Vietnam travel words
Food, places and travel terms you will meet, explained simply.
Short, plain explanations of words you will see on menus, signs and quotes.
From food to transport and booking terms.
PhoThe Vietnamese noodle soup you will meet on day one, and what to ask before you order.Bun ChaHanoi's grilled pork and noodle lunch, and why Muslim travellers should read the menu first.Banh MiThe crusty Vietnamese sandwich you will want for a quick breakfast, and the fillings to ask about.Cao LauHoi An's thick noodle dish, and the pork question to settle before you sit down.Mi QuangThe turmeric noodle dish of Da Nang and Quang Nam, and what to ask before you order.Bun Bo HueThe spicy lemongrass noodle soup from Hue, and the questions to ask before you eat.Com TamThe broken rice plate of Ho Chi Minh City, and what to ask about the grilled meat.Banh XeoThe crisp turmeric pancake you wrap in leaves, and what to ask before you order.Goi CuonThe fresh, unfried rolls you can start a meal with, and how to order them with care.Ca Phe Trung (Egg Coffee)The creamy Hanoi coffee made with egg yolk, and how to enjoy it without surprises.Ca Phe Sua DaThe everyday Vietnamese iced coffee, strong and sweet, and how to order it your way.Nuoc Mam (Fish Sauce)The salty fish sauce on every Vietnamese table, and why it matters when you check a meal.TetThe Vietnamese Lunar New Year, and what it means for a trip from Malaysia.Vietnamese DongThe currency you will count in daily, and how to handle all those zeros.Xe OmThe motorbike taxi you will see on every corner, and when it is wise to skip it.CycloThe slow pedal trishaw that suits short sightseeing rides, and how to agree the price.Sleeper busThe reclining overnight coach you may be offered, and when it helps or hurts a short trip.Limousine vanThe small passenger van that links cities and tourist towns, and how to judge it for your group.HomestayA family-run stay in a village or town, and what to ask before you choose one.Pho coThe old quarter of Hanoi, and whether it is the right base for your group.ChuaThe Buddhist pagoda you will pass on almost every street, and how to visit with respect.DenThe temple that honours a hero or a spirit, and how it differs from a pagoda.DinhThe communal house at the heart of a village, and why it is worth a short stop.ChoThe local market where Vietnamese families shop, and how to visit without feeling lost.Ao daiVietnam's long, slim tunic, and what to know before you wear or photograph one.Non laThe leaf hat you will see in fields and photos, and how to buy a good one.Roi nuocThe water puppet show worth an evening in Hanoi, and how to fit it into a day.Cham peopleThe people of the old Champa kingdom, and why they matter in central Vietnam and to Muslim readers.Hmong PeopleThe highland community you will meet around Sapa, and how to be a considerate guest.Junk BoatThe wooden-style cruise boat you will see in every Ha Long Bay photo, and what to ask before boarding.E-visaThe online visa that matters only if your Vietnam stay will run past the visa-free allowance.Land ArrangementThe part of a package that starts when your plane lands, and how to compare two of them fairly.Single SupplementThe extra charge a solo traveller pays for a room that two people would normally share.Open-jaw TicketA flight plan that lands you in one city and brings you home from another, saving a day of backtracking.Halal-certified vs Muslim-friendlyTwo labels that sound alike but promise different things, and how to tell which one you are reading.MOTAC LicenceThe licence that shows a Malaysian travel agency is registered, and how to check it before you pay.
When you have a rough plan, send us your month, number of days and who is travelling. We will suggest a route that fits and what to check before you book.