Self Vietnamese

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LESSON NOTES

Basic Bootcamp #1Self Introductions - Basic

Greetings in Vietnamese

CONTENTS

2 Vietnamese2 English2 Vocabulary3 Sample Sentences3 Vocabulary Phrase Usage4 Grammar

# 1

COPYRIGHT © 2012 INNOVATIVE LANGUAGE LEARNING. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

VIETNAMESEPOD101.COM BASIC BOOTCAMP #1 - SELF INTRODUCTIONS - BASIC GREETINGS IN VIETNAMESE 2

VIETNAMESE

1. Giang: Xin chào. Tôi tên là Giang. B�n tên là gì?

2. Mary: Chào Giang. Tôi tên là Mary.

3. Giang: R⇥t vui ⇤⌅⇧c g⌃p b�n.

4. Mary: Tôi c⌥ng v�y.

ENGLISH

1. Giang: Hello. My name is Giang. What's your name?

2. Mary: Hello Giang. My name is Mary.

3. Giang: Nice to meet you.

4. Mary: You too. (Literally, "me too.")

VOCABULARY

Vietnamese English Class

tên name noun

Tôi "I" or "me" Pronoun

Xin chào "Hello."

Tôi tên là "My name is.."

B�n tên là gì? "What's your name?"

R⇥t vui ⇤⌅⇧c g⌃p b�n "Nice to meet you."


Tôi c⌥ng v�y "me too"

SAMPLE SENTENCES

Tôi không nh� tên b⇥n. "I can’t remember your name."

Anh ta nói anh ta tên là Nam. "He said his name is Nam."

Tôi không bi⇤t tên cô ⌅y. "I don't know her name."

Tôi là ng⇧⌃i Vi⌥t Nam. "I'm Vietnamese."

Tôi là Mary "Tôi là Mary."

Xin chào, lâu l�m không g p. "Hello, haven't seen you for a while."

Chào Mary, b⇥n có kh⌦e không? "Hello, how are you Mary?"

Chào Mary. "Hello, Mary."

A: Tôi r⌅t thích nh⇥c pop. / B: Tôi c↵ng v�y A: I like pop music./ B: Me too

VOCABULARY PHRASE USAGE

Vui means "happy" and Vietnamese people say "I'm happy to meet you" which is equivalent to "Nice to meet you." in English. The Vietnamese equivalent for "nice" is another word and it cannot be used in this case. Vui is an adjective used to describe someone's feeling. For example:

1. R�t vui ⇥⇤⌅c làm quen v⇧i b⌃n - "I'm very happy to get to know you/to get acquainted with you." (This is also another phrase that can be used the same as "Nice to meet you" in English)


2. Hôm nay tôi r�t vui. - "I'm very happy today."

Tôi and B�n are the equivalents of "I" and "you" respectively. They are the most general pronouns and can be used in most situations. But as Vietnamese people use a lot of personal pronouns to address each other, the equivalents of "I" and "you" can be changed into other pronouns depending on the speakers' age, gender and their closeness. We'll learn more about Vietnamese pronouns in the following lessons. For example:

1. Anh tên là gì? - "What's your name?" (Anh is a pronoun used to address a young man in formal situation or a man slightly older than you)

2. Xin chào. Tôi tên là Giang, R�t vui ⇥⇤⌅c g⌥p ch�. "Hello, my name is Giang. Nice to meet you." (Ch�"is a pronoun used to address a young woman in formal situation or a woman slightly older than you.)

GRAMMAR

The Focus of This Basic Bootcamp Lesson Is How to Ask Somebody Their Name

To ask someone their name, just ask B⌃n tên là gì? Literally, this is "What are you named?" The first word, B⌃n means "you." B⌃n is a pronoun used to address a person around your age. This pronoun can be changed depending on the person you meet. The next word tên means "name," followed by là which is the verb "to be" in Vietnamese. The last word gì means "what." Altogether, we have: B⌃n tên là gì? for a man or a woman around your age. The answer is Tôi tên là + your name, which literally means "I am named..." For example: Tôi tên là Mary, which literally means "I am named Mary" but is understood as "my name is Mary." Note: The exact equivalent of "What's your name?" in Vietnamese is Tên c a b⌃n là gì? Tên c a b⌃n means "your name." Vietnamese doesn't have possessive pronouns, so the preposition "of," which is c a in Vietnamese, is put after the thing and before the person who possesses it. Accordingly, the full answer is Tên c a tôi là A, which is "My name is A." However, these full expressions are not usually used in daily conversation. What we have learned above is the most natural way a Vietnamese person would ask a name and say


his/her name, as opposed to formal Vietnamese.

LESSON NOTES

Basic Bootcamp #2Talking Nationality in Vietnamese

CONTENTS


# 2


VIETNAMESEPOD101.COM BASIC BOOTCAMP #2 - TALKING NATIONALITY IN VIETNAMESE 2

VIETNAMESE

1. Giang: Xin chào, tôi tên là Giang. Tôi là ng�⇥i Vi⇤t Nam.

2. Mary: Xin chào, tôi là Mary. Tôi là ng�⇥i Anh.

ENGLISH

1. Giang: Hello. My name is Giang. I'm Vietnamese.

2. Mary: Hello, I'm Mary. I'm British.

VOCABULARY


Ng�⇥i Vi⇤t Nam "Vietnamese" (nationality)

Tôi là "I am"

tên name noun

Ng�⇥i Anh "British" (nationality)

SAMPLE SENTENCES

Tôi là ng�⇥i Vi⇤t Nam. "I’m Vietnamese."

Tôi là sinh viên. "I am a student."

Tôi là ng�⇥i Anh. "I'm British."

Tôi không nh⌅ tên b⇧n. "I can’t remember your name."


Anh ta nói anh ta tên là Nam. "He said his name is Nam."

Tôi không bi⌃t tên cô ⌥y. "I don't know her name."

Tôi là ng�⇥i Anh. "I'm British."


Tôi là is the equivalent of "I am/I'm" in English. This phrase can be followed by a noun indicating your name, your nationality or occupation. Tôi là Mary. - "I'm Mary." Tôi là ng�⇥i M⇤. - "I'm American." Tôi là sinh viên. - "I'm a student. "

GRAMMAR

The Focus of This Boot Camp Lesson Is to Teach You How to Talk About Nationality

Let's take a look at the dialogue again. Mary: XIn chào. Tôi là Mary. Tôi là ng�⇥i Anh. We start with a self-introduction XIn chào. Tôi là Mary."Hello, my name is Mary." Then we say our nationality, Tôi là ng�⇥i Anh ("I'm British"). To say you are a certain nationality, just say the phrase Tôi là, which means "I am," followed by ng�⇥i, which means "person/people" and finally add your country's name in Vietnamese after it. Sentence structure: Tôi là + ng�⇥i + country's name Examples of nationalities in Vietnamese:-

Vietnamese "English"

Tôi là ng�⇥i Vi⌅t Nam "I'm Vietnamese."

Tôi là ng�⇥i Nga "I'm Russian."


Tôi là ng�⇥i M⇤ "I'm American."

Tôi là ng�⇥i Anh "I'm British"

Tôi là ng�⇥i Nh⇧t "I'm Japanese"

Tôi là ng�⇥i Trung Qu⌃c "I'm Chinese"

Tôi là ng�⇥i Pháp. "I'm French."

Tôi là ng�⇥i ›. "I'm Italian."

LESSON NOTES

Basic Bootcamp #3Useful Phrases for Learning

Vietnamese

CONTENTS


# 3


VIETNAMESEPOD101.COM BASIC BOOTCAMP #3 - USEFUL PHRASES FOR LEARNING VIETNAMESE 2

VIETNAMESE

1. A: Xin h�i, "Cheese" ti⇥ng Vi⇤t nói th⇥ nào?

2. B: Pho mát.

3. A: Xin l⌅i, tôi ch⇧a k⌃p nghe. Làm ⌥n nói l�i l n n⌦a.

4. B: Pho mát.

5. A: Làm ⌥n nói ch↵m h⌥n m�t chút,

6. B: Pho mát

7. A: Làm ⌥n vi⇥t t� �ó b✏ng ti⇥ng Vi⇤t giúp tôi.

ENGLISH

1. A: Excuse me, how do you say "cheese" in Vietnamese?

2. B: Cheese.

3. A: I'm sorry, I didn't catch that. Say it once again, please.

4. B: Cheese.

5. A: Please, repeat slower.

6. B: Chee-se.

7. A: Write that down in Vietnamese for me, please.

VOCABULARY



ch⇧a k⌃p "not catch that yet"

Xin l⌅i "Excuse me." or "I’m sorry." phrase

nói "to say"

th⇥ nào "how" adverb

giúp tôi "to help me, for me, to me"

L n n⌦a "again, one more time"

làm ⌥n "please" phrase

ch↵m h⌥n m�t chút "a little slower"

Xin h�i

“Excuse me”. You can use this phrase before you start

asking a question.

vi⇥t "to write"

t� �ó "that word"

b✏ng ti⇥ng Vi⇤t "in Vietnamese"

SAMPLE SENTENCES

Tôi ch�a k⇥p hi⇤u. "I haven't understood yet. (because of complicated explanation or fast speed of speaking)"

Tôi ch�a k⇥p ⌅n sáng. I haven’t had breakfast yet. (because I didn’t have enough time)

Xin l⇧i, tôi ⌃⌥n mu�n. "I'm sorry, I'm late."

Xin h i, m⌦y gi↵ r�i? "Excuse me, what time is it now?"


“Computer” ti⌥ng Vi�t nói th⌥ nào? “How do you say “computer” in Vietnamese?”

D�o này b�n th⌥ nào? "How are you doing these days?"

T✏ này ⌃⇣c th⌥ nào? "How do you read this?"

Th↵i ti⌥t ⌘ Hà N�i th⌥ nào? "What's the weather like in Hanoi?"

M⌘ cái c✓a này th⌥ nào? "How can I open this door, please?"

B�n có th⇤ ch◆p nh giúp tôi không? “Can you take a photo for me?”

Làm �n ch� ⌃�↵ng giúp tôi. “Please show me the direction.”

Tôi có c⌫n làm l�i l⌫n n⇠a không? "Do I have to do it one more time?"

B�n nói l�i l⌫n n⇠a ⌃�⇡c không? "Can you repeat that?"/ “Can you say it one more time?”

Làm �n d�y tôi phát âm t✏ này. "Please teach me how to pronounce this word."

Làm �n gii thích giúp tôi. "Please explain it to me."

Tôi nghe không ⌃�⇡c rõ, làm �n nói ch⇢m l�i. "I cannot hear clearly, please speak again slowly."

Làm �n ⌃�a cho tôi cái bút ⌃ó. "Please give me that pen."

Xin l⇧i, cho tôi m�⇡n cái bút. “Excuse me, may I borrow your pen?”

Xin h i, m⌦y gi↵ r�i? "Excuse me, what time is it now?"

Tôi h⇣c vi⌥t ti⌥ng Vi�t. "I study how to write in Vietnamese."

T✏ ⌃ó ngh�a là gì? "What does that word mean?"

Tôi h⇣c môn kinh t⌥ b⌧ng ti⌥ng Vi�t. I learn economics in Vietnamese.



Xin h�i and Xin l⇥i both mean "Excuse me" and can be used to catch someone's attention. However, xin h�i is only used when you want to ask a question. In other circumstances (to request something, to ask someone to repeat what was said, to squeeze by someone or to order food or drink) xin l⇥i is used. Xin l⇥i also means "I'm sorry" and is used when you really want to apologize for doing something wrong. For example:

1.Xin h�i m⇤y gi⌅ r⇧i? - "Excuse me, what time is it now?"

2.Xin l⇥i, cho tôi m⌃t bát ph⌥. - "Excuse me, one bowl of ph⌥ ("rice noodle") please."

3.Xin l⇥i, tôi không nhìn th⇤y b�n. - "I'm sorry, I didn't notice you."

4.Xin h�i, nhà v sinh ⌥ ⌦âu? - "Excuse me, where is the toilet?"

Làm ↵n means "please" and is used to start a polite request. This phrase is the highest level of formality and is not used among close friends.

1.Làm ↵n d�y tôi phát âm t� này. - "Please teach me how to pronounce this word."

2.Làm ↵n ch�p �nh giúp tôi. - "Please take a photo for me."

Tôi ch✏a k⇣p nghe literally means "I was not able to keep up with your speaking speed" and can be understood as "I didn't catch that/I didn't catch what you said." Ch✏a k⇣pmeans "not yet" and is used before a verb to express that something hasn't been able to be finished, mainly due to a lack of time or fast speed.

1.Tôi ch✏a k⇣p g⌘i anh ⇤y. - "I was not able to call him yet." (because he was walking so fast and didn't notice me)

2.Tôi ch✏a k⇣p hi✓u. - "I haven't understood yet." (because of a complicated explanation or fast speaking speed)

Ch◆m l�i m⌃t chút means "a bit slower." If you have difficulty understanding your companion, or you want someone to do something more slowly, you say the verb indicating the action, followed by this phrase:-


1.Nói ch◆m l�i m⌃t chút. (informal) - "Speak a bit more slowly, please." (among friends only, làm ↵n is not needed)

2. i ch◆m l�i m⌃t chút (informal) - "Walk a bit more slowly, please." (informal)

Giúp tôi is a verb phrase meaning "help me" or "for me/to me." It is added to a request to express that "please do me a favor." A request without this phrase doesn't sound natural and polite enough, and it is even needed in informal situations when you don't say làm ↵n ("please").

1.Làm ↵n ch� ⌦✏⌅ng giúp tôi. - "Please show me the direction."

2. ⌘c t� này giúp tôi. - "Read this word for me."

GRAMMAR

The Focus of This Boot Camp Lesson is Asking How to Say Something in Vietnamese.

For example: Xin h�i, ______________ti�ng Vi t nói th� nào?

