Language/Vietnamese/Vocabulary/Food-Ordering

Vietnamese Vocabulary → Food and Drink → Food Ordering

As a Vietnamese language teacher with 20 years of experience, I understand the importance of learning practical and useful vocabulary. Being able to order food is an essential part of communicating in any language. In this lesson, we will learn vocabulary and phrases for ordering food in Vietnamese. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to confidently navigate a Vietnamese menu and order your favorite Vietnamese dishes.

Vocabulary

Here are some common Vietnamese words and phrases you might encounter when ordering food in Vietnam:

Vietnamese	Pronunciation	English
Ẩm Thực	ahm thook	Cuisine
Đồ Ăn	doo aan	Food
Thức Uống	thook oong	Drinks
Tiệm Ăn	tiee-em aan	Restaurant
Khẩu Vị	khaow vi	Taste
Nước Chấm	nook chaam	Dipping sauce
Tráng Miệng	traang miee-eng	Dessert

Phrases

Here are some common phrases used when ordering food in Vietnam:

• Xin chào, tôi muốn đặt bàn. (Hello, I'd like to make a reservation)
• Bạn có thực đơn bằng tiếng Anh không? (Do you have an English menu?)
• Tôi muốn gọi món này. (I'd like to order this dish)
• Món này có thể chỉnh sửa theo khẩu vị của tôi không? (Can this dish be customized to my taste?)
• Xin cho tôi một ly nước đá / trà đá. (Can I have a glass of ice water/iced tea, please?)
• Cảm ơn. (Thank you)

Additionally, knowing some basic Vietnamese numbers is useful when paying the bill. Here are the numbers 1-10 in Vietnamese:

• Một (one)
• Hai (two)
• Ba (three)
• Bốn (four)
• Năm (five)
• Sáu (six)
• Bảy (seven)
• Tám (eight)
• Chín (nine)
• Mười (ten)

Tips

Here are some tips to keep in mind when ordering food in Vietnam:

• Many Vietnamese menus feature pictures of the dishes, so if you are unsure about what to order, you can point to a picture to indicate what you want.
• Be mindful of spice levels. Vietnamese cuisine can be quite spicy, so it's important to ask if a dish is spicy before ordering if you have a low tolerance for spice.
• It's common to share dishes in Vietnamese culture, so consider ordering a few different dishes to share with the table.

Cultural Information

Vietnamese cuisine is known for its fresh and bold flavors, incorporating a wide variety of herbs, spices, and vegetables. Some popular Vietnamese dishes include phở (a noodle soup), bánh mì (a sandwich), and gỏi cuốn (spring rolls). It's also common to use chopsticks when eating Vietnamese food. Vietnamese cuisine has been heavily influenced by the country's history, geography, and climate, and each region of Vietnam has its own unique culinary traditions.

Practice Exercise

Practice ordering food in Vietnamese using the vocabulary and phrases we have learned in this lesson. Imagine you are at a Vietnamese restaurant and try ordering some of your favorite Vietnamese dishes.

1. "Can I have a glass of iced tea, please?" 2. "I'd like to order the phở." 3. "Can I have a side of peanut sauce?" 4. "Is it possible to make this dish not spicy?" 5. "Thank you!"

Sources

• How To Order Food In Vietnamese: #1 Easy Guide For Vocab And ...
• Survival Vietnamese: Ordering food – selinamusings

Table of Contents - Vietnamese Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

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Greetings and Introductions

• Hello and Goodbye
• Introducing Yourself

  ---

Vietnamese Culture Basics

• Vietnamese Values
• Social Etiquette
• Cuisine and Dining

  ---

Numbers and Counting

• Counting 1-10
• Counting 11-20
• Counting 21 and Beyond

  ---

Nouns and Pronouns

• Nouns and Gender
• Pronouns and Personal Pronouns
• Possessive Pronouns

  ---

Family and Relationships

• Family Members
• Relationships

  ---

Holidays and Celebrations

• Tet
• Mid-Autumn Festival

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Verbs and Verb Tenses

• Present Tense Verbs
• Past Tense Verbs
• Future Tense Verbs
• Modal Verbs

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Food and Drink

• Vietnamese Food
• Drinks and Beverages
• Food Ordering

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Arts and Entertainment

• Traditional Music
• Movie and Television

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Adjectives and Adverbs

• Adjectives
• Adverbs

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Transportation

• Modes of Transportation
• Giving Directions

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Traditional Clothing

• Ao Dai
• Other Traditional Clothing

Related Lessons

• Months of the Year
• Drinks
• Games
• Flowers
• Counting 21 and Beyond
• Colors
• Counting 1 10
• Giving Directions
• At the Post Office
• City