Vietnamese Language Learning

Language: A Window To A Culture's Soul 

Along with architecture, laws and cuisine, the modern Vietnamese language reflects the influence of people who settled, invaded and colonized Vietnam over the past two thousand years. Because of their regional domination for many centuries, the Chinese had a particularly powerful impact on the Vietnamese language, and many words are of Chinese origin. A Chinese alphabet was used by scholars and aristocrats for several centuries.

Modern Vietnamese is a monosyllabic language, meaning that all words are only one syllable long. Like Thai, Vietnamese is tonal, meaning that a rising or falling tone changes the meaning of the word. Since most Western languages use tone to emphasize an underlying meaning, interpretation, or emotion, tonal languages like Vietnamese are particularly difficult for Westerners to learn. Beside Vietnamese, the official language of Vietnam, there are various dialects spoken by hill tribe people in remote areas.

Since English is taught in all Vietnamese schools, you will have fewer communications problems than you might expect. Your high school French may also come in handy. Failing that, there’s always charades. You will find most Vietnamese patient, tolerant, and willing to do what they can to communicate with you.

Although many people in Vietnam speak English, there is no better way to get along and understand a country than by learning its language. Language courses ranging from a day or two, to several weeks are available. 

When In Nam, Speak As The Vietnamese Do

If you plan a long tour or to live in Vietnam, you’ll probably want  a 7-day self-study course. This is a series of short conversations for tourists that should be useful in getting around Vietnam and talking to the Vietnamese. The conversations are organized as if you were to spend a week in Vietnam, with a total of seven lessons dealing with seven topics that would involve a typical tourist. The top priority is to teach you how to be polite to your hosts so that you can return from your trip with good memories. Being polite is a good way to get help when you are in need and to make friends along the way as you travel. You can show politeness with a smile and gentle tone of voice, as well as with words used to excuse yourself, to show thanks, and to compliment your hosts. The Vietnamese, like most Asians do not respond well to loud and angry talk and confrontations.

If you want to join a class, here are some good ones:

Vietnamese Language Center (in Hanoi)
1. No. 1, Pham Ngu Lao St., Tel: 8262468
2. No. 20 Lang Ha St., Tel: 7761123

Hanoi Language and Culture Tours
18-145/48 Quan Nhan - TX - HN
Tel: 84 913522605

Teaching the language by immersion in the culture, combines daily lessons and short tours to teach Vietnamese in a way that is both fun and effective.

Hanoi Basic Traveler is a short course of 5 days comprising classes in mornings and short tours in afternoons. The classes are tailored to the tours so that you will get practical experience reading signs, finding, buying tickets and talking to local Hanoi people.

An extended program of 10 days is also available, as are two-day introductory courses.

A typical program will take in the beautiful Temple of Literature, the tomb of Ho Chi Min and the horrifying 'Hanoi Hilton'. But the most entrancing Hanoi experience is just to explore the bustling narrow streets of the Old Quarter, engaging shopkeepers in casual exchanges.

Extended programs may include a one or two day trip through the fabulous Ha Long Bay (at extra cost).

Lassho Vietnamese Language School for Foreigners (in Ho Chi Minh City)
No. 8, Mac Dinh Chi Str., Dist 1, Tel: 8233816

Saigon Vietnamese Language School (in Ho Chi Minh City)
No. 41 Dinh Tien Hoang Str., Ben Nghe ward, District 1, HCMC
Tel: 84-8-8251027 - Email: vietnamese@svlsf.edu.vn