"Excuse me, how do you say___________in Vietnamese? "

The first word in this sentence means "excuse me" and is used to catch someone's attention and ask him/her a question. Then to ask "how do you say____ in Vietnamese?" you just put the English word you want to ask at the beginning of the question, followed by ti�ng Vi t nói th� nào? (literally "in Vietnamese say how") For example: Xin h�i, "computer" ti�ng Vi t nói th� nào? - "Excuse me, how do you say "computer" in Vietnamese?" ti�ng Vi t means "Vietnamese." When you want to ask about another language, just replace ti�ng Vi t with that language. The rest remains unchanged. Xin h�i, "computer" ti�ng Nh◆t nói th� nào? - "Excuse me, how do you say "computer" in Vietnamese?"

LESSON NOTES

Basic Bootcamp #4Counting from 1-100 in

Vietnamese

CONTENTS


# 4


VIETNAMESEPOD101.COM BASIC BOOTCAMP #4 - COUNTING FROM 1-100 IN VIETNAMESE 2

VIETNAMESE

1. Giang: m�t (1),

2. Giang: và ,

3. Giang: hai (2),

4. Giang: và ,

5. Giang: ba (3),

6. Giang: và ,

7. Giang: b⇥n (4),

8. Giang: và ,

9. Giang: n⇤m (5),

10. Giang: và ,

11. Giang: sáu (6),

12. Giang: và ,

13. Giang: b⌅y (7),

14. Giang: và ,

15. Giang: tám (8),

CONT'D OVER


16. Giang: và ,

17. Giang: chín(9),

18. Giang: và ,

19. Giang: m⇧⌃i (10),

ENGLISH

1. A: One

2. B: And

3. A: Two,

4. B: And

5. A: Three,

6. B: And

7. A: Four,

8. B: And

9. A: Five,

10. B: And

CONT'D OVER


11. A: Six,

12. B: And

13. A: Seven,

14. B: And

15. A: Eight,

16. B: And

17. A: Nine,

18. B: And

19. A: Ten

VOCABULARY

Vietnamese English

m�t "One"

hai "Two"

ba "Three"

b⇥n "Four"

n⇤m "Five"

m⇧⌃i "Ten"

và "and"

sáu "Six"


b⌅y "Seven"

tám "Eight"

chín "Nine"

SAMPLE SENTENCES

Cho tôi m�t c⇥c cà phê. "One coffee please."

Cho tôi hai vé ⇤i Hà N�i "Two tickets to Hanoi please."

Tôi mu⇥n mua ba quy⌅n sách. "I want to buy three books."

Tôi s⇧ ⌃ Hà N�i b⇥n ngày. "I'll stay in Hanoi for four days."

Anh ⌥y ⇤ã ⇤�i ⌃ sân bay n m ti⌦ng r↵i. "He has been waiting for five hours in the airport."

Tôi mu⇥n mua m��i gói k�o d✏a. "I would like ten packs of coconut candies please!"

Còn sáu phút n⇣a là bu⌘i hòa nh✓c b◆t ⇤u. "There are six minutes left till the beginning of the concert."

Anh ⌥y ⇤ã s⇥ng ⌃ Hà N�i b�y n m r↵i. "He lived in Hanoi for seven years."

Vé xem phim giá tám m��i ngàn ⇤↵ng. "The ticket to a movie theater costs eighty thousand dong."

Anh ⌥y ⇤ã ⇤⌦n Vi⌫t Nam chín ln r↵i. "He's been to Vietnam nine times."


Numbers From Eleven to Twenty As you can see, m�⇥i is "ten." To form "eleven," just add m�⇥i m⇤t, which is "ten" then "one."


To form "twelve," add m�⇥i hai, which is "ten" and "two." Follow this process until m�⇥i chín, ("nineteen") and we have "ten and nine." The only exception is "fifteen." Instead of saying m�⇥i n⌅m ("ten and five"), we say m�⇥i l⌅m. The matching rule is the same as other numbers. Only the pronunciation of "five" is different. L⌅m is said instead of n⌅m. Hai m�⇧i is used for "twenty," which means "two and ten." Hai is "two" and m�⇧iis also m�⇥i. The change in the tone is just due to the speaking habit. The level tone makes the word easier to pronounce and remember. Here are some more examples:


m�⇥i m⇤t n⌅m "eleven years"

m�⇥i hai xe ô tô "twelve cars"

m�⇥i sáu tu⌃i "sixteen years old"

hai m�⇧i ng�⇥i "twenty people"

Multiples of Ten This follows the same rule as we form "twenty." This means "thirty" is ba m�⇧i ("three and ten"), forty is b⌥n m�⇧i ("four and ten"). Keep going until we have chín m�⇧i, which is "ninety." M⇤t tr⌅m is tword for "one hundred." Other Compound Numbers We form other compound numbers in the same way we form the English numbers, that is, by placing numbers from one to nine after twenty, thirty, forty, fifty...ninety. For Example:

1. hai m�⇧i b⌥n t�ng - "twenty-four stories"

2. b⌥n m�⇧i hai phut - "forty-two minutes"


3. tám m�⇧i sáu ph�n tr⌅m - "eighty-six percent"

The exceptions are the numbers ending with one and five. We know that "one" is m⇤t but when it is put after the multiple of ten, it becomes m⌥t. Again, there is a change in the tone of word. M⇤t is the heavy falling tone while m⌥t is the high rising tone. And n⌅m is "five" but when it becomes the units digit of a number, it is pronounced as l⌅m: l instead of n. This is also due to speaking habits. For example, hai m�⇧i m⌥t ("twenty one"), hai m�⇧i l⌅m ("twenty five"), b⌥n m�⇧i m⌥t ("forty one") and b⌥n m�⇧i l⌅m ("forty five"). Numbers ending with "four" (except "fourteen") also have another pronunciation. B⌥n, as a units digit can be pronounced as t�. For example ba m�⇧i b⌥n or ba m�⇧i t� ("thirty four"), n⌅m m�⇧i b⌥n or n⌅m m�⇧i t� (fifty four). T� has Chinese origin and this pronunciation is even more popular than b⌥n.

GRAMMAR

The Focus of The Lesson is Vietnamese Numerals.

From the point of view of the word order, Vietnamese numerals are different from English in that the number comes first, followed by the noun classifier and finally the noun (no plural form). Some nouns do not need a classifier, though. The nouns in Vietnamese won't change even when the number is more than one. Basic noun classifiers:

1. The general classifier for objects is cái. For example: cái bánh ("a cake"), cái bút ("a pen"), cái áo ("a shirt").

2. The general classifier for animals is con. For example: con gà ("a chicken"), con ng a ("a horse"), con g⌦u ("a bear").

3. The general classifier for books, notebooks, magazines and the like is quy↵n. For example: quy↵n v� ("a notebook"), quy↵n sách ("a book").

Examples of numeral noun phrases:

1. m⇤t vé/m⇤t cái vé - "one ticket"


2. ba ng�⇥i - "three people"

3. b⌥n m�⇧i n⌅m - "forty years"

4. m�⇥i bông hoa - "ten flowers"

5. sáu cái ô - "six umbrellas"

6. m�⇥i hai con gà - "twelve chickens"

Cardinal vs Ordinal Numbers

What we learned above are cardinal numbers. To form ordinal number, add th� which literally means "order" before the cardinal numbers. There are only two exceptions: "the first" and "the fourth." Instead of saying th� m⇤t, we say th� nh⌦t ("the first") and instead of saying th� b⌥n we say th� t� ("the fourth"). Both nh⌦t ("first") and t� ("fourth") have Chinese origin.

Vietnamese Cardinal

Vietnamese Ordinal English Cardinal English Ordinal

m⇤t th� nh⌦t "one" "the first"

hai th� hai "two" "the second"

ba th� ba "three" "the third"

b⌥n th� t� "four" "the fourth"

n⌅m th� n⌅m "five" "the fifth"

sáu th� sáu "six" "the sixth"

b�y th� b�y "seven" "the seventh"

tám th� tám "eight" "the eighth"

chín th� chín "nine" "the ninth"


m�⇥i th� m�⇥i "ten" "the tenth"

m�⇥i m⇤t th� m�⇥i m⇤t "eleven" "the eleventh"

m�⇥i hai th� m�⇥i hai "twelve" "the twelfth"

LESSON NOTES

Basic Bootcamp #5Counting from 100-1,000,000 in

Vietnamese

CONTENTS


# 5


VIETNAMESEPOD101.COM BASIC BOOTCAMP #5 - COUNTING FROM 100-1,000,000 IN VIETNAMESE 2

VIETNAMESE

1. A: m�t tr⇥m

2. B: hai tr⇥m

3. A: ba tr⇥m

4. B: b⇤n tr⇥m

5. A: n⇥m tr⇥m

6. B: sáu tr⇥m

7. A: b⌅y tr⇥m

8. B: tám tr⇥m

9. A: chín tr⇥m

10. B: m�t nghìn

11. A: n⇥m nghìn

12. B: m⇧⌃i nghìn

13. A: n⇥m m⇧⌥i nghìn

14. B: m�t tr⇥m nghìn

15. A: m�t tri�u

ENGLISHCONT'D OVER


1. A: One hundred

2. B: Two hundred

3. A: Three hundred

4. B: Four hundred

5. A: Five hundred

6. B: Six hundred

7. A: Seven hundred

8. B: Eight hundred

9. A: Nine hundred

10. B: One thousand

11. A: Five thousand

12. B: Ten thousand

13. A: Fifty thousand

14. B: One hundred thousand.

15. A: One million

VOCABULARY



m�t tr⇥m "100, one hundred" noun

hai tr⇥m "200, two hundred" noun

ba tr⇥m "300, three hundred" noun

b⇤n tr⇥m "400, four hundred" noun

n⇥m tr⇥m "500, five hundred" noun

sáu tr⇥m "600, six hundred" noun

b⌅y tr⇥m "700, seven hundred" noun

tám tr⇥m "800, eight hundred"

chín tr⇥m "900, nine hundred"

m�t nghìn "1,000 / one thousand" noun

n⇥m nghìn "5,000 / five thousand"

m⇧⌃i nghìn "10,000 / ten thousand" noun

n⇥m m⇧⌥i nghìn "50,000 / fifty thousand"

m�t tr⇥m nghìn"100,000 / one hundred

thousand"

m�t tri�u "1,000,000 / one million" noun

SAMPLE SENTENCES

Ông �y ⇥ã s⇤ng m⌅t tr⇧m n⇧m. "He has lived one hundred years."

Khoa kinh t⌃ có hai tr⇧m sinh viên. "The department of economics has two hundred students"


Thành ph⇤ này ba tr⇧m n⇧m tu⌥i. "This city is three hundred years old."

Cu⌅c thi này có b⇤n tr⇧m ng� i tham gia. "There are four hundred participants in this competition."

Công ty chúng tôi có n⇧m tr⇧m nhân viên. "There are five hundred employees working in our company."

Cô �y có m⌅t b⌅ s�u t⌦p sáu tr⇧m ⇥ôi giày. "She has a six-hundred-pair shoe collection"

↵i tàu ⇥⌃n Kyoto h⌃t b�y tr⇧m yên. "It costs seven hundred yen to go to Kyoto by train"

C⌥ v⌦t này ⇥ã chín tr⇧m n⇧m tu⌥i. "The antique was nine hundred years old."

Tôi nh�t ⇥��c m⌅t nghìn ⇥✏ng "I found one thousand dong"


100 M�t tr⇥m is "one hundred" in Vietnamese, so tr⇥m means "hundred." Simply add tr⇥m to the end of "one" through to "nine" to form numbers "one hundred" to "nine hundred." For example, hai tr⇥m means "two hundred," sáu tr⇥m means "six hundred" and chín tr⇥m means "nine hundred."


m�t tr⇥m "one hundred"

hai tr⇥m "two hundred"

ba tr⇥m "three hundred"

b⇤n tr⇥m "four hundred"


n⇥m tr⇥m "five hundred"

sáu tr⇥m "six hundred"

b⌅y tr⇥m "seven hundred"

tám tr⇥m "eight hundred"

chín tr⇥m "nine hundred"

m�t nghìn "one thousand"

GRAMMAR

The Focus of This Lesson Is How to Learn Larger Numbers in Vietnamese.

The easiest way to remember large Vietnamese numbers is to understand their structure first. In the previous Boot Camp lesson, we covered the numbers one to one hundred. As you may remember, the most important thing was to memorize the numbers from "one" to "ten," and then build larger numbers by modifying endings, adding or dropping some parts, and so on. There are exceptions among the common rules, but in general, Vietnamese numbers have a strong logical system according to which numbers are built. 1000 Here, things are just as easy. Like tr⇥m ("hundred") we add -nghìn ("thousand)," to the end of "one" through to "nine." For example m�t nghìn is "one thousand." Hai nghìn is "two thousand" and so on. For Example: From 1000 to 9000


m�t nghìn "one thousand"

hai nghìn "two thousand"

ba nghìn "three thousand"


b⇤n nghìn "four thousand"

n⇥m nghìn "five thousand

sáu nghìn "six thousand"

b⌅y nghìn "seven thousand"

tám nghìn "eight thousand"

chín nghìn "nine thousand"

Follow the same rule for bigger numbers. Just as in English, we add nghìn ("thousand") to the end of the numbers from "ten" to "ninety." Then we have numbers from 10,000 to 100,000.


m⇧⌃i nghìn "ten thousand"

hai m⇧⌥i nghìn "twenty thousand"

ba m⇧⌥i nghìn "thirty thousand"

b⇤n m⇧⌥i nghìn "forty thousand"

n⇥m m⇧⌥i nghìn "fifty thousand"

sáu m⇧⌥i nghìn "sixty thousand"

b⌅y m⇧⌥i nghìn "seventy thousand"

tám m⇧⌥i nghìn "eighty thousand"

chín m⇧⌥i nghìn "ninety thousand"

m�t tr⇥m nghìn "one hundred thousand"

All the way up to chín tr⇥m nghìn ("nine hundred thousand"), , the system is logical and easy, just like the English number system. Just remember that all the numbers are contracted into


one long word. E.g. M�t tr⇥m ba m⇧⌥i hai nghìn b⇤n tr⇥m chín m⇧⌥i sáu in Vietnamese would be "One hundred and thirty two thousand four hundred and ninety six" in English. :

It may be overwhelming to read, but you'll gradually get used to it. Also notice that in English you put an "and" before the units digit of a number but in Vietnamese you won't need to add anything. No matter how long it is, just say the number in the order from the thousands, to the hundreds, to the tens and the units digit. The same things work for even larger numbers. So hai nghìn m⇧⌃i m�t is "two thousand and eleven." M⇧⌃i nghìn hai tr⇥m tám m⇧⌥i b⌅y is "Ten thousand two hundred and eighty seven."

