Three Vietnamese phrases that save you from 90% of restaurant troubles

You don't need to learn Vietnamese to eat well here. You just need three exact phrases.

Sentence 1 — "Give me this." (pointing with a finger)

Approximate pronunciation: cho toi cai nay. Use this to order a dish by pointing at the bowl on the neighboring table, pointing at a photo, or pointing at the pot. This is the most powerful phrase on the list, because it completely bypasses the whole problem of dish names.

Question 2 — "No chili, please.

Approximate pronunciation: khong bo ot. This is much more specific than saying 'không cay' (not spicy), because it describes an action rather than a sensation. If you want to eat something less spicy, you should change it to 'ít ớt' instead.

Question 3 — "Check, please.

Approximate pronunciation: tinh tien. Doing a writing motion in your palm makes it easier to remember. In the South, people say "tính tiền", in the North they say "thanh toán" — in the Central region, either phrase is fine to use.

Three bonus sentences, if you want to be loved:

• "Thank you" — use it more than you think you need to • "Delicious!" — ten times more effective than a tip • "How much is it?" — ask before ordering at places without listed prices, it's completely normal

A note on forms of address: Vietnamese has no neutral word for "you". You have to choose it based on the age of the person you're speaking to. A safe way for beginners: use "chị" for a woman younger than you or about your mother's age, "cô" for someone older, "anh" for a young man, and "chú" for an older man. Call someone by the wrong title and no one will mind — they'll just find it funny.

And if you're really stuck: just smile and point. This method has never failed.