Sabai TranslateVietnamese phrases for markets and bargaining
In Ben Thanh, Dong Xuan, Hoi An night market and any street stall, prices for visitors start high and bargaining is expected. A few words of Vietnamese change the tone of the whole conversation — and usually the price. Vietnamese has six tones, so listen to each phrase with ▶ and copy the melody, not just the letters.
Phrase · Pronunciation · Meaning · ▶ Listen
Starting the conversation
Bargaining
Paying
Numbers you will hear
Tips that save the situation
- Prices are almost always quoted without the last three zeros: 'hai trăm' means 200,000 dong, not 200.
- Check the notes when you pay — 10,000 and 200,000 dong notes look alike, and so do 20,000 and 500,000.
- A fair final price at tourist stalls is often 50–70% of the first quote. In supermarkets and shops with price tags, prices are fixed.
- Smile and keep it light. Getting angry ends the bargaining; walking away politely often brings a better offer.
- Use chị for women and anh for men who look older than you, em for younger. Getting the form of address right is half the politeness in Vietnamese.
When the phrasebook runs out
A phrasebook covers the first sentence. Then the other person answers — fast, with words that are not on the list. Sabai translates the whole conversation live: you speak, the phone says it in Vietnamese, the other person replies into the same phone, and you read the answer in your language with a short explanation of what they meant.
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Questions
Why does the same word sound different in the audio?
Vietnamese is tonal: 'ma' can mean ghost, mother, but, tomb, horse or rice seedling depending on the tone mark. The marks above the letters tell you which tone to use.
Northern or southern Vietnamese?
The audio uses standard northern pronunciation. In Ho Chi Minh City people speak southern Vietnamese, but they understand these phrases perfectly.
What if the seller answers in fast Vietnamese?
Then a phrasebook is not enough. Sabai lets the seller speak into your phone and shows you the translation instantly, so you can keep bargaining.
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Updated: 2026-10-12