1,000,000 Tri�u in Vietnamese is "million."The same rule as "hundred" and "thousand" is also applied here. For example m�t tri�u is "one million" and hai tri�u is"two million" and so on.

LESSON NOTES

All About #1Top Reasons to Learn Vietnamese

CONTENTS

2 Grammar

# 1


VIETNAMESEPOD101.COM ALL ABOUT #1 - TOP REASONS TO LEARN VIETNAMESE 2

GRAMMAR

The Focus of This Lesson is the History of Vietnamese, and the Best Reasons to Learn Vietnamese

I. Linguistics Vietnamese is the official language of Vietnam and is the mother tongue of 85% of Vietnamese people and more than four million overseas Vietnamese. It is also the second language of many ethnic minorities of Vietnam. Vietnamese belongs to the Austro-Asiatic language family, which is known as the language family of Southeast Asia. Vietnamese has experienced a long history of development and is associated with the Vietnamese people's strong nationalism and creativity throughout a persistent process of country establishment and protection. The rich and long history of the Vietnamese language can be summarized in three main stages: Chinese-influenced stage, French-influenced stage and Vietnamese alphabet development. Under more than 1,000 years of Chinese colonization, Chinese was used as the main spoken and written language for administrative, educational, artistic and literary purposes in Vietnam. It was not until the 10th century that the demotic system called ch� Nôm, a writing system using the Chinese characters with modified phonetic elements to suit the tones of the Vietnamese language, was invented to express the terms that did not exist in Chinese. From the 15th century on, the literature genre using ch� Nôm was strongly developed, Vietnamese vocabulary was enriched, and many Chinese-originated words were Vietnamized. After the French invasion in the second half of the 19th century, French gradually took the place of Chinese as the official language used in education, administration and diplomacy. Along with the struggle for independence from French colonialism, the Vietnamese alphabet, known as ch� qu⇥c ng�, was invented by some Western priests by using Latin characters to express Vietnamese. The Vietnamese alphabet was gradually modified and increasingly used in many aspects of life. It became the official language of Vietnam after the national independence from French colonization in 1945. Vietnamese is a tonal language that uses six main diacritics to denote the tone of words. It is spoken with different accents by people from the North, Middle and the South of Vietnam. Northern Vietnamese is considered the standard Vietnamese and it is also used in this series of lessons.

II. About Vietnam Vietnam is located in the East of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. The country


borders China to the North, Laos and Cambodia to the West, and the South China Sea to the East. Gaining its national independence and reunification in 1975, the country was named The Socialist Republic of Vietnam and this has been the official name of Vietnam to this day. The capital city is Ha Noi, the largest city in Northern Vietnam and the second largest city in the country, second only to Ho Chi Minh city in the south. Vietnam has a tropical monsoon climate in the South with two seasons (dry and rainy seasons) and a monsoon climate in the North with four seasons all year round. Enjoying a favorable geographical location, the country is rich in natural resources, and has diversified natural attractions ranging from mountains and seas to forests and highlands. Two historic relics recognized by UNESCO as World Natural Heritage are Ha Long Bay in the north and Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in north central Vietnam. Moreover, a variety of ethnic groups and a history that traces back thousands of years have made Vietnamese culture of interest to people from many countries around the world.

III. Where Vietnamese is Spoken Vietnamese is mainly spoken by around 76 million people in Vietnam (85% of the total population) and over four million overseas Vietnamese (1.8 million of which live in the U.S).

IV. Writing System and Pronunciation Modern Vietnamese uses the Vietnamese alphabet as its writing system. It consists of 22 Latin characters like in English (except f, j, w and z) and seven modified ones with diacritics. There are also ten digraphs and one trigraph. Vietnamese has a large number of vowels, which include monophthongs, diphthongs and triphthongs. Each Vietnamese word is pronounced with an inherent tone, marked by a diacritic just above or below the main vowel of that word. There six main tones in Vietnamese: mid level, gradual falling, high rising, mid dipping falling, broken rising and heaving falling tones. V. Why it is Important: The Top Reasons to Learn Vietnamese Are...

1. Learning Vietnamese is fun! In many cases when the order of the words in one sentence is changed, another sentence with a different meaning is formed. Using the same group of words to create a number of meaningful sentences is an interesting part of Vietnamese language.

2. Vietnam has great economic potential. In recent years, its impressive economic growth has made Vietnam a promising place for overseas investment. Knowing Vietnamese is a further step on your way to success in doing business in Vietnam.


3. Vietnam is a beautiful country! Rich in natural and cultural attractions, Vietnam is becoming one of the must-see tourist destinations in the world. Learning Vietnamese gives you more opportunities to get a deeper understanding of this beautiful and interesting country and its people.

4. It's easy! Vietnamese is among the few Asian languages that uses Latin characters instead of complicated characters like Chinese and Japanese. That makes it more convenient for English speakers to read and write Vietnamese and make quick progress while learning!

LESSON NOTES

All About #2The Vietnamese Writing System

CONTENTS

2 Grammar

# 2


VIETNAMESEPOD101.COM ALL ABOUT #2 - THE VIETNAMESE WRITING SYSTEM 2

GRAMMAR

The Focus of This Lesson is the Vietnamese Writing System

The Vietnamese alphabet is easy to learn because it uses the same alphabet as English, plus

some more letters with diacritics.

Alphabet

The Vietnamese alphabet consists of 29 letters, inclusive of 22 letters that are also in English,

plus seven additional ones with diacritics. The letters f, j, w and z are not used in Vietnamese.

Besides single letters, there are nine digraphs and one trigraph, which are used as

consonants when forming a word.

Using diacritics is the most prominent characteristic of Vietnamese writing system. There are

nine diacritics, four of which create additional sounds and the other five of which mark the

tone of a word. Please be aware that diacritics are applied above or below a vowel.

�, â, ⇥, e, ê, ô, ⇤, ⌅

These seven extra letters are for sounds not found in the English alphabet by default. While � is a consonant, the other six are used as vowels.

Diacritics (tone marks)

There are six tones in Vietnamese but only five of them are marked with diacritics:

1.

The mid-level tone is called ngang and is unmarked.

2.

The gradual falling tone is called huy⇥n and the diacritic is a grave accent.

3.

The high rising tone is called s⇤c and the diacritic is an acute accent.

4.

The mid-dipping falling tone is called h⌅i and the diacritic is a hook.

5.

The broken rising tone is called ngã and the diacritic is a tilde.

6.

The heavy falling tone is called n⇧ng and the diacritic is a dot below.

LESSON NOTES

All About #3Painless Vietnamese Grammar

CONTENTS

2 Grammar

# 3


VIETNAMESEPOD101.COM ALL ABOUT #3 - PAINLESS VIETNAMESE GRAMMAR 2

GRAMMAR

The Focus of This Lesson is Basic Vietnamese Grammar

Vietnamese is quite different from English in terms of grammar. But these differences do not make it more difficult or complicated. Once you have grasped its basis, the rest is just a piece of cake.

In these All About lessons, we are going to avoid all but the most basic grammar words. Introducing complex grammatical concepts in the early stages of language learning actually makes things much more difficult than they need to be.

Overview

The Vietnamese language is phonologically monosyllabic. Most words, short or long, consist of only one syllable. The syntax form is basically the same as English, with the subject placed at the beginning of the sentence, followed by verb and object.

Verbs

Since Vietnamese language is non-inflectional, Vietnamese verbs do not have tenses, infinitive forms or base forms. They stay the same whether the subject is singular or plural. The types of verbs are somewhat similar to English verbs, which contain: auxiliary/lexical verbs, dynamic/stative verbs, transitive/intransitive verbs, and linking verbs.

Time

As mentioned above, Vietnamese verbs have no tenses, so whether you are talking about the past, the present or the future, the form of the verb won't change. Instead, auxiliary verbs and time phrases are added to determine the time. The auxiliary verbs for the past, present and future are �ã ("already"), �ang ("in progress") and s⇥ ("will/going to") respectively, and they are placed after the subject and before the verb of a sentence.

For example:

1. Hôm qua tôi �ã h⇤c ti⌅ng Nh⇧t. - "Yesterday I studied Japanese."


2. Tôi �ang h⇤c ti⌅ng Nh⇧t. - "I'm studying Japanese."

3. Tôi s⇥ h⇤c ti⌅ng Nh⇧t ngày mai. - "I'm going to study Japanese tomorrow."

In some cases, only the time phrase is added and the sentence is still fully understood and grammatically correct. In the first example above, the auxiliary verb �ã can be removed without changing the meaning of the sentence (Hôm qua tôi h⇤c ti⌅ng Nh⇧t).

Word Order

Vietnamese is a word order language. Changing the position of words in a sentence means changing its meaning and context. In many cases, the new sentence still makes sense and is grammatically correct. For example:

1. Hôm qua gia �ình tôi �⌅n th⌃m ch⌥ Lan. - "Yesterday my family visited sister Lan."

2. Hôm qua gia �ình ch⌥ Lan �⌅n th⌃m tôi. - "Yesterday sister Lan's family visited me."

3. Hôm qua Lan �⌅n th⌃m gia �ình ch⌥ tôi. - Yesterday Lan visited my sister's family."

4. Hôm qua tôi �⌅n th⌃m gia �ình ch⌥ Lan. - Yesterday I visited sister Lan's family."

Pronouns The most complicated pronouns in Vietnamese are personal pronouns. There is a wide range of personal pronouns which vary according to age, gender and the closeness of the relationship between the speakers. There is no distinction between the subjective and objective forms of a pronoun.

The lists and usage of common personal pronouns are as follows:

1. First person pronouns: 1.1. Singular ("I," "me"):

1. Tôi: most general

2. T�/mình: used when talking with friends, classmates or people of the same age


3. Tao: vulgar (used with extreme caution)

4. Em: used when talking with someone several years older

5. Cháu: used when talking with someone around your uncle/aunt's age or older

6. Con: used when talking with your parents

1.2. Plural ("we," "us"): Add the word chúng before the singular form of the above pronouns, and the usage is the same: chúng tôi, chúng t�/chúng mình, chúng tao, chúng em, chúng cháu, chúng con.

2. Second person pronouns: 2.1. Singular ("you")

1. Ông/ngài: Grandpa/Sir (usually an old, married man, or a man for whom you show high respect)

2. Bà: Grandma/Madam (usually an old, married woman or a woman for whom you show high respect)

3. Bác: a man/woman slightly older than your parents

4. Chú: a man slightly younger than your parents

5. Cô: Aunt/Miss/young lady or a woman slightly younger than your parents

6. B n: You (most general or used for a person around the same age)

7. Anh: Brother/a young man several years older or a man in a romantic relationship

8. Ch⌥: Sister/a young woman several years older

9. Em: Younger brother/sister—a younger person or a woman in a romantic relationship

10. Mày: You (vulgar, usually to address someone younger, used with extreme caution)

2.2. Plural: Add các before the singular form of the above pronouns except for the last one,


and add chúng before the last one: các ông/các ngài, các bác, các cô, etc. and chúng mày.

3. Third person pronouns:

1. Ông ⌦y: he/him/an old man

2. Bà ⌦y: she/her/ an old woman

3. Anh ⌦y: he/him/a young man

4. Ch⌥ ⌦y/Cô ⌦y: she/her/a young woman

5. Nó: He/she/him/her/it (vulgar, for a younger person or an animal)

6. Em ⌦y: he/she/him/her/a younger person

7. H↵n/y: pejorative he/him

8. �: pejorative she/her

9. H⇤: they/them

Pluralizing

Once again, because the Vietnamese language is non-inflectional, the form of a word doesn't change whether it's singular or plural. Instead, particles indicating "more than one" such as nh�ng, các, and chúng (for pronouns only) or quantifiers are added before that word.

For example:

1. (m�t) bông hoa - "a flower"

2. hai bông hoa - "two flowers"

3. m✏⇣i bông hoa - "ten flowers"

4. nh�ng bông hoa - "flowers"

LESSON NOTES

All About #4Basic Vietnamese Pronunciation

CONTENTS

2 Grammar

# 4


VIETNAMESEPOD101.COM ALL ABOUT #4 - BASIC VIETNAMESE PRONUNCIATION 2

GRAMMAR

The Focus of This Lesson is Basic Vietnamese Pronunciation

As you know, Vietnamese is a tonal language and the tone of a word determines its meaning. Therefore, learning the main tones is the key to Vietnamese pronunciation. Before looking into the tones, let's recap the writing system quickly just as an introduction to the pronunciation. The Vietnamese alphabet consists of 29 letters, 22 of which are the same as in English, plus seven additional ones with diacritics.

Out of 29 letters, there are 17 consonants and 12 vowels, together with additional compounds derived from them.

Consonants

The 17 Vietnamese consonants b, c, d, �, g, h, k, l, m, n, p, q, r, s, t, v, and x, together with 11 compounds (ten digraphs and one trigraph) ch, gh, gi, kh, ng, ngh, nh, ph, qu, th, and tr, create 23 sounds in total. There are eight consonants which can also be used as final consonants: -c, -ch, -ng, -nh, -m, -n, -p, and -t. But since this is a basic pronunciation lesson, we will be introducing the single consonants only.

Consonant Pronunciation

b is called bê/b⇥ like "b" in "baby"

c is called xê/c⇥ like "c" in "cat"

d is called dê/d⇥ like "z" in "zoo."

