Xin lỗi, cho tôi hỏi một chút ạ.
Approx. pronunciation: sin loy, chaw toy hoy moht choot ah
Excuse me, may I ask something?
Travel Vietnamese, step by step.
Vietnamese at the Airport
Handle arrivals, baggage, check-in, and simple airport questions with calm, useful phrases.
Start the lesson
Start with a polite question
Use “Xin lỗi” or “Cho tôi hỏi” before asking airport staff for help. The phonetic hints are approximate English-friendly cues, not a substitute for Vietnamese tones.
Tôi cần làm thủ tục nhập cảnh ở đâu ạ?
Approx. pronunciation: toy kun lam too-took nyup kan uh dow ah
Where do I go through immigration?
Nhà vệ sinh ở đâu ạ?
Approx. pronunciation: nya vay sing uh dow ah
Where is the restroom?
Arrivals and customs vocabulary
These words help you recognize signs and understand short instructions after landing.
“Hộ chiếu” means passport, “hành lý” means baggage, and “hải quan” means customs. “Quầy” is a counter, so “quầy nhập cảnh” is the immigration counter.
If you need someone to repeat an instruction, say “Anh/chị nói lại giúp tôi được không ạ?” This polite wording works when speaking to an adult staff member; use the title you hear locally if staff introduce themselves differently.
Find your baggage
At baggage claim, state the problem simply and show your baggage tag or information when useful.
Hành lý của tôi chưa đến ạ.
Approx. pronunciation: han lee koo-ah toy chuh den ah
My baggage has not arrived yet.
Tôi muốn báo hành lý bị thất lạc ạ.
Approx. pronunciation: toy moon bow han lee bee tut lak ah
I need to report lost baggage.
Tôi có thể hỏi việc này ở đâu ạ?
Approx. pronunciation: toy kaw thay hoy vyek nay uh dow ah
Where can I ask about this?
Ask where to go next
A short arrival exchange: ask for the transport or exit area, then repeat the key place if you need to confirm it.
You Xin lỗi, tôi muốn ra khu vực đón xe ạ. Đi lối nào vậy? Excuse me, I want to go to the pickup area. Which way is it?
Staff Bạn đi thẳng rồi rẽ phải nhé. Go straight, then turn right.
You Đi thẳng rồi rẽ phải, đúng không ạ? Cảm ơn ạ. Straight, then right, correct? Thank you.
Check in for a departure
At the airline counter, these phrases help you ask for the right desk and clarify a seat or boarding question.
Tôi muốn làm thủ tục cho chuyến bay này ạ.
Approx. pronunciation: toy moon lam too-took chaw chwee-en bay nay ah
I would like to check in for my flight.
Quầy của chuyến bay này ở đâu ạ?
Approx. pronunciation: kwai koo-ah chween bay nay uh dow ah
Where is the counter for this flight?
Cửa ra máy bay ở đâu ạ?
Approx. pronunciation: koo-ah ra my bay uh dow ah
Where is the boarding gate?
Keep your request clear
Airport conversations move quickly, so lead with the place or problem you need help with.
Pointing to a ticket or sign and saying “Tôi chưa hiểu” (“I do not understand yet”) is perfectly practical. Follow with “Anh/chị có thể nói chậm hơn một chút được không ạ?” (“Could you speak a little more slowly?”).
“Cảm ơn” is thank you; adding “ạ” makes the sentence more deferential. Do not worry about forcing a personal pronoun: “tôi” is a safe, neutral choice for a traveler speaking about themself.