IntroVietnamese
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Ask for Directions in Vietnamese

Vietnamese phrases for asking directions and understanding route answers.

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Traveler asking a passerby for directions on a Vietnamese street

Phonetic hints are rough English-friendly cues, not IPA. Use audio and the written Vietnamese alongside them.

Open with a friendly question

“Xin lỗi” gets attention politely.

Xin lỗi, cho tôi hỏi đường đến địa điểm này ạ.

Approx. pronunciation: sin loy, chaw toy hoy doong den dee-ah diem nay ah

Excuse me, could you tell me how to get to this place?

Bạn có thể chỉ đường giúp tôi được không ạ?

Approx. pronunciation: ban kaw thay chee doong zoop toy duhk khom ah

Could you show me the way?

Địa điểm này ở đâu ạ?

Approx. pronunciation: dee-ah diem nay uh dow ah

Where is this place?

Understand route directions in Vietnamese

These short Vietnamese words often appear in spoken directions. Repeat the sequence back if you want to confirm it.

Đi thẳng.

Approx. pronunciation: dee tahng

Go straight.

Rẽ trái ở ngã tư.

Approx. pronunciation: zay try uh nga too

Turn left at the intersection.

Ở bên phải đường.

Approx. pronunciation: uh ben fy doong

It is on the right side of the road.

Use landmarks, not only street names

A visible place can make a direction easier to follow than a long address.

Resident indicating a route toward a nearby landmark

“Gần” means near, “đối diện” means opposite, and “bên cạnh” means next to. “Quán cà phê” is coffee shop, “chợ” is market, and “nhà thuốc” is pharmacy. Combine them: “Nhà thuốc ở đối diện ngân hàng” means “The pharmacy is opposite the bank.”

In the south you will often hear “hẻm” and in the north “ngõ” for a small lane or alley. They mean similar kinds of narrow streets, so repeat the local word you hear.

Check a walking route

This exchange shows how to ask whether a destination is walkable and confirm the final turn.

You Cho tôi hỏi, bảo tàng có gần đây không ạ? Excuse me, is the museum near here?

Local Có. Bạn đi thẳng khoảng năm phút rồi rẽ phải. Yes. Go straight for about five minutes, then turn right.

You Sau đó bảo tàng ở bên trái, đúng không ạ? After that, the museum is on the left, right?

Confirm distance and direction

Ask one follow-up question before setting off, especially when the route includes several turns.

Từ đây đi bộ được không ạ?

Approx. pronunciation: tuh day dee boh duhk khom ah

Can I walk there from here?

Còn xa không ạ?

Approx. pronunciation: kon sa khom ah

Is it still far?

Tôi đi có đúng đường không ạ?

Approx. pronunciation: toy dee gaw doong doong khom ah

Am I going the right way?

Thank someone and keep moving

A brief acknowledgment is enough; you do not need to hold a long conversation to be courteous.

Say “Cảm ơn bạn” to a peer-aged person, or choose “Cảm ơn anh” or “Cảm ơn chị” when that relationship word fits. If you are unsure, “Cảm ơn” alone is safe and friendly.

If you did not catch the answer, say “Bạn có thể nói lại chậm hơn một chút không ạ?” You can also show the destination on a map and ask “Đây có phải là chỗ này không ạ?” to check the place visually.

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