� (a derivative of d) is called �ê/�⇥ like "d" in "do" but unaspirated

g is called g⇥ like "g" in "go"

h is called hát/h⇥ like "h" in "hold"

k is called ca like "k" in "kick" but unaspirated

l is called l⇥ like "l" in "low"


m is called m⇥ like "m" in "mother"

n is called n⇥ like "n" in "now"

p is called pê/p⇥ like "p" in "pick"

q is called cualways goes with "u" to make a compound "qu"(pronounced like "qu" in "quick")

r is called r⇥ like "r" in "run"

s is called ét xì like "sh" in "she"

t is called tê/t⇥ like "t" in "tea" but softer and unaspirated

v is called vê/v⇥ like "v" in "very"

x is called ích xì like "s" in "sea"

Vowels

Vietnamese has a great number of single and compound vowel sound, derived from 12 vowel letters. 12 vowels (a, �, â, e, ê, i, o, ô, ⇥, u, ⇤, y) letter produce 11 single vowel sounds as follows:

Vowel Pronunciation

a like [a] in "father."

⇤ like [�] in "cut."

â also pronounced like [�] in "cut," but shorter

e like [e] in "trend"

ê like [ei] in "main"

i/y like [i:] in "she"


o like [o] in "hot"

ô like [o] in "low"

⌅ like [ ] in "fur"

u like [u] in "good"

⇧ like u but your lips are unrounded as if you are grinning

There are a wide variety of compound vowel sounds (diphthongs and triphthongs) and it is hard to cover them in this basic lesson, so they will gradually be introduced in future lessons.

Tones

As we have already mentioned in previous lessons, there are six main tones in Vietnamese: one unmarked and five marked tones, which are called diacritical tones. They are classified into two groups: even tones and slant tones. The unmarked and gradual falling tones belong to the first group while the rest (high rising, mid dipping falling, broken rising and heavy falling tones) belong to the second group. Tone marks are only applied above or below the vowels, rather than the consonants. The best way for beginners to practice these tones is to listen to a native speaker's pronunciation. Let's practice saying each tone with the simplest words.

1. Unmarked tone (ngang - mid-level): Start at the middle of your normal voice range then remain the same. For example: a, ba, me, �i.

2. Gradual falling tone (huy⌃n - grave accent): Start at a fairly low level and gradually lower your voice to the lowest level. For example: à, bà, cò, nè.

3. High rising tone (s⌥c - acute accent): Start at the middle level of your voice range then raise your voice to the highest. For example: á, cá, té, nó.

4. Mid-dipping-falling tone (h�i - hook): Begin at the middle of your voice and lower it quickly. For example: , b�, k⌦, ph↵.


5. Broken falling tone (ngã - tilde): Start just a little above the normal voice range, dip down a bit then raise it suddenly. For example: mã, r�, k�, võ.

6. Heavy rising tone (n�ng - dot below): Start just a little below the middle range, then fall immediately and suddenly to the lowest level. You'll feel the constriction of the glottis when your voice fall suddenly. Try pronouncing this tone while gradually lower your head as if you are nodding suddenly. For example ✏, m⇣, v⌘, ch⌘.

LESSON NOTES

All About #5Top 5 Must-Know Phrases for

Learning Vietnamese

CONTENTS

2 Grammar

# 5


VIETNAMESEPOD101.COM ALL ABOUT #5 - TOP 5 MUST-KNOW PHRASES FOR LEARNING VIETNAMESE 2

GRAMMAR

The Focus of This Lesson is the Top 5 Must Know Vietnamese Phrases

Here we'll introduce five phrases in Vietnamese that will take you a long way and help you out in a variety of situations!

1. Xin chào ("Hello!")

The most practical phrase in Vietnamese is Xin chào. It means "Hello," or "hi." It can be used in both formal and informal situations. But naturally, in daily conversation, Vietnamese people add a personal pronoun to address the other person after chào. For example: Chào anh ("Hi brother") or Chào bà ("Hello Madam"). (Please refer to the list of personal pronouns that have been mentioned in our previous lessons.) Vietnamese usually don't say "good morning" or "good evening." Rather they prefer using "chào" at anytime of day. For Example:

A: Chào anh! ("Hi brother") - when speaking to a slightly older man B: Chào em! ("Hi little brother/sister") - replying to a younger person Or A: Xin chào! B: Xin chào!

2. C�m ⇥n ("Thank you")

A well-placed and sincere "thank you" will always be appreciated when someone gives you a plate of food, a drink, or even a compliment. "Thank you" in Vietnamese is C�m ⇥n (literally, to appreciate the favor you've given to me). The first word has a mid-dipping falling tone, and the second word has a flat tone. This phrase can be used in both written texts and daily conversation. Please be aware that you will likely hear Vietnamese people say cám ⇥n instead. The first word in this case is the high rising tone while the second word stays the same. This phrase has exact the same meaning as the one we learned earlier, but it is only used in spoken Vietnamese. The previous c�m ⇥n is more semantically and grammatically correct. In formal situations, xin is added before c�m ⇥n or cám ⇥n (literally, "let me give my thanks"). The entire phrase is Xin c�m ⇥n or Xin cám ⇥n.


3. Không, c�m ⇥n. ("No, thank you")

This phrase can let you politely refuse anything offered to you. Không, c�m ⇥n ("no thank you"), adds Không "no" to c�m ⇥n. It's just like the English "no, thank you." When someone offers you something and you say c�m ⇥n, it means "Thank you." Adding Không in front makes this a "no, thank you."

4. Xin/Làm ⇥n...giúp tôi ("Please")

It is likely that you may want to ask somebody for help. In that case, the phrase Xin + verb phrase + giúp tôi (literally, "please ... for me") is used. To make it more formal, làm ⇥n is used instead of xin, the rest of the phrase won't change.

For example:

1.Xin/Làm ⇥n ch⇤ ⌅⇧⌃ng giúp tôi. - "Please show me the direction/Please show the direction for me." - Ch⇤ ⌅⇧⌃ng means "to show the direction"

2.Xin/Làm ⇥n ⌅⌥c t� này giúp tôi. - "Please read this world for me" - ⌅⌥c t� này means "to read this word"

5. Xin h⇤i/Xin l⌅i ("Excuse me")

There are two ways to draw somebody's attention in Vietnamese. When you want to ask something, use Xin h i ("Let me ask") then add your question. In other cases (to request something, to order food/drink, to squeeze by someone etc.), xin l⌦i is used. Both phrases mean "excuse me" and the way they are used is exactly the same as "excuse me" is used in English.

For example:

1.Xin h i, m↵y gi⌃ r�i? - "Excuse me, what time is it." M↵y gi⌃ r�i means "What time is it?"

2.Xin l⌦i, cho tôi m⇧�n cái bút ⌅⇧�c không? - "Excuse me, can I borrow your pen?". Cho tôi m⇧�n cái bút ⌅⇧�c không means "can I borrow your pen?"


3.Xin l⌦i ("I'm sorry"). In Vietnamese, xin l⌦i also means "sorry."

When you really want to apologize for something, you say Xin l⌦i ("sorry") or Tôi xin l⌦i ("I'm sorry"). Tôi xin l⌦i is more formal and sounds more sincere.

LESSON NOTES

All About #6Can You Answer these 5 Questions

About Vietnam?

CONTENTS

2 Grammar

# 6


VI ETNAMES EPOD101.COM ALL ABOUT #6 - CAN YOU ANS WER THES E 5 QUES TI ONS ABOUT VI ETNAM? 2

GRAMMAR

The Focus of This Lesson is a Quiz

Here are five things you should know about Vietnam! Test your knowledge of Vietnam..

Geography In which part of Vietnam is Hanoi located?

1. The North

2. The South-West

3. The South-East

Correct answer: 1. The North

Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam. It is the largest city in the north and the second largest city nationwide, second only to Ho Chi Minh city in the south. Hanoi features the typical climate of northern Vietnam, which is a warm humid subtropical climate. It is hot (28.1°C on average) with a large amount of rainfall in summer and it's cold (18.6°C on average) with less rain in winter. There are four seasons all year round (spring, summer, autumn and winter). Hanoi is the main economic, political and cultural center of Vietnam. One of the must-see destinations in Hanoi is the old quarter, an area of Hanoi's ancient streets. Each street is well-known for a particular type of goods and the street's name represents the goods that a number of shops along that street are selling. It is a great place to see the layout and architecture of an old Hanoi while enjoying special shopping experiences. Besides, Hanoi is also famous for delicious traditional Vietnamese cuisines which can satisfy even the most picky customers.

Cuisine

The two most well-known Vietnamese dishes are:

1.Pho and goi cuon (rice noodle soup and fresh spring rolls)


2.Banh xeo and banh cuon (Vietnamese pan cake and steamed rice rolls)

3.Xoi ga and banh mi (Sticky rice with chicken, and Vietnamese-style bread)

Correct answers: 1. (Rice noodle soup and fresh spring rolls) Pho (rice noodle soup) and goi cuon (fresh spring rolls) are two Vietnamese dishes that are listed among top 50 most delicious dishes in the world, according to CNN. They are also the two most popular dishes on the menus of Vietnamese restaurants in many countries. Their flavor represents the typical Vietnamese eating style: fresh, bland and low fat with a unique play of spices.

Travel

Which are the most popular travel destinations in Vietnam?

1. Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh city, Ha Long Bay

2. Sapa, Da Lat, Phan Thiet

3. Nha Trang, Hoi An, Hue

Correct Answer: 1. Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Ha Long Bay

All the places mentioned in the question are worth a visit because they are among the top tourist destinations in Vietnam.

However, the three most popular places are: Hanoi is the most frequently visited city in Vietnam. Being the capital, that is no surprise. The top destinations in Hanoi are the old quarter, Ho Chi Minh mausoleum, Hoan Kiem Lake and West Lake, One Pillar Pagoda, Thang Long Water Puppet Theater and the Temple of Literature. Don't forget to try the most delicious Vietnamese food, especially the two dishes we mentioned above. The most ideal time to visit Hanoi is in the autumn (August-October) as the weather is cool, with low precipitation. Ho Chi Minh City (also known as Saigon) is the largest city in Vietnam. It is named after the first and greatest president of Vietnam - president Ho Chi Minh, who led the country during wartime and played the most important role in Vietnam's victory in 1975. Located in the south, the city is warm all year round. The pace of life in Ho Chi Minh City is very different from Hanoi. In Hanoi, you can still enjoy the quietness and peacefulness in the small corner of an


old-style cafe, regardless of the hustle and bustle outside, while Ho Chi Minh City is animated and fast-paced from the early morning till late at night. Ho Chi Minh City is also famous for the War Remnants Museum, which displays weapons and photographs reflecting the horrors of the Vietnam War. Ha Long Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located in the northeastern part of Vietnam, the site is about 1,500 square kilometers with a long coastline of 120 kilometers. The bay is known for its breathtaking natural beauty, with extensive limestone caves and islands of different shapes and sizes. This is a nice place to indulge yourself in the magnificence of nature.

Economy

Vietnam is the world's largest exporter in...

1. Timber

2. Black pepper

3. Rice

Correct Answer: 2. Black pepper

Vietnam is currently the world's largest producer and exporter of black pepper, making up 50% of the world's black pepper export. Vietnam's pepper has been exported to eighty countries and territories and has dominant market share in big markets like the US, the EU, and the Middle East. Interesting Facts and Figures About Vietnam

1. Economy

From 2000 to 2012, Vietnam's GDP annual growth rate averaged 6.5% and it was listed as one of 26 fast-growing economies among the top 100 major economies, according to "The World in 2050" by HSBC. In 2011, Vietnam attracted about $14.7 billion FDI registered and together with Indonesia, was considered in the top favorite FDI destinations among ASEAN countries, by Transnational Corporations.

2. Culture


The most prominent feature of Vietnamese culture is community and family orientation. The individual is considered secondary to the group, and Vietnamese people value the relationship among people of the same group (in the family, neighborhood, school, or company). It's not uncommon to see Vietnamese people being very close to their neighbors.

3. Education

Up to 94% of the population is literate. The education enrolment in primary, secondary and tertiary levels is 94%, 62% and 7% of the population respectively. University enrolment has long been considered the only way to success in Vietnam, putting a lot of pressure on students at all levels, but this school of thoughts is gradually changing now.

4. Transportation

The major means of transportation in Vietnam is motorcycles. There were about 33.4 million motorcycles in use in 2011, which equals 2.6 people/motorcycle. This is the main cause of traffic jams and air pollution in urban areas.

5. Lifestyles

According to the University of Michigan's World Values Surveys on the happiest countries in the world, Vietnam ranks 27th among the 79 countries being surveyed in terms of subjective well-being. The level of personal happiness among Vietnamese people is even higher than many countries in the developed world, which means Vietnamese people are quite satisfied with their lives.

LESSON NOTES

All About #7Top 5 Vietnamese Dishes

CONTENTS

2 Grammar

# 7


VIETNAMESEPOD101.COM ALL ABOUT #7 - TOP 5 VIETNAMESE DISHES 2

GRAMMAR

The Focus of This Lesson is Vietnamese Cuisine

If you're afraid of gaining weight, and if you are fed up with high calorie food like cheese, butter, and pizza, Vietnamese food will bring you a fresh feeling. Known as one of the healthiest cuisines in the world, Vietnamese food can satisfy even the most picky person, thanks to the use of fresh ingredients, low fat content, and high reliance on herbs and vegetables. Because of the differences in climate and geography, each region (the north, the center, and the south) in Vietnam has its own food culture, which creates a diversified range of dishes all over Vietnam. But in general, they all share some common features. Firstly, Vietnamese people pay more attention to the tastiness and healthiness of the food than how many calories it contains. Food should be cooked in a way that increases the appetite of those who enjoy it. Therefore, many Vietnamese foods are made from ingredients that are not really nutritious but can arouse the interest and curiosity of the diners, such as pig's ear, chicken foot, asparagus, cassava vermicelli, and so on. Also, vegetables and soups are indispensable in a Vietnamese meal. Secondly, Vietnamese dishes are also characterized as light and balanced thanks to the sophisticated mix of flavoring ingredients, including a wide variety of herbs, spices and sauces. The spices that are widely used in Vietnamese food are garlic, shallot, onion, chili, ginger, lemon, lemongrass, vinegar, and fish sauce. The use of unique sauces such as fish sauce, shrimp sauce, coconut milk, fermented soy sauce and so on, also makes the Vietnamese flavor unique. Thirdly, community-orientedness and hospitality are also prominent features of Vietnamese food culture. Vietnamese people tend to eat in groups and they like to invite friends or relatives to their homes to cook and eat together as if it were party time, even on normal days. A meal is often served on a large tray. Each person has their own bowl of rice and a pair of chopsticks while the other foods are shared and eaten together over the tray.

