Live & Learn Vietnamese
Home>>Language Index>VietnameseAudio Lessons Learning to speak the Vietnamese language opens a door to the rich cultural heritage of people with a fascinating history. This page provides some information you'll need to know about the language, and gives expert advice on which language learning resources you can use to help you on your way. We've unearthed the best audio lessons, software, dictionaries and exercise books available to learn Vietnamese... Language SynopsisThe official language of Vietnam, spoken as a first language by 86% of the population. There are also many ethnic minorities in Vietnam which speak it as a second language. The language contains many Chinese loan words which convey abstract ideas. In fact, it used to be written with adapted Chinese characters. The writing system in use today is an adapted form of the Latin alphabet. There are 70-73 million native speakers worldwide with substantial pockets of natives in Cambodia, the USA, Canada, France and Australia. There are also many ethnic minorities within the country itself that speak Vietnamese as a second language. There are several mutually intelligible dialects of the language: Northern (Hanoi and Haiphong), North Central, Central and Southern (Ho Chi Min City and Mekong).
Did you know? During the French ocupation of the country, Vietnamese adopted many French words. Some examples of French loan words in the language are "ga" (train station, from "gare") and so'mi (shirt, from "chemise"). Useful Phrases: Hello - Chào anh (to a man) Chào chị (to a woman) Á-lô! (on phone) Goodbye - Chào anh (to a man), Chào chị (to a woman), Tạm biệt Welcome - Hoan nghênh How are you? - (Anh/Chị) khỏe không? I'm fine thanks, and you? - Khoẻ, cám ơn. Bạn th́ sao? What's your name? - Bạn tên ǵ? My name is Michael - Tôi tên là Michael Nice to meet you - Hân hạnh gặp ông Excuse me / sorry - Xin lỗi Thank you - Cảm ơn cô (to a man), Cảm ơn cô nhiều (to a woman), Cảm ơn rất nhiều You're Welcome - Không có chi
The language uses an adapted form of the Latin alphabet, which the Portuguese introduced durong the 17th Century:
Tones
Vietnamese is a tonal language. This means that using the correct tones (or inflections) is essential in order be understood. Use the wrong tone, and you could be dramatically changing the meaning of the word. For example if you say "ban" with a rising tone it means "sell". If you say it with a falling tone it means "table". This is perhaps the greatest challenge you will face when learning the language. In order to correctly use and understand the tones you'll have todo a lot of listening, which means audio lesson material and podcasts are particularly essential resources for learning this language. Learn Live Online
Internet freebies: My Language Exchange is an excellent which allows you to develope your speaking skills by conversing with native speakers who want to practise their English. You can also practise reading and writing the language by writing and receiving e-mails.
Viet Culture Corner
Cultural Quirks: Culturally the people value four basic tenants: allegiance to the family, the yearning for a good reputation, love of learning and respect for other people. The customs of the country are heavily influenced by ancestor worship and Buddhism.
Vietnam-Culture-Smart!
National Dishes and recipes: The national cuisine is well known for its use of fish sauce, soy sauce, rice, fresh herbs and vegetables. Some popular dishes include Cao Lao, Bun Bo Hue and Chicken Pho.
Wild, Wild East: Recipes-and-Stories-from-Vietnam
Traditional Music: Traditional music has heavy influences from Chinese musical tradition, aswell as from the ancient Indochinese Champa kingdom, which the Vietnamese court found intriguing. Listen to some native traditional, court and folk music clips in the box below:
Help Others Live & LearnHave you had the experience of learning Vietnamese? If so we'd love to hear what resources you used to learn this challenging language. Which resources did you find useful? Which weren't that great? Please e-mail us your findings using he form below. Your shared language learning experiences will save other language learners' time, energy, and money. In fact, that is the the mission of Live & Learn Languages!
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: is an excellent quick guide to the customs and etiquette of the country. The book explains what to expect, how to behave, what sensitive issues to avoid, and how to develope a raport with your hosts. Put simply this guide is an essential travel companion!
is the work of renowned Hanoi chef Bobby Chin. The book is his guide to the national cuisine as it is today. He gives recipes for preparing sauces, garnishes, dips and a host of exquisite dishes. The lively flow of the book is combined with striking colour pictures of markets, kitchens, people and food.
