How to Say Thank You in Vietnamese

Co-authored by Nguyen Huyen Trang

Updated: September 13, 2019

Explore this Article Expressing Gratitude in Vietnamese Showing Appreciation in Vietnamese Culture Article Summary Questions & Answers Related Articles References

Learning the words to say thank you in Vietnamese is a helpful and rewarding step to convey your gratitude while in Vietnam. Of equal importance, familiarize yourself with how people convey appreciation in Vietnamese culture. Be sure to work on pronunciation when speaking in Vietnamese, as your pronunciation will affect the meaning of the words you’re saying!

Expressing Gratitude in Vietnamese

  1. 1
    Say “cảm ơn.” The nearest equivalent to the English phrase “thanks,” in Vietnamese uses the words “cảm” and “ơn.” These two words together translate literally to the directive to “feel favor.” Use “cảm ơn” when thanking someone informally.[1]
    • In English, the phrase “thank you” has the person you are addressing built in – “you.” In Vietnamese, however, you’ll also need to add a word to indicate the person you are addressing.

    Nguyen Huyen Trang

    Native Vietnamese Speaker
    Nguyen Huyen Trang is a native Vietnamese Speaker, translator and international project manager.
    Nguyen Huyen Trang
    Native Vietnamese Speaker

    Our Expert Agrees: The most common ways to say 'thank you' in Vietnamese are either 'cảm ơn,' or 'cám ơn.'

  2. 2
    Pronounce “cảm ơn” correctly. Since Vietnamese is a tonal language, pronunciation is extremely important to the meaning of both words and phrases. When you’re hoping to say “thank you,” say “cảm” in a broken falling tone, and “ơn” in a flat tone. Since it is hard to imagine these sounds from simply reading about them, listen to recordings of the phrase online.[2]
    • When pronounced correctly, “cảm ơn” will sound like “gauhm uhhn”.
    • The “auh” portion of the first word is sounded out in a rising, then falling voice.
  3. 3
    Include a personal pronoun. Increase the politeness of your expression by including a personal pronoun corresponding with the person you are addressing. In other words, say, “cám ơn,” in addition to an appropriate word for “you” in Vietnamese.
    • Use “bà,” pronounced “baa,” when addressing an older woman, and “cô,” pronounced “coh,” to address a young girl.[3]
    • Use “ông”, pronounced “ohng,” to address a man who is older than you, and “anh,” pronounced “ang,” when thanking a young man.
    • For instance; “cám ơn cô” means “thank you,” as you would say it to a young woman.
  4. 4
    Emphasize your gratitude. Add “nhiều lắm,” pronounced “nyee-oh luhm,” after saying “cảm ơn” to express especially strong gratitude. This addition indicates the English equivalent of "a lot" or "so much.” Accordingly, say, “cảm ơn nhiều lắm,” pronounced “gauhm uhhn nyee-oh luhm,” if you’re hoping to more strongly convey your gratitude.[4]
  5. 5
    Say thank you as formally as possible. The Vietnamese language includes another word to help express appreciation in contexts that requires extreme formality and politeness. In particular, the word “xin,” which translates to “to ask” or even “to beg” is placed before “cảm ơn.” Altogether, say “xin cảm ơn,” pronounced like “sin gauhm uhhn.”

Showing Appreciation in Vietnamese Culture

  1. 1
    Smile when you receive a compliment. Vietnamese culture dictates that smiles are often used to convey appreciation instead of a verbal expression of thanks. Think of a smile as a silent “thank you.” Modesty is highly respected in Vietnamese culture, and deflecting a compliment with a smile is the best way to express appreciation for a compliment modestly.
    • Similarly, if you pay someone a compliment, do not expect them to express their gratitude verbally.
  2. 2
    Accept a smile instead of many common phrases. In English, people are often quick to say “hello,” as well as “thank you” and “sorry” in many different contexts. In Vietnamese culture, a smile often take the place of these phrases. In fact, anyone who is older or in a position of authority will usually not thank younger or subordinate people verbally. Accordingly, do not be offended if you do not receive a verbal thank you for a favor.[5]
    • In particular, do not expect someone who is your parents age or a teacher to say thank you. Instead, you will likely receive a nod.
  3. 3
    Use other nonverbal expressions. Other expressions are also used to emphasize statements or replace verbal communication. Some common physical gestures, however, have different connotations in Vietnamese culture. For instance, avoid patting someone’s back or pointing while talking, as these actions will be perceived as disrespectful. Similarly, avoid placing your hands in your pocket or on your hips, especially while expressing gratitude.[6]
    • Cross your arms when expressing gratitude. This is considered a sign of respect.
  4. 4
    Avoid holding eye contact. Eye contact with someone of a greater age or social status may be taken as a challenge. Meanwhile, eye contact with someone of the opposite gender indicates affection or desire. Accordingly, take care not to maintain eye contact with a anyone who may misread your expression. In fact, avoiding eye contact is a sign of respect.[7]
    • Since people maintain eye contact when speaking in many other cultures, averting your eyes may be hard to get used to.
    • Practice looking away from a conversation partner's eyes before you go to Vietnam.
  5. 5
    Say “you’re welcome.” In Vietnamese, the equivalent of the English phrase “you’re welcome” is synonymous with “there isn’t any problem.” Accordingly, say, “không có gì” to say “it’s nothing” or “không có chi” to say “you’re welcome” when someone thanks you.[8]
    • "Không" is spoken in a flat tone, while "có" is spoken in a rising tone. "Không có chi" is pronounced "khong koh tsee."

Community Q&A

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  • Question
    How do I say "How are you?" in Vietnamese?
    Community Answer
    "How are you?" in Vietnamese is "Bạn khỏe không?" It is pronounced: "Ban hoe ay hong." You can also use Google Translate to find out different words and phrases, but be careful, as these are not always accurate.
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    Article SummaryX

    To say thank you in Vietnamese, use the phrase "cảm ơn," which sounds like "gauhm uhhn." If you're thanking an older woman, add "bà," or if you're thanking an older man, add "ông." If you want to express strong gratitude, add "nhiều lắm" at the beginning. Finally, you can express thanks in other ways, such as by crossing your arms as a sign of respect. If you want to learn how to say you're welcome in Vietnamese, keep reading!

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    Article Info

    This article was co-authored by Nguyen Huyen Trang. Nguyen Huyen Trang is a native Vietnamese Speaker, translator and international project manager.

    Categories: World Languages

    In other languages:

    Español: decir "gracias" en vietnamita, Português: Agradecer em Vietnamita, Français: dire merci en vietnamien, Italiano: Ringraziare in Lingua Vietnamita, Deutsch: Sich auf Vietnamesisch bedanken, Bahasa Indonesia: Mengucapkan Terima Kasih dalam Bahasa Vietnam

    Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 147,801 times.
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