Popular Food Items

Everywhere you go in Vietnam, you'll find restaurants serving several types of noodles such as Ph� (rice noodle), bún (rice vermicelli), and mi⇥n (cassava vermicelli). They are either served in soup or stir-fried, adding some beef, chicken or chicken giblets. Vietnamese breads (bánh mì) are another popular food item. They are like baguettes but much shorter with a thinner crust. They are usually filled with sliced pork, scrambled eggs, grilled meat, pâté or


dried shredded pork with some herbs and chili sauce and sold in street shops or by vendors. Also, steamed sticky rice (xôi) is a type of street food that is worth a try. Thanks to Vietnam's integration into the global culture, Western foods are also getting popular in the country. Sandwiches, pizzas, hamburgers and the like can be found in many places, just in case you're missing the Western flavors.

Seasonal Dishes

Usually some kinds of vegetables and fruits are seasonal but with such a diversification of fresh food ingredients, popular Vietnamese foods are sold all year round. You'll have the chance to taste traditional Vietnamese food no matter when you visit the country.

Table Etiquette

Because Vietnamese people often eat in groups and foods are shared over a large tray, table etiquette is important. The basic rules apply, such as don't talk with your mouth full, sit up straight, don't put your feet on the table, etc. There are three other things are particularly irritating to Vietnamese.

1. Hold your chopsticks while you are pouring soup into your bowl. Normally, a large bowl of soup is shared on the tray, so when you want to drink the soup, you have to ladle it out into your bowl and you should put your chopsticks down while you're doing so.

2. Make noise when you are chewing. It is considered unsanitary and impolite.

3. Don't forget to address older people before you start eating. Like other countries, Vietnamese people also say something like "Bon appetit" before they eat but it's the younger people who have to say it to the older people individually.

The Top 5 Vietnamese Dishes

5. Xôi (steamed sticky rice) This is a casual dish which is widely sold in street-side stands and makes an excellent breakfast or snack. Sticky rice is dipped into cold water for several hours before it is cooked for 30-45 minutes over a cloth-lined or bamboo steamer. White sticky rice is often served with fried eggs, pate, dried shredded pork or chicken or braised pork. Sticky rice can also be cooked with extra ingredients such as mung beans, black beans or corn but whatever way it is cooked, it makes a delicious and unique dish.


4. Bánh mì ba tê (Vietnamese baguette filled with pate) It is a typical Vietnamese styled baguette. It is considered a food for low or middle class (or student's food) because it is very cheap and is sold everywhere along the street. Roasted baguette is filled with liver pate, some dried shredded pork, some slices of cucumber, coriander and chili sauce. It is usually eaten for breakfast but can substitute the main course for lunch or dinner.

3. Bún ch� (rice vermicelli served with grilled pork) This is a favorite dish among Vietnamese of all ages. The most important part of this dish is the sweet and sour sauce. This sauce is made from fish sauce, vinegar, sugar, water and garlic, and thinly sliced carrots, green papaya and bean sprouts are added. When eating, dip the grilled pork and the rice vermicelli in the sauce and enjoy. Add some raw vegetables if you like.

2. G⇥i cu⇤n (fresh spring rolls) G⇤i cu⌅n is second only to Ph⇧ in terms of its popularity among foreigners. This is a great appetizer, especially during hot seasons. Each roll is made by wrapping shallots, fried eggs, boiled pork, boiled shrimps, cucumber and lettuce in rice paper. When dining, dip the roll in a sweet and sour sauce made from fish sauce, vinegar, sugar, water and garlic, and enjoy. 1. Ph⌅ (rice noodle soup) This is the most popular traditional Vietnamese food. This dish contains rice noodles served in clear beef or chicken broth, with thin slices of beef or chicken and some herbs. It is the broth that makes the dish unique. This is made by simmering beef bones or chicken bones, and adding in roasted onion, ginger, cinnamon, Asian basil and some other spices. Before dining, Vietnamese people add chili sauce, lemon juice, garlic, vinegar or black pepper to the broth but these are optional, and the amount used depends on each person's preferences.

5 Fun Facts about Vietnamese Food Culture 5. Vietnamese people love to eat snacks between meals Street restaurants or food stalls are very popular in Vietnam. Many delicious and inexpensive side dished are sold at these places. Vietnamese people tend to gather in groups after school or after work, share a small table and chat while eating. 4. Vietnamese people eat quail balut (upside-down egg) Balut is popular among Asian countries but Vietnam is among the few countries in the world that has quail balut. It sounds strange but actually quail balut is more delicious and less scary than duck balut. 3. Vietnamese people add soup to their rice bowl Normally, soup is served separately from rice but it's common in Vietnam to add soup to the


rice bowl and eat them together.

2. Vietnam has more than 100 kinds of sweet soups (chè) Chè makes a great dessert or snack and can be served hot or cold. It is prepared by cooking a certain types of beans/glutinous rice in water and sweetened with sugar. Coconut milk, tapioca starch, or vanilla is often added to enhance the taste and the look.

1. Vietnamese people eat fruit with chili salt (mu⇤i ⇧t) Vietnam has many kinds of fruits that match excellently with chili salt such as guava, green mango, plum, pineapples, and so on. Believe it or not, chili salt enhances the sweetness of the fruit and it makes a great seasoning for sour fruit or fruit with bland flavor.

LESSON NOTES

All About #8Top 5 Things You Need to Know

About Vietnamese Society!

CONTENTS

2 Grammar

# 8


VIETNAMESEPOD101.COM ALL ABOUT #8 - TOP 5 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT VIETNAMESE SOCIETY! 2

GRAMMAR

The Focus of This Lesson is the Top 5 Things You Need to Know about Vietnamese Society

Society is a very broad topic, and can't be summarized in a single lesson. That's why we're narrowing it down to the top five most important aspects of Vietnamese society. Major Cities

Hanoi

Located in the north of Vietnam, Hanoi is the capital and the country's second largest city with a total population of nearly seven million people. Being the economic, political, cultural and educational center of Vietnam, Hanoi has undergone strong and rapid urbanization and industrialization. However, as a 1000-year old city, Hanoi also preserves its traditional and antique beauty and it's the amazing mix between the past and the present that makes it unique.

Ho Chi Minh City (formerly known as Saigon)

Located in the south of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City is the country's largest and most densely populated city. Ho Chi Minh City is also the most economically developed city in Vietnam, with the annual GDP per capita of $2,800 in 2010, about 2.4 times higher than the national GDP per capita. This rapid growth makes it a modern and dynamic city and one of the top tourist destinations in Vietnam. Hai Phong

Located 102 kilometers northeast of Hanoi, Hai Phong is the largest port city in northern Vietnam and the country's third largest city behind Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. With its important and favorable geographical location, Hai Phong has long been the biggest export-import center of northern Vietnam and it's famous for Vietnam's biggest international trade fair center. These three cities, together with Da Nang (the important economic and cultural center of central Vietnam) and Can Tho (the biggest and most modern city in the downstream area of the Mekong Delta) make up the five municipalities of Vietnam. Family Life


As a community-oriented and hierarchical society, Vietnamese people used to live in a multi-generation family in which the father was the breadwinner and the head of the family who had the loudest voice over all aspects of life. But as a result of modernization and globalization, the family structure has gradually changed into nuclear families, and the man and woman are becoming equal in building and managing their own family. Though the young are becoming more independent from their families, most of them are obedient and highly influenced by their family members (mostly their parents) until they get married. Work Culture and Economy

The Vietnamese economy is a socialist-oriented market economy. Though the country's 2011 nominal GDP per capita ranked the 141st out of 183 countries (IMF data), Vietnam is considered one of the twenty fastest growing economies in the world and the most attractive FDI destination in Southeast Asia. Vietnam is forecasted by The Goldman Sachs Group to be the 35th largest economy in the world by 2025.

In terms of work culture, Vietnamese people are generally hardworking. Having high self-esteem, they are only cooperative when they are shown respect. They are also quick at learning and creative, but they tend to be self-satisfied and self-indulgent. Therefore, Vietnamese people value their free time and don't like to work overtime.

Politics

Vietnam is a socialist republic country based on a one-party system. Its guiding principle is that the State of Vietnam is the State of Vietnamese people, by the people and for the people, led by the Communist Party of Vietnam through the executive power of the National Assembly. The only ruling party is the Communist Party, which is led by a General Secretary. Guided by Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh's ideologies, the party is the leading body of the Vietnamese state and society. The National Assembly is the highest representative body of Vietnamese people and the highest state organ. Governed on a basis of democratic centralism, the National Assembly holds legislative power and is responsible for supervising and making decisions regarding internal and external affairs, carrying out socio-economic, military and security duties, and upholding the fundamental principles of the State's mechanism and the social activities of the Vietnamese people. The President of Vietnam is the head of state, elected by the National Assembly for a 5-year term. The government of Vietnam is the executive arm of the National Assembly and the highest administrative organ of Vietnam. It is headed by the Prime Minister, who is elected by the


National Assembly, at the request of the President. There is no regulation on the limit of the Prime Minister's tenure. The Supreme People's Court of Vietnam is the highest court of appeal. This judicial system is independent of the executive.

Generational Trends

As a result of closer integration into the global economy, Vietnam is becoming responsive to technological advances. More people are likely to use the Internet and Internet-based services. The increasing popularity of online social networks and the development of e-commerce and online services are the main trends of Vietnamese society in the coming years.

LESSON NOTES

All About #9Top 5 Important Dates During the

Vietnamese Calendar Year

CONTENTS

2 Grammar

# 9


VIETNAMESEPOD101.COM ALL ABOUT #9 - TOP 5 IMPORTANT DATES DURING THE VIETNAMESE CALENDAR YEAR 2

GRAMMAR

The Focus of This Lesson is the Top 5 Dates During the Calendar Year

Oh, dear, oh, dear! How to choose among so many! In reverse order:

5. Mid-autumn festival - T�t trung thu

This is not a national holiday, but is a special cultural event. Also known as the Mooncake festival, this occasion is only celebrated in China and Vietnam on the 15th of August in the lunar calendar (usually mid-September or early October in the Western calendar). This is every child's favorite day. On this day, Vietnamese people (especially children) gather to eat mooncakes and autumn fruits (persimmon, grapefruits) while watching the full moon. Streets are lit up with lanterns of different shapes and sizes. The exciting lion dances are also performed in many places.

4. Women's Day (8th March and 20th October)

The 8th of March is known as International Women's Day but it's mainly celebrated in socialist countries, while the 20th of October is Vietnamese Women's Day. These two days are the occasion for men to express their love to important women in their life such as mothers, wives, girlfriends, female classmates/colleagues, sisters, and female teachers. The most popular gift is flowers but a lot of men choose different gifts and their own way to show their love. These are not national holidays but Vietnamese people will have a more relaxed day at work or school, and spare time to organize a small party for the women in their lives.

3. Liberation/Reunification Day (30th April)

April 30th, 1975 is another important historical event in Vietnam. It was the day when northern and southern Vietnam were reunified and marked the end of the Vietnam War. Every year, to commemorate this event, special meetings for war veterans and soldiers are held. There are also musical performances with a focus on wartime songs and documentaries recapturing important moments of April 30th, 1975. The following day (May 1st) is International Workers' Day and is also a national holiday in Vietnam, so Vietnamese people take a 2-day break on this occasion.

2. National Day - Qu⇥c Khánh (2nd September) September 2nd, 1945 is an important landmark in Vietnamese history. At Ba Dinh square, President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence, officially announcing the

VIETNAMESEPOD101.COM ALL ABOUT #9 - TOP 5 IMPORTANT DATES DURING THE VIETNAMESE CALENDAR YEAR 3

independence and sovereignty of Vietnam from France and Japan. September 2nd has become the national day of Vietnam (called Qu�c khánh in Vietnamese) since then. Vietnamese people have a day off work and school to commemorate this important historical day. Vietnamese flags and large banners with posters of President Ho Chi Minh are hung everywhere and streets are filled with red and yellow colors (the Vietnamese flag has a red background with a yellow star in the middle). There is also an annual march at Ba Dinh square in Hanoi, and fireworks in major cities.

1. Vietnamese New Year - T�t (Lunar New Year) Vietnamese New Year (named T⇥t) is the most important traditional event and the longest holiday during the year in Vietnam. Based on the lunar calendar, Vietnamese New Year is celebrated on the same days as the Chinese New Year. The holidays usually start from the last two days of the previous lunar year till the 3rd day of the new lunar year (either in late January or early to mid February in the Western calendar). Though Vietnamese people take only about one week off, the actual celebration starts from the 23rd of the previous lunar December, to the 15th of the next lunar January.

Vietnamese people cook traditional foods, and clean and decorate their houses to prepare for Tet. Tet celebrates the arrival of spring, so during this holiday, Vietnamese people love to decorate their homes with many kinds of flowers and bonsais (the peach flower and kumquat tree are the most popular). Tet is also the occasion for family reunions. People are excited to return to their hometowns when Tet comes. Some customs during Tet include preparing traditional meals to worship the ancestors, visiting relatives and friends, giving lucky money to children and old people, and visiting temples and pagodas to wish for a blessed upcoming year. Tet also marks the start of a festive season.

