Start here: how beginners can learn Vietnamese online free
Vietnamese uses the Latin alphabet with extra marks for tones and vowels, so reading is less scary than it looks. The biggest early choice is dialect: Northern (Hanoi) or Southern (Saigon/Ho Chi Minh City). Pick one, stick to it for consistency, and remember that all Vietnamese speakers will understand your basic phrases.
- Set a daily 15–20 minute learning goal and guard it.
- Pick a dialect (North or South) and stay consistent.
- Install a Vietnamese keyboard (Telex or VNI).
- Download a free PDF with core beginner phrases.
- Record yourself weekly to track pronunciation.
Sounds and tones made simple
Vietnamese is tonal: the North has 6 tones; the South merges two for 5. Tones are shown with marks (like á, à, ả, ã, ạ). Mastering them early helps all of your learning, so practice short, clear syllables before long sentences.
- Shadow native audio: copy rhythm, tone, and length.
- Practice minimal pairs (ma, má, mà, mả, mã, mạ).
- Use Telex typing (a, aw, aa; s, f, r, x, j for tones).
- Keep tone notes: color-code or hand-draw tone shapes.
Basic Vietnamese phrases to use today
Start speaking with a small set you can really use. Grab the free PDF cheat sheet for all 25 beginner essentials; below is a starter set you can learn this week.
- Xin chaò / Xin chào — Hello
- Tạm biệt / Tạm biệt — Goodbye
- Cảm ơn — Thank you
- Không có gì / Không có gì — You’re welcome
- Xin lỗi / Xin lỗi — Sorry; excuse me
- Vâng (North) / Dạ (South) — Yes
- Không — No
- Tôi tên là... / Tôi tên là... — My name is...
- Bạn tên là gì? / Bạn tên là gì? — What’s your name?
- Rất vui được gặp bạn — Nice to meet you
- Tôi không hiểu — I don’t understand
- Bao nhiêu tiền? — How much is it?
A 30-day beginner study plan (free and flexible)
Keep it light but consistent. Aim for short daily sessions and one longer catch-up on weekends. Mix listening, speaking, reading, and a little writing to cover all skills.
- Week 1: Alphabet, tones, greetings. Shadow 5 minutes daily. Learn 15 basic phrases from your PDF.
- Week 2: Numbers, time, money. Pattern: Subject + Verb + Object. Learn 20 beginner words you see every day.
- Week 3: Questions (ai, gì, ở đâu, khi nào, bao nhiêu). Role-play buying food and asking directions.
- Week 4: Flow. Short chats with a partner or app, plus one 100-word journal entry using today, yesterday, tomorrow.
Free tools and PDFs for effective learning
You can learn Vietnamese free with excellent materials. Combine one structured course, one phrase PDF, a dictionary, and daily listening. Keep your toolkit simple so you actually use it.
- FSI Vietnamese Basic Course (free PDF + audio): thorough dialogues and drills.
- Duolingo Vietnamese: bite-sized practice for absolute beginner routines.
- YouTube: VietnamesePod101 and Learn Vietnamese with Annie (free videos).
- Dictionaries: VDict and Wiktionary (VI–EN, examples, audio).
- Forvo and Tatoeba: community audio for real-life pronunciation.
- Anki: search for Vietnamese basic phrases decks with audio.
- Typing: enable Telex (Windows/Mac) or EVKey/UniKey on Windows.
From beginner to confident A2: what to add next
Once basics feel natural, expand gently. Add grammar markers (đã, đang, sẽ), learn everyday pronouns (tôi, bạn, anh, chị, em), and read short texts with audio. Keep everything practical and repeatable.
- Do 5-minute daily shadowing with slow, clear dialogues.
- Keep a personal all-in-one PDF of phrases you actually say.
- Use graded readers or subtitles; read aloud for tone control.
- Find a weekly conversation partner for low-pressure practice.
- Rotate review: vocabulary, tones, and one new mini-topic.
FAQ
- Is Vietnamese hard for English speakers?
- The tones are new, but grammar is simple and verbs don’t change. With steady practice, beginners can learn basic conversation faster than expected.
- Should I learn Northern or Southern Vietnamese first?
- Pick one (Hanoi or Saigon) and stick to it for consistency. You can understand both later; your basic phrases work across regions.
- Can I learn Vietnamese online for free?
- Yes. Combine a free PDF phrasebook, FSI course, YouTube lessons, Duolingo, and Anki flashcards. That’s enough for a strong beginner foundation.
- How do I type Vietnamese accents easily?
- Enable a Vietnamese keyboard and use Telex. Example: a + a = â, a + w = ă, and s, f, r, x, j add tones.
- How long to reach A2 basics?
- With 30–45 minutes daily, many learners reach A1 in 6–8 weeks and A2 in 3–6 months, depending on speaking practice.