Learn Vietnamese for beginners

Vietnamese uses the Latin alphabet, so you can read and sound out words from day one.

Vietnamese has six tones, and the same letters change meaning with pitch. Hearing every sentence and saying it aloud is the only way to train that.

• Xin chào: hello
• Cảm ơn: thank you
• Tôi muốn một ly cà phê.: i would like a coffee.

1. 1

   Listen first

   Hear the Vietnamese sentence before you try it so your ear knows the target.

2. 2

   Say it out loud

   Say the sentence three times. Slow first, then natural speed.

3. 3

   Build it

   Rebuild the sentence from its words so the word order sticks.

4. 4

   Repeat tomorrow

   Start the next session with yesterday's sentences.

• Only reading and tapping, and never saying anything aloud.
• Memorising word lists with no sentences around them.
• Waiting until you feel ready to speak. You get ready by speaking.
• Studying for two hours once a week instead of fifteen minutes daily.
• Expecting fast results. Vietnamese takes about 1,100 hours to reach working proficiency, but basic spoken Vietnamese comes much sooner.