Note: Vietnamese people do celebrate the new year on January 1st of the Western calendar like other countries in the world, but they only take one day off and don't do anything special.

LESSON NOTES

All About #10Top 5 Things You Need to Know

About Vietnamese Pop Culture

CONTENTS

2 Grammar

# 10


VIETNAMESEPOD101.COM ALL ABOUT #10 - TOP 5 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT VIETNAMESE POP CULTURE 2

GRAMMAR

The Focus of This Lesson is the Top 5 Things to Know about Vietnamese Pop Culture

As popular culture changes quickly and drastically, this lesson focuses on the most recent pop culture information. Please keep in mind that we wrote this lesson in 2012. In this lesson, we'll focus on the top five pop culture topics in Vietnam.

Popular TV

The largest broadcaster in Vietnam is the Vietnam national television (VTV). VTV also operates the largest cable network (VCTV) and a DTH satellite service. It also has regional broadcasting centers in major cities in Vietnam. In addition, each province has its own TV stations too. Over the last ten years, cable television has become very popular, so Vietnam has quite diversified channels and programs. Besides four terrestrial channels, VTV also broadcasts numerous cable channels and translated programs from international channels like HBO, Cinemax, Disney channel, BBC, CNN, NHK etc. As most families in big cities subscribe to a cable network now, they can watch programs from foreign TV stations. American and Korean programs are among the favorites of Vietnamese people. The most popular programs in Vietnam are game shows and music contests. These are shown almost every day on Vietnamese TV, and include Vietnamese shows and those copied from international programs such as Who Wants to Be A Millionaire, The Price is Right and American Idol.

Popular Vietnamese Abroad It is in natural sciences and education that Vietnamese people are the most successful abroad. The most outstanding person is Professor Ngô B�o Châu, the first Vietnamese mathematician to win the Fields Medal, which is known as the "Nobel Prize of Mathematics." Next comes Professor Võ ⇥ình Tu⇤n, a bio-medical scientist who has been ranked No. 43 on the list of the world's top 100 living geniuses" in a survey conducted by a global consultant firm called Creators Synectics. And finally, Nguyen T⌅⇧ng Khang, a teenage Vietnamese American was invited by a state university in Virginia as a guest lecturer on public speaking. In terms of Vietnamese cinema, director Tr⌃n Anh Hùng is the most well-known for having won some prestigious awards in international film festivals. His famous movies include Cyclo, The Scent of Green Papaya and Vertical Ray of the Sun. Next comes Dustin Nguyen, the most famous Vietnamese movie star in the US, who has acted in many famous Hollywood films.


In sports, Vietnam also has some notable names who have won important international prizes such as freestyle wrestler Carol Huynh in Canada, gymnast Marcel Nguyen in Germany, and badminton player Howard Bach in the US.

Popular Music

Modern pop is the most popular genre of music in current Vietnam, though the middle-aged and older people still treasure the war-era and traditional music. Vietnamese pop music is highly influenced by C-pop (Chinese pop), K-pop (South Korean pop) and J-pop (Japanese pop) in both performance and fashion styles. American pop is also a favorite among the young generation, especially those learning English.

Second to pop are rock, heavy metal and hip-hop. Bands playing these genres of music tend to become idols, especially among students.

Besides professional singers and bands, amateur musicians have also become popular in the last few years thanks to the help of the Internet and social networks. Many amateur singers and bands who view singing as a hobby and have uploaded their music on YouTube then become popular overnight because of their freshness. Some of them become professional artists after that, but most of them tend to be known for one or two hits and are only considered short-term phenomena.

Popular Sports

Soccer is the most popular sport among Vietnamese people. Vietnamese are such crazy soccer fans that it has become part of daily life. It is easy to feel the soccer atmosphere everywhere on the streets whenever there is a big soccer competition like the World Cup, UEFA Champion's League or SEA games (South East Asia competition) happening. Daily sports news cover details of soccer competitions in all parts of the world such as the Premier League, Champions League, the La Liga, Serie A, and so on. When the Vietnam national soccer team plays, you will see news about them any time you turn on the TV and in any kinds of newspapers you read. Some other popular sports are volleyball, cycling, table tennis and martial arts. Vietnamese sports that hold high rank in the international arena are chess, kung fu and shooting.

International Pop Culture Vietnamese people are very up to date on international pop culture, thanks to globalization. Selena Gomez, Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, and Beyonce are part of the popular culture as well as the latest Hollywood movies. Basically, whatever is popular internationally is popular in


Vietnam too. The cable TV has kept Vietnamese people up to date with the latest TV series, popular show games, contemporary music and fashion trends. International culture is getting closer to Vietnamese society.

LESSON NOTES

All About #11Top 5 Most Useful Tools for

Learning Vietnamese

CONTENTS

2 Grammar

# 11


VIETNAMESEPOD101.COM ALL ABOUT #11 - TOP 5 MOST USEFUL TOOLS FOR LEARNING VIETNAMESE 2

GRAMMAR

The Focus of This Lesson is the Top 5 Most Useful Tools for Learning Vietnamese

Entertainment

Language is not just an academic pursuit. The purpose of any language is to communicate with others, and that is more often done through stories and video than through academic papers. Besides, these sources of reading and listening pleasure provide excellent examples of how native speakers actually use the language, something no textbook can copy. Some great sources for Vietnamese learners of all levels are YouTube and VOV (Voice of Vietnam: http://vov.vn/Home/hoctiengviet.vov). You can study Vietnamese by watching short films, listening to songs and audio news, or reading featured articles about all aspects of life in Vietnam. Just type in anything you're interested and you'll be able to get to know more about Vietnam, and at the same time improve your Vietnamese language.

Dictionary

Using bilingual dictionaries is always safe. There are a lot of Vietnamese-English/English-Vietnamese dictionaries available on the web, but the two most user-friendly are vdict.com and 1tudien.com. Just type in a word then the translation plus a detailed explanation will be provided. The great thing about these dictionaries is that they also include the translations of a word in other languages such as Japanese and French, so it's convenient for non-native English speakers, too. Google Translate can be another option but it mostly works well with single words only. If you type a phrase, only the literal translation will come out and sometimes it makes no sense.

Vietnamese-Speaking Friends

This is potentially the most efficient and most rewarding source of learning Vietnamese. Friends who speak to you in Vietnamese can give you more insight and understanding, and help you feel the heart of Vietnamese. With their help, you'll learn to express yourself in Vietnamese and understand others in ways that none of the tools previously mentioned can even approach. If you have a Vietnamese friend or a friend who speaks Vietnamese well, catch up with him or her regularly. It's the best and quickest way to gradually master the Vietnamese language.

Social Networking

VIETNAMESEPOD101.COM ALL ABOUT #11 - TOP 5 MOST USEFUL TOOLS FOR LEARNING VIETNAMESE 3

If you have no friends who speak Vietnamese, you can make use of some language learning forums or social networking sites. One of the best is called Lang-8 (l-a-n-g dash 8, as in the number eight, dot com.) This site is different from other language learning sites in that it provides a free connection for native speakers of a language to correct the writing of people who are studying that language. For example, a native English speaker can correct a Vietnamese person's English writing and a native Vietnamese speaker can correct a native English speaker who is studying Vietnamese. It's quite helpful because it offers a free service for people to correct each other' writing. It's a great place to see how a native speaker might write a particular sentence, paragraph, or short writing sample. And if you want to meet even more Vietnamese, the best place is Facebook. I'm sure you're familiar with it. It's been around since 2005 and like in the U.S, its popularity has skyrocketed in Vietnam. It is even more popular among Vietnamese than any other Vietnamese social network. So it's simple to find Vietnamese people on Facebook. Your best bet would be to look for Vietnamese study groups and pages as there are always some helpful Vietnamese people trawling those places in search of people who need help with their studies.

Pen and Paper

Ultra-low tech and ultra cheap, pen and paper is still the king of speed and flexibility in note taking. No one will mug you for a notebook (but they might for that three hundred dollar smart phone or one thousand dollar laptop), and it doesn't matter if it gets wet—let it dry and keep on using it, or throw it out and get a new one. Journalists still use pen and paper for note taking because it's just plain faster. For example, you're at the store and you have a good idea about something to study, but when you have time to study, you can't remember what it was. Has this happened to you? Instead, write down all your ideas and then choose what you want to study from your list. That way, you study what you want, when you want, and you aren't wasting time trying to remember your great idea.

LESSON NOTES

All About #12Top 5 Tips for Avoiding Common

Mistakes in Vietnamese

CONTENTS

2 Grammar

# 12


VIETNAMESEPOD101.COM ALL ABOUT #12 - TOP 5 TIPS FOR AVOIDING COMMON MISTAKES IN VIETNAMESE 2

GRAMMAR

The Focus of This Lesson is Tips to Help Overcome Some Common Errors That Learners of Vietnamese Make

1. Don't raise your voice for a yes/no question

Though Vietnamese is a tonal language, there is nothing like word stress or sentence

intonation. Foreigners learning Vietnamese tend to raise their voice a bit at the end of a yes/

no question but Vietnamese people never do that. Questions can be recognized by listening

to the words, rather than the intonation. So keep your voice at the average level when saying

any types of sentences in Vietnam.

2. Don't pronounce final consonants

A Vietnamese word is composed of 4 parts: an initial consonant (optional), vowels (can be

one, two or three that go together and vowels are indispensable), final consonant(s)

(optional) and a tone mark (optional). Final consonants, however, are not pronounced like in

English. The final consonant should be combined with the vowels before it to make one

complete sound.

For example:

1.

thích ("to like"): the word ends in ch but don't pronounce it like "ch" in "rich." It is

actually silent and it goes with i to make one sound, ich.

2.

Vi�t (as in Vi�t Nam): the word ends in t but don't pronounce it like the "t" at the end of

"that." It's silent and goes with iê to make one sound, iêt.

3. Learn basic classifiers

In English, a noun phrase relating to the number of an item is formed by using a number,

followed directly by the plural form of the noun. But in Vietnamese, the whole phrase should

have: number + classifer + noun (no plural form). English speakers tend to forget the classifier

and use number with the noun only. Though it may still be understood, it sounds ridiculous.

So knowing at least some basic classifiers is necessary.

For example:

VIETNAMESEPOD101.COM ALL ABOUT #12 - TOP 5 TIPS FOR AVOIDING COMMON MISTAKES IN VIETNAMESE 3

1.

cái is the general classifier for objects: 2 cái bánh ("two cakes"), 3 cái ô ("3

umbrellas"), 1 cái bút ("one pen")

2.

con is the general classifier for animals: 2 con g⇥u ("2 bears"), 1 con gà ("1 chicken"),

3 con cua ("3 crabs")

3.

quy⇤n is the classifier for books, notebooks and the like: 1 quy⇤n sách ("one book"),

1 quy⇤n v⌅ ("a notebook")

Note: No classifier is needed for the equivalent for "people," which is ng⇧⌃i in Vietnamese:

m⌥t ng⇧⌃i ("one person"), hai ng⇧⌃i ("two people").

4. Learn the Pronunciation Now!

Don't delay! We've dedicated an entire lesson series to pronunciation because it's that

important in Vietnamese. It doesn't matter how well you know the grammar, if you don't

pronounce it right, Vietnamese speakers won't understand you.

5. Be careful when using personal pronouns

As we've already learned, personal pronouns are very important in Vietnam, and using an

inappropriate one may sound rude. So it's common for Vietnamese people to ask about the

other person's age even on the first meeting. Please get familiar with that and and don't feel

offended when someone asks you your age—it is just to choose an appropriate pronoun to

address you with, rather than to interfere with your privacy.

LESSON NOTES

All About #13Top 5 Phrases Your Teacher Will

Never Teach You

CONTENTS

2 Grammar

# 13


VIETNAMESEPOD101.COM ALL ABOUT #13 - TOP 5 PHRASES YOUR TEACHER WILL NEVER TEACH YOU 2

GRAMMAR

The Focus of This Lesson is Common Vietnamese Expressions That You Might Not Learn

From a Vietnamese Teacher

1. �⇥i chút nhé ("Wait a minute.")

�⇥i chút is the same as "wait a minute" or "wait a moment." Nhé is an interjection added at the

end of a sentence to make it more melodic and intimate. It is widely used in conversation.

2. Chuy⇤n gì th⌅? ("What's going on?")

Literally this is translated as "What happens?" or "What's up?" This phrase can also be used

as a "What is happening here?!"-type of phrase.

3. Tuy⇤t or tuy⇤t quá! ("Cool")

Used to compliment something that is very good or great or to respond to good news. For

example, if your friend says, "I've got a promotion. Let's go celebrate it." then you can reply

with Tuy⇤t or Tuy⇤t th⌅t.

4. Th⇧t không? ("seriously!?")

More or less the same usage as in English. If you can't believe what you're hearing you

usually respond with "seriously!?" It's the same in Vietnamese: Th⌅t không!? Another more

slang-y version of this is Th⌅t á!? Th⌅t á! is more informal and shows a higher level of

astonishment.

5. �úng không? ("Right(!)?")

Finally this phrase is just like its English counterpart: used way too often. It can be used to ask

for someone's confirmation or agreement in a matter. "We have a day off tomorrow, right!?" is

Mai �⇧⇥c ngh⌃ �úng không? Another similar phrase is ph⌥i không? and the usage is exactly

the same, but it's more difficult for foreigners to pronounce.

LESSON NOTES

All About #14Top 5 Vietnamese Classroom

Phrases

CONTENTS

2 Grammar

# 14


VIETNAMESEPOD101.COM ALL ABOUT #14 - TOP 5 VIETNAMESE CLASSROOM PHRASES 2

GRAMMAR

The Focus of this Lesson is Useful Vietnamese Phrases For the Classroom

Here are the phrases for this lesson:

1. ...ngh�a là gì? ("What does ... mean?")

