around Hanoi? | Cách nhanh nhất để đi vòng quanh Hà Nội là gì? | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Cách nhanh nhất để đi vòng quanh Hà Nội là gì?[/Speechword] |
Where is the train station? | Nhà ga xe lửa ở đâu? | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Nhà ga xe lửa ở đâu?[/Speechword] |
Where can I get a taxi? | Tôi có thẻ đón taxi ở đâu? | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Tôi có thẻ đón taxi ở đâu?[/Speechword] |
Which train station do I get off at? | Tôi xuống ở nhà ga nào? | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Tôi xuống ở nhà ga nào?[/Speechword] |

Different Types Of Transportation Tickets
These are useful to know when travelling or booking trips.
English | Vietnamese | Sound |
---|---|---|
Bus ticket | Vé xe buýt | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Vé xe buýt[/Speechword] |
One-way | Một chiều | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Một chiều[/Speechword] |
Plane ticket | Vé máy bay | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Vé máy bay[/Speechword] |
Round trip | khứ hồi | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]khứ hồi[/Speechword] |
Train ticket | Vé tàu | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Vé tàu[/Speechword] |
Car-Related Vocabulary In Vietnamese
The most universal means of transport. Here are the key terms.
English | Vietnamese | Sound |
---|---|---|
Bumper | Bội thu | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Bội thu[/Speechword] |
Door | Cửa | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Cửa[/Speechword] |
Engine | Động cơ | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Động cơ[/Speechword] |
Fuel | Nhiên liệu | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Nhiên liệu[/Speechword] |
Gas station | Trạm xăng | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Trạm xăng[/Speechword] |
Gas tank | Bình xăng | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Bình xăng[/Speechword] |
Headlight | đèn pha | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]đèn pha[/Speechword] |
Seat | Ghế | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Ghế[/Speechword] |
Tire | Lốp xe | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Lốp xe[/Speechword] |
Wheel | Bánh xe | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Bánh xe[/Speechword] |
Windscreen | Kính ô tô | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Kính ô tô[/Speechword] |
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? | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Giá thuê xe là bao nhiêu?[/Speechword] |
The car has a flat tire | Xe bị xì lốp | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Xe bị xì lốp[/Speechword] |
The car won’t start | Xe sẽ không khởi động | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Xe sẽ không khởi động[/Speechword] |
Where can I rent a car? | Tôi có thể thuê xe ở đâu? | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Tôi có thể thuê xe ở đâu?[/Speechword] |
Where’s the closest gas station? | Trạm xăng gần nhất ở đâu? | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Trạm xăng gần nhất ở đâu?[/Speechword] |
Airplane-related Vocabulary In Vietnamese
Travel by air is becoming increasingly popular within Vietnam. Here are common words to know when travelling by air.
English | Vietnamese | Sound |
---|---|---|
Aisle seat | Ghế lối đi | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Ghế lối đi[/Speechword] |
Arrival | Đến | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Đến[/Speechword] |
Boarding pass | Thẻ lên máy bay | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Thẻ lên máy bay[/Speechword] |
Cancelled | Đã hủy | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Đã hủy[/Speechword] |
Check-in | Đăng ký vào | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Đăng ký vào[/Speechword] |
Delayed | Trì hoãn | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Trì hoãn[/Speechword] |
Flight attendant | Tiếp viên hàng không | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Tiếp viên hàng không[/Speechword] |
Gate number | Số cổng | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Số cổng[/Speechword] |
Luggage | Hành lý | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Hành lý[/Speechword] |
One-way ticket | Vé một chiều | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Vé một chiều[/Speechword] |
Pilot | Phi công | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Phi công[/Speechword] |
Transit | Quá cảnh | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Quá cảnh[/Speechword] |
Window seat | Ghế ngồi gần cửa sổ | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Ghế ngồi gần cửa sổ[/Speechword] |
Getting Around Via Water In Vietnamese- Vietnamese Transportation Vocabulary
Ahoy! Is there anything more fun than hitting the high seas or winding riverways of Vienam?
English | Vietnamese | Sound |
---|---|---|
Anchor | Mỏ neo | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Mỏ neo[/Speechword] |
Boat | Con thuyền | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Con thuyền[/Speechword] |
Docked | Cập bến | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Cập bến[/Speechword] |
Jet ski | Máy bay phản lực trượt tuyết | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Máy bay phản lực trượt tuyết[/Speechword] |
Life jacket | Áo phao | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Áo phao[/Speechword] |
Lifeboat | Xuồng cứu sinh | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Xuồng cứu sinh[/Speechword] |
Port | Hải cảng | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Hải cảng[/Speechword] |
Sailboat | Thuyền buồm | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Thuyền buồm[/Speechword] |
Sea | Biển | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Biển[/Speechword] |
Ship | Vận chuyển | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Vận chuyển[/Speechword] |

General Phrases In Vietnamese For Getting Around
English | Vietnamese | Sound |
---|---|---|
Excuse me, could you help me? | Xin lỗi bạn có thể giúp tôi? | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Xin lỗi bạn có thể giúp tôi?[/Speechword] |
Go faster | Đi nhanh hơn | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Đi nhanh hơn[/Speechword] |
Go slower | đi chậm hơn | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]đi chậm hơn[/Speechword] |
Go straight | Đi thẳng | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Đi thẳng[/Speechword] |
How much is it? | Cái này giá bao nhiêu? | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Cái này giá bao nhiêu?[/Speechword] |
Journey | Hành trình | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Hành trình[/Speechword] |
Money | Tiền bạc | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Tiền bạc[/Speechword] |
Pedestrian | Đi bộ | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Đi bộ[/Speechword] |
To the left | Qua bên trái | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Qua bên trái[/Speechword] |
To the right | Rẽ phải | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Rẽ phải[/Speechword] |
Travel | Đi du lịch | [Speechword voice=”Vietnamese Male” isinline]Đi du lịch[/Speechword] |
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. 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.