Useful Vietnamese Phrases for Da Lat: Renting a Bike, Eating and Shopping

A few tips before you start

Vietnamese is a tonal language, so the same syllable can mean different things depending on the tone. Don't worry about getting it perfect: people in Da Lat are friendly and patient, and they understand a lot from context, gestures and a smile. A good trick is to save the phrases below on your phone and simply show the screen when you're stuck. Translation apps also work well for longer questions.

Greetings and basics

• Xin chào — hello (works any time of day).
• Cảm ơn — thank you. Cảm ơn nhiều — thank you very much.
• Xin lỗi — sorry / excuse me.
• Vâng / Dạ — yes (polite). Không — no.
• Bao nhiêu tiền? — how much is it?
• Nhà vệ sinh ở đâu? — where is the toilet?
• Tôi không hiểu — I don't understand.

Renting and riding a scooter

• Tôi muốn thuê xe máy — I want to rent a motorbike. xe máy điện — electric scooter.
• Gửi xe ở đâu? — where can I park? Paid parking is called gửi xe; you get a ticket — vé xe — keep it until you leave.
• Cây xăng — petrol station. Đổ đầy bình — fill it up, or say an amount, e.g. năm mươi nghìn (50,000 VND).
• Đi thẳng — go straight, rẽ trái — turn left, rẽ phải — turn right.
• Xe bị hỏng — the bike is broken down. Xe bị thủng lốp — flat tyre.

At our shop you don't need any of this — we speak English and answer on WhatsApp, Zalo, Telegram and WeChat. But these words help at parking lots and petrol stations around town. New to riding here? Read our tips for riding a motorbike in Vietnam.

Eating and drinking

• Cho tôi một… — give me one… (e.g. cho tôi một bánh mì).
• Cà phê sữa đá — iced coffee with condensed milk; cà phê sữa nóng — the hot version, popular on cool Da Lat mornings. Trà — tea.
• Không cay — not spicy. Ít đường — less sugar.
• Tôi ăn chay — I'm vegetarian. Không thịt — no meat.
• Ngon quá! — delicious! Cooks love hearing it.
• Tính tiền — the bill, please.

Not sure what to order? Our guide to what to eat in Da Lat lists the local dishes worth trying.

Shopping at the market

• Cái này bao nhiêu? — how much is this?
• Đắt quá — too expensive. Bớt được không? — can you lower the price a little?
• Một ký — one kilo (useful for strawberries, avocados or dried fruit).
• Lấy cái này — I'll take this one.

Bargaining is normal for clothes and souvenirs at Da Lat Market and the night market, but stay friendly — small food stalls usually have fixed prices.

Numbers and prices

Prices are often said in thousands: nghìn (or ngàn) means thousand, and you will often see "k", e.g. 30k = 30,000 VND. One to five: một, hai, ba, bốn, năm. If in doubt, ask the seller to type the price on a phone or calculator — everyone does it.

Ride around Da Lat with Van Phu

Practise your new words on the road: Van Phu Da Lat rents the Honda Vision, the Honda Air Blade and electric scooters for 150,000 VND per day, with a free helmet, a phone holder and no cash deposit — you leave your passport or ID card. Message us on WhatsApp, Zalo, Telegram or WeChat — in English, no Vietnamese needed.

Written by Ngô Văn Phú (Phu) – owner of Van Phu Dalat, local travel services in Da Lat since 2018: motorbike rental, homestay and villa booking. About me →