...ngh�a là gì? is a phrase that literally translates to "What does... mean?" This is a very useful phrase in the classroom because you can ask your teacher what certain words, ideas, or places mean in Vietnamese. You would use this phrase by adding the item you want to know before it. For Example:

1. Ô tô ngh�a là gì? - "What does ô tô mean?" (ô tô means "cars")

2. Sách nghía là gì? - "What does sách mean?" (sách means "book")

3. H⇥c ngh�a là gì? - "What does h⇥c mean?" (h⇥c means "to study")

2. M⇥ sách ra ("Open your books.")

M⇤ sách ra literally means "Open your books." Your teacher might use this phrase to tell the class to open their books to begin reading. But as you have learned, Vietnamese people generally address other by using personal pronouns. In this case the personal pronoun c⌅ l⇧p (literally "the whole class") to indicate the students is used at the beginning of the sentence, otherwise it would sound rude. C⌅ l⇧p m⇤ sách ra (literally, "you (students), open your books").

3. Tôi không hi⇤u ("I don't understand.")

Tôi không hi⌃u is the exact equivalent of "I don't understand" (Tôi means "I" and không hi⌃u means "don't understand"). You would use this phrase if your teacher explains something or says something that you don't/didn't understand. If your teacher is young or around your age, you can use that phrase. If you teacher is older than you, the personal pronoun tôi is replaced with em (which also means "I" but indicating that you're younger and are showing respect to your teacher). Em không hi⌃u.

VIETNAMESEPOD101.COM ALL ABOUT #14 - TOP 5 VIETNAMESE CLASSROOM PHRASES 3

4. Xin nh⌅c l⇧i l⌃n n⌥a. ("One more time.")

Xin nh⌥c l�i l n n⌦a literally means "Please say it again" or "Please repeat what you've said." You can expect your teacher to say this when they want you to repeat something or you can also use this when you want your teacher to explain something again.

5. Hi⇤u ch�a? ("Understood?")

Hi⌃u ch↵a is the same as "Understood?" or "got it?" Teachers use this question to make sure the students understand what they are explaining. But again, Vietnamese teachers would add a personal pronoun before this phrase to address the person they are talking to. If this question is for all the students, then the word c⌅ l⇧p is added. C⌅ l⇧p hi⌃u ch↵a? ("Whole class, understood?"). If this is to ask an individual student, then it would be B�n/em hi⌃u ch↵a ("you, understood?")

LESSON NOTES

All About #15Top 5 Vietnamese Phrases From

the Hosts

CONTENTS

2 Grammar

# 15


VIETNAMESEPOD101.COM ALL ABOUT #15 - TOP 5 VIETNAMESE PHRASES FROM THE HOSTS 2

GRAMMAR

The Focus of This Lesson is the Top 5 Useful Phrases from Your Hosts

1. D�o này ...kh⇥e không?/D�o này... th⇤ nào? ("How are you doing?") These two phrases are commonly used to ask how a person is doing after having been away from them for some time. The first phrase D�o này ...kh⇥e không? literally means "Are you feeling good these days?" and the second phrase means "How are you doing." or "How's everything?" An appropriate pronoun can be added in the blank (...) to be more specific about the other person. You can use these phrases without adding any pronouns when talking to a friend or someone around your age, but when the other person is older, a pronoun is a must. For example: D�o này anh kh⇥e không? / D�o này anh th⇤ nào? (Anh refers to someone slightly older or a formal way to address a young man).

2. Tôi v⌅n kh⇥e/Tôi v⌅n ⇧n. ("I'm good")

These phrases are the answers to the above two questions respectively. Tôi v⌅n kh⇥e means "I'm still fine" (mainly refers to health) and Tôi v⌅n ⇧n means "I'm doing ok/Everything is ok." Tôi is a general pronoun for "I" but it can be changed depending on the relationship between you and the other person.

3. ... ⌃ ⌥âu? ("Where is...?")

This phrase means "Where is...?" It is a useful phrase, short, concise, and easy to use, and you normally use it for things you are having difficulty finding. Please be aware that the order of words in the Vietnamese question is opposite to the English one. While "where" is put at the beginning and followed by the thing, its equivalent ⌃ ⌥âu is put at the end, after the thing. For example:

1.B�u ⌥i n ⌃ ⌥âu? (B�u ⌥i n means "post office") - "Where is the post office?"

4. Tr�i i! ("Oh my god")

This phrase means exactly the same as the "Oh my god." You say it when something unfavorable happens and it's like the start of a complaint. It is a very common phrase in daily Vietnamese.

5. T⌦t nhiên r↵i ("Sure.")

VIETNAMESEPOD101.COM ALL ABOUT #15 - TOP 5 VIETNAMESE PHRASES FROM THE HOSTS 3

This is another way to say "yes" to a question and it is used in the same way as "Sure" in English. It shows that you willingly and happily agree to the question.

For example:

1.T⌦i nay ⌥i xem phim ch↵? T�t nhiên r�i. - "Shall we go to the cinema tonight? Sure."

LESSON NOTES

Pronunciation #1The Pronunciation of Consonants

in Vietnamese

CONTENTS

2 Grammar

# 1


VIETNAMESEPOD101.COM PRONUNCIATION #1 - THE PRONUNCIATION OF CONSONANTS IN VIETNAMESE 2

GRAMMAR

The Focus of This Lesson is Syllables and Native Consonant Sounds That Make Up the Vietnamese Language

Introduction

As you may know, the Vietnamese alphabet consists of 29 letters, 17 of which are consonants. The 17 Vietnamese consonants b, c, d, �, g, h, k, l, m, n, p, q, r, s, t, v, and x, together with 11 compounds (ten digraphs/double consonants and one trigraph/triple consonant) ch, gh, gi, kh, ng, ngh, nh, ph, qu, th, and tr create 23 sounds in total. There are eight consonants which can also be used as final consonants: -c, -ch, -ng, -nh, -m, -n, -p, and -t.

A Vietnamese word is generally comprised of four parts:

1. An initial consonant (it can be a single, double or triple consonant letter)

2. A vowel (it can be a single vowel, diphthong or triphthong)

3. A final consonant (there are eight of them which are mentioned above)

4. A tone mark denoting the tone of the word (marked above or below the vowel)

The vowel(s) is/are the only essential part of a word. The others can be optional.

The pronunciation of each consonant sound is as follows:

Initial Consonants

Single Consonants


b is called bê/b⇥like "b" in "baby" (for example: ba meaning three)

c is called xê/c⇥like "c" in "cat" but unaspirated (for example: cô meaning "aunt" or "miss")


d is called dê/d⇥like [z] in "zoo." (for example: d⇤ meaning "yes" to reply to an older person)

� (a derivative of d) is called �ê/�⇥like [d] in "do" but unaspirated (for example: �⌅ meaning "red")

g is called g⇥ like [g] in "go" (for example: gà meaning "chicken")

h is called hát/h⇥ like "h" in "hold" (for example: hè meaning "summer")

k is called ca

like "k" in "kick" but unaspirated. It is basically pronounced like c⇥ (Vietnamese c) but can only be used as an initial consonant when it is followed by four vowels i, e, ê and y. (For example: k˝ meaning "to sign")

l is called l⇥like "l" in "low" (for example: lá meaning "a leaf")

m is called m⇥like "m" in "mother" (for example: m⇧ meaning "mother")

n is called n⇥like "n" in "now" (for example: nó meaning "it")

p is called pê/p⇥

like "p" in "pick" (p rarely stands alone as an initial consonants, rather it often goes with h to make the compound ph)

q is called cualways goes with u to make a compound qu (pronounced like "qu" in "quick")

r is called r⇥like "r" in "run" (for example: rõ meaning "clear")


s is called ét xìlike [sh] in "she" (for example: s⌃ meaning "will" or "going to")

t is called tê/t⇥

like [t] in "tea" but softer and unaspirated (for example: tá meaning "a dozen" or tôi meaning "I")

v is called vê/v⇥like "v" in "very" (for example: vì meaning "because")

x is called ích xìlike [s] in "sea" (for example: xe meaning "vehicle")

Compound Consonants (11 consonant letters, 10 sounds)

Sounds that exist in English:


ch is called ch⇥like "ch" in "chicken" but unaspirated (for example ch⌥ meaning "older sister")

gh is called g⇥ kép (double "g")

like "g" in "go." Its pronunciation is the same as the single "g" but is only used as an initial consonant when it is followed by three vowels i, e and ê. (for example ghi meaning "to write" or "to note down")

gi is called dilike "g" in "geography" (for example gi⇥ meaning "hour")

ng called ng⇥ and ngh called ng⇥ kép

both pronounced like "ng" in "sing." But ngh is only used as an initial consonant when it is followed by i, e or ê (for example ngã meaning "to fall" and nghe meaning "to listen")


ph is called ph⇥like "ph" in "phone" (for example ph� meaning "rice noodle")

qu is called qu⇥like "qu" in "quit" (for example qu⇤ meaning "crow")

tr is called tr⇥like "tr" in "train" (for example tre meaning "bamboo")

Non-English Sounds

In Vietnamese, there are three consonant sounds that do not exist in English and beginner often have trouble pronouncing these sounds for the first few times. But don't worry as they will turn out to be okay after all.


kh is called "kh⇥"

like "k," aspirated and extended a little more than the English "k." (for example không meaning "no" or khó meaning "difficult"). So Vietnamese k is unaspirated and kh" is aspirated and lengthened.

th is called "th⇥"

like "t," aspirated and lengthened. Say "t" in English but extend it a little longer. (for example th⌅ meaning "rabbit" or thu meaning "autumn"). So Vietnamese t is unaspirated and th is aspirated and lengthened.

nh is called "nh⇥"

created by lowering the tip of the tongue towards the lower teeth while the back of the tongue rises towards the hard palate and contact it (for example nhà meaning house or nh⌅ meaning "small")


Final Consonants

Most consonants in the final position are pronounced the same as when they're functioning as initial consonants, except -ch, which is pronounced like the "ck" in "sick" in final position. Unlike in English, all final consonants are unaspirated in Vietnamese. However, these final consonants are not to be pronounced alone. They are combined with different vowels before them to make different rhythms, which will be introduced later in this pronunciation series.

LESSON NOTES

Pronunciation #2Basic Vietnamese Vowels and

Diphthongs

CONTENTS

2 Grammar

# 2


VIETNAMESEPOD101.COM PRONUNCIATION #2 - BASIC VIETNAMESE VOWELS AND DIPHTHONGS 2

GRAMMAR

The Focus of This Lesson is Vietnamese Basic Vowels and Diphthongs

Vowels

As we learned in Lesson 4 of the All About series, there are 12 single vowels, which create 11

vowel sounds. Their names and their sounds are basically identical.


a

like [a:] in "father" (ba meaning "three" and

"xa" meaning "far")

� like [�] in "cut." (ch�n meaning "blanket" ,

kh�n meaning "scarf")

â

also pronounced like [�] in "cut," but shorter

(sân meaning "a yard" , cân meaning "a

scale")

e

like [e] in "trend" (xe meaning "a vehicle,"

ve meaning "a cicada")

ê

closely like [ei] in "main" (chê meaning "to

criticize"/"to undervalue"; tê meaning "to be

numbed"

i/y

like [i:] in "she" (ghi meaning "to write"/"to

note down"; M⇥ meaning "America")

o

like [o] in "hot" (có meaning "to have"; to

meaning "big")

ô

Similar to [o] in "low"(b⇤ meaning "father";

xô meaning "a bucket")


⌅ like [ ] in "fur" (b⌅ meaning "butter," m⌅ meaning "to dream")

u

like [u] in "good" (xu meaning "a coin," thu

meaning "autumn")

⇧

like u but your lips are unrounded as if you

are grinning (n⌃ meaning "female," s⇧ t⌥ meaning "a lion")

Diphthongs

Diphthongs are sounds created by combining two single vowel letters. In Vietnamese, there

are 29 diphthongs, derived from the 12 single vowels we mentioned earlier. In a Vietnamese

diphthong, there's a primary vowel and a secondary vowel. When a tone mark is needed, it is

applied above or below the primary vowel.

The table below shows how Vietnamese vowel letters are combined to create diphthongs.

Most vowels can be a primary or secondary vowel in a diphthong, except y and �, which can

only function as a secondary vowel and ⇧, which can only be a primary vowel.

-a -� -â -e -ê -i -o -ô -⇥ -u -⇤ -y

a- ai ao au ay

�-

â- âu ây

e- eo

ê- êu

i- ia iê iu

o- oa o� oe oi oo

ô- ôi

⇥- ⇥i


u- ua uâ uê ui uô u⇥ uy

⇤- ⇤a ⇤i ⇥⇤ ⇤u

Table 1: Vowel combination for Vietnamese diphthongs

Vietnamese diphthongs can be classified into 3 groups:

Group 1: Diphthongs which are never followed by a final consonant: ai, ao, au, ay, âu, ây, eo,

êu, iu, ia, oi, ôi, ⌅i, ua, ui, ⇧a, ⇧i and ⇧u. In this group, the primary vowel precedes the

secondary vowel and a tone mark, when needed, is applied above or below the first vowel of

the diphthong. For example: �y, èo, ìu, i, ⌦i.

Group 2: Diphthongs which can either stand alone nor be followed by a final consonant: oa,

oe, uê, u⌅ and uy. In this group, uê and u⌅ are two diphthongs that have the second vowels

as the primary vowels. The other three, oa, oe and uy are the same as group 1. Tone marks

are always applied above or below the primary vowels, whether they take the first or second

place in a diphthong. For example: òa, ↵e, úy and u�, u�.

Group 3: Diphthongs that always need a final consonant: iê, o�, oo, uâ, uô, and ⇧⌅.

In this group, the primary vowel is the second vowel and a tone mark will be applied above or

below this vowel when needed. For example: mi�n, ho�c, moóc, qu✏n, lu⇣n and v⇧⌘n.

Diphthong Pronunciation

The sound of a Vietnamese diphthong is created by firstly pronouncing the first and the

second vowel separately then gradually increasing the speed until you can hear them

combined in one sound.

The following (diphthongs which are written in red in Table 1) are exceptions:

1.

Diphthongs in group 3 only create a sound when there's a final consonant. They

make no sense and no definite sound standing alone.

2.

ay is basically the same as ai in terms of separate single vowel sounds but in ai, the

primary a is lengthened [a:i], while the primary a in ay is shortened and y is

lengthened [ai:].

3.

âu is pronounced like [ou] in "flow."

4.

ây is pronounced like [ei] in "tray."


5.

uy is basically the same as ui in terms of separate single vowel sounds but in ui, the

primary u is lengthened [u:i], while the primary u in uy is shortened and y is

lengthened [ui:], very much like "we."

LESSON NOTES

Pronunciation #3Vietnamese Tones

CONTENTS

2 Grammar

# 3


VIETNAMESEPOD101.COM PRONUNCIATION #3 - VIETNAMESE TONES 2

GRAMMAR

The Focus of This Lesson is Vietnamese Tones and Triphthongs

Tones

We learned about the tones of words in the All About series and how to pronounce each tone. Let's take a closer look at these tones by practicing saying more difficult words with each tone.

1. Unmarked tone (ngang - mid level): Start at the middle of your normal voice range then remain the same. For example: �n ch⇥i, quê h⇤⇥ng.

2. Gradual falling tone (huy⌅n - grave accent): Start at a fairly low level and gradually lower your voice to the lowest level. For example: nhà hàng, phàn nàn.

3. High rising tone (s⇧c - acute accent): Start at the middle level of your voice range then raise your voice to the highest. For example: m⌃t tích, khóc lóc.

4. Mid dipping falling tone (h⌥i - hook): Begin at the middle of your voice and lower it quickly. For example: b⌥ d�, c t⌥i.

5. Broken rising tone (ngã - tilde): Start just a little above the normal voice range, dip down a bit then raise it suddenly. For example: ngã r⌦, m↵u mã.

6. Heavy falling tone (n�ng - dot below): Start just a little below the middle range, then fall immediately and suddenly to the lowest level. You'll feel the constriction of the glottis when your voice fall suddenly. Try pronouncing this tone while gradually lowering your head as if you are nodding suddenly. For example h�c t�p, ✏c ⇣ch.

Let's practice saying words with different tones at the same time:

1. Ngang - huy⌅n (mid-level - gradual falling): con gà, ông bà

2. Huy⌅n - s⇧c (gradual falling - high rising): màu s⇧c, nhi⌅u quá

3. S⇧c - h⌥i (high rising - dip falling): trái ph⌘i, tá l⌘

4. H⌥i - ngã (dip falling - broken rising): gi⌘i mã, b⌘n v⌦


5. Ngã - n�ng (broken rising - heavy falling): dã ngo✓i, xã h◆i.

Vietnamese Triphthongs

We learned single and double vowels in the last lesson. In this lesson, we're going to continue with triphthongs. Triphthongs, or triple vowels, are compound vowels created by combining three single vowels together. There are 12 triphthongs in Vietnamese. In a Vietnamese triphthong, one vowel is the primary vowel (P) and the other two are secondary (S). The combining formula for most Vietnamese triphthongs is Secondary-Primary-Secondary (SPS). But there's only one following the ssp formula (the one in red in the table) and it always needs a final consonant.

The table below provides the detailed combination of single vowels and diphthongs to create triphthongs.

iê- oa- oe- uâ- uô- uy- �⇥

-a uya

-ê uyê

-i oai uôi �⇥i

-o oao oeo

-u iêu uyu �⇥u

-y oay uây

Table 2: How Vietnamese triphthongs are created

Triphthong Pronunciation

Triphthong Pronunciation

uya as [wi ]. For example khuya meaning "late at night"


uyê

like "we" and "eh" speaking quickly together. This triphthong also takes a final consonant. For example: tuyt meaning "snow" or huy�n meaning "district"

oai like [wa:i]. For example xoài meaning "mango"

oao

like "wow" in English. Few Vietnamese words containing this triphthong. It is mostly unused.

oeo

as [w :u], mostly like "well" without "l." There are also not many Vietnamese words having this triphthong. The most typical example is in ngo�n ngoèo which means "winding (road)"

iêu

as [i u]. For example tiêu, which means "pepper." When there's no initial and final consonant going with it, it becomes yêu, which means "to love"

uyu as [wiu]. For example khu⌫u tay meaning "elbow"

⇤⇥u as [w u]. For example h⇤⇥u meaning "giraffe"

oay as [wai:], [i] is lengthened. For example xoay which means "sway

uây as [wei]. For example khu⌃y meaning "to stir"


uôi and ⇤⇥i

no similar sounds in English. Please listen to the voice actor carefully for correct pronunciation of these triphthongs. Example of uôi is tu⇠i meaning "age" or "years old" and example of ⇤⇥i is t⇤⇥i which means "fresh" (food ingredients)

LESSON NOTES

Pronunciation #4Vietnamese Accents

CONTENTS

2 Grammar

# 4


VIETNAMESEPOD101.COM PRONUNCIATION #4 - VIETNAMESE ACCENTS 2

GRAMMAR

The Focus of this Lesson is Regional Variations of Vietnamese Pronunciation

Preface

There are differences in Vietnamese pronunciation and accents from the north to the center and the south of Vietnam, which creates three main regional Vietnamese dialects. Northern, central and southern dialects are named after the representative city of each region, which are Hanoi accent, Hue accent and Sai Gon accent respectively. Vietnamese dialects vary in both the sound system and vocabulary. Out of the three dialects, Hanoi or northern accent is considered the standard Vietnamese and is spoken by most foreigners learning Vietnamese.

Sound System and Vocabulary

There are variations in vowel and consonant pronunciation among three regions. For example, northerners generally make no distinctions between the pronunciation of the consonants ch and tr, s and x or among r, gi and d. There is also confusion between l and n among northerners in some rural areas. Some of them seem unaware of the difference between these two consonants. But this problem is hardly noticed among those from the center and southerners.

Southerners, on the other hand, pronounce r, gi, d and v all as [j] sound. Additionally, the compound consonant qu, which is pronounced like [kw] becomes [w] in the south. They also tend to drop ê sound in the triphthong iêu, drop the u sound in the dipthong uô and drop the � sound in the dipthong ⇥�. For example nhi⇤u quá ("too much" is said nhìu wá, or d⌅ th⇥�ng ("lovely") often becomes j⌅ th⇥ng, cu⇧i cùng becomes cúi cùng.

The central accent is considered the most unintelligible to Vietnamese in other regions due to a large amount of vocabulary differences and particularly heavy tones of voice. There are many words that are only understood by people in the central provinces, because they are different from the standard words in both pronunciation and spelling. For example, if northerners say, sao th⌃? ("what's up"), people from the central regions say r⌥ng r�a? The words are totally different and the tone of voice is also heavier.

However, there's an interesting fact that though people in three above regions speak different dialects, when singing a modern Vietnamese song, they all do so in the northern accent.

VIETNAMESEPOD101.COM PRONUNCIATION #4 - VIETNAMESE ACCENTS 3

The table below provides some vocabulary differences among three regions in Vietnam.

Northern Dialect Central Dialect Southern Dialect English Meaning

này ni/nì n y this

kia n⌦/tê ↵ó that

↵âu mô ↵âu where

sao r⌥ng sao how/why/what's up

tôi tui tui I/me

cô �y o n⌦ c�she/her/that woman (young)

Table 3: Regional variations in Vietnamese language

Tones

Generally, Northern Vietnamese has six tones as we have learned in previous lessons, while there are only five tones in other regions. In the north, h�i (dipping falling), ngã (broken rising) and n✏ng (heavy falling) are distinct but they are merged in one way or another in the center and the south. Southerners tend to merge the h�i and ngã or h�i and n✏ng, while those from the center tend to merge ngã and n✏ng. For example, tu�i ("age") becomes t⇣i or v⌘ ("to draw") becomes j✓ in the southern accent. m◆u mã ("model of a product") becomes mu m� in the central accent. It is usually difficult to distinguish the tones of words when listening to a central accent.

LESSON NOTES

Pronunciation #5Common Vietnamese

Pronunciation Mistakes

CONTENTS

2 Grammar

# 5


VIETNAMESEPOD101.COM PRONUNCIATION #5 - COMMON VIETNAMESE PRONUNCIATION MISTAKES 2

GRAMMAR

The Focus of This Lesson is the Five Most Common Mistakes People Make When They Pronounce Vietnamese

1. Pronouncing Final Consonants

Remember that in Vietnamese, we don't pronounce the final consonants as in English. In other words, Vietnamese final consonants are voiceless or implosive. Their function is to combine with the vowel(s) before them to make a rhyme.

For example:

thích - "to like": the final ch is not pronounced like [ch] in "rich." Instead, it is combined with i to make ich which is pronounced like [ik] with an unaspirated k.

hát - "to sing": the final t is voiceless. This word is pronounced like [ha:(t)].

2. Confusing Unaspirated vs Aspirated Initial Consonants: k and kh, t and th

Unlike English [k] and [t] which are aspirated, Vietnamese k and t are pronounced shorter and unaspirated. Instead, kh is pronounced like the English [k] but longer and th is pronounced like the English [t] but longer. Foreigners (especially English speakers) tend to pronounce Vietnamese [k] and [t] the same as in English and at the same time have trouble figuring out how to pronounce kh and th.

3. Pronouncing Compound Consonants nh and ng/ngh

These are two-consonant sounds that do not exist in English and foreigners learning Vietnamese often have difficulties in pronouncing them. In fact, they can't tell the difference between nh, ng/ngh and n and they tend to pronounce them all like [n].

nh is a palatal sound and the best way to practice this consonant sound is to pronounce [n] while you are grinning. So your starting point is when your upper and lower teeth meet each other and they are separate when the sound is completed.

ng/ngh is pronounced like [�] in "sing." Say "sing" and lengthen the final sound [�], and you will get the hang of it.

4. Confusing Sound Marks vs Tone Marks

VIETNAMESEPOD101.COM PRONUNCIATION #5 - COMMON VIETNAMESE PRONUNCIATION MISTAKES 3

Sound marks are the marks applied above a letter to create additional sounds other than those in the English alphabet (�, â, ê, ô, ⇥, ⇤). On the other hand, tone marks are applied above or below the main vowel of a word to define the tone of that word, and there are six of them as we have learned in previous lessons (má, qu⌅, nh⇧, m⌃u). Learners of Vietnamese at the beginners' level often mistake the sound marks for tone marks and tend to raise their voice when they see a letter with a mark above such as tôi, v�n, m⇥ and so on. They get more confused when they see a word with two marks like t⌥i, c�u, c etc. Remember that you only change the tone of voice when you see the tone marks. A word containing a marked vowel (�, â, ê, ô, ⇥, ⇤) without a tone mark is pronounced at the mid level as any other unmarked words. For example: tôi, cân, and m⇥ all have unmarked tones so your tone of voice is at a mid level, no going up or down.

5. Confusing Mid-dipping Falling Tone (h�i) vs Broken Rising Tone (ngã)

All foreigners learning Vietnamese admit that Vietnamese pronunciation is difficult mainly because of the tones. When the tone of words is mispronounced, misunderstandings occur. Among six tones, the mid-dipping falling tone (h⌦i) and the broken falling tone (ngã) are the most difficult to pronounce and they are easy to be mistaken for other tones. The only way to tell them apart is to listen to native speakers and practice these tones regularly.

To pronounce a word with a mid-dipping falling tone, you start from the middle of your voice and lower it quickly. It is different from the gradual falling tone in that the starting tone is a little higher and the lowering process is more sudden. For the gradual falling tone, you start from a fairly low tone of voice then gradually lower your voice to the lowest level. For example: b⌦ vs bò, m⌅ vs mà, c↵ vs cù.

To pronounce a word with a broken rising tone, you start just a little above the normal voice range, dip down a bit then raise it suddenly. It is different from the high rising tone in that there is a sudden lowering process before raising your voice. For the high rising tone, you just raise your voice from the middle to the highest level. For example: tã vs tá, c� vs cú, mã vs má.

H⌦i and ngã themselves are also difficult to differentiate. If pronounced incorrectly, they would sound the same. In some regions in Vietnam, Vietnamese people even merge them into one tone as what we learned in lesson 4. Remember that h⌦i is basically a falling tone so your voice is lowered when the sound is complete. In contrast, ngã is basically a rising tone, so your voice is raised when the sound is complete. For example: m⌅ vs mã, t⌅ vs tã, b⌅ vs bã.

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Intro

Basic Bootcamp #1 - Self Introductions - Basic Greetings

in Vietnamese

Basic Bootcamp #2 - Talking Nationality in Vietnamese

Basic Bootcamp #3 - Useful Phrases for Learning

Vietnamese

Basic Bootcamp #4 - Counting from 1-100 in Vietnamese

Basic Bootcamp #5 - Counting from 100-1,000,000 in

Vietnamese

All About #1 - Top Reasons to Learn Vietnamese

All About #2 - The Vietnamese Writing System

All About #3 - Painless Vietnamese Grammar

All About #4 - Basic Vietnamese Pronunciation

All About #5 - Top 5 Must-Know Phrases for Learning

Vietnamese

All About #6 - Can You Answer these 5 Questions

About Vietnam?

All About #7 - Top 5 Vietnamese Dishes

All About #8 - Top 5 Things You Need to Know About

Vietnamese Society!

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All About #9 - Top 5 Important Dates During the

Vietnamese Calendar Year

All About #10 - Top 5 Things You Need to Know About

Vietnamese Pop Culture

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All About #12 - Top 5 Tips for Avoiding Common

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All About #13 - Top 5 Phrases Your Teacher Will Never

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All About #14 - Top 5 Vietnamese Classroom Phrases

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Pronunciation #1 - The Pronunciation of Consonants in

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Pronunciation #2 - Basic Vietnamese Vowels and

Diphthongs

Pronunciation #3 - Vietnamese Tones

Pronunciation #4 - Vietnamese Accents

Pronunciation #5 - Common Vietnamese Pronunciation

Mistakes

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