What does “Chùa” mean in Vietnamese?
Chùa is a Buddhist place of worship (i.e., a Pagoda). They can be ancient places, or carnival-esque amusement parks. However, “Chúa” means Jesus Christ.
Chùa is a Buddhist place of worship (i.e., a Pagoda). They can be ancient places, or carnival-esque amusement parks. However, “Chúa” means Jesus Christ.
“Ăn com chưa?” literally means “have you eaten yet?”, but what Vietnamese friends really mean is “How are you doing?”
Our list of the best things to do in Da Nang, strung together as an ideal one-week itinerary: beaches, cave-temples, mountain-hikes, and more
If you sit in any cafe, you will hear shouts of “Em ơi!” every few minutes. It is the tip of the iceberg of an entire system of politeness in Vietnam.
Xe om means “hold on” to a driver as you ride on their motorbike. It is also the best way for tourists to get around cities and rural areas.
Người means “people”, but it also functions like the English suffix “-er” when attached to a verb (e.g., driver).
We dispel some myths about poverty in Vietnam. We use data and statistics to explain the growth of Vietnam vs. its Asian neighbours
How to invest in Vietnam? The VNM ETF has terrible tracking error compared to the Vietnam Equity Index. Consider investing in Vietnam via these alternative vehicles: VOF, VCF, P2P loans, and other opportunities.
Except for funny things like the role of Fortune-Tellers, dating in Vietnam is similar to the USA. We discuss the similarities and differences in dating between Vietnam and the West.
Fish is “cá” in Vietnamese (pronounced like ga). But “cá” also includes some marine mammals, such as the “Pig Fish”…
“Đụ má” is a serious expletive in Vietnamese, equivalent to “f you” in English. It is to “địt mẹ” as “f you” is to “f**k you”.
There are many Vietnamese words that signify “romantic partners”. Bạn gái is girl friend, while Bạn trai is boyfriend.
There are several interesting lessons in the “pho mát vs fromage” phenomenon that can help you learn the Vietnamese accent.
Introducing our new series of Vietnamese pronunciation guides with audio, covering: tones, consonants, digraphs, and vowels.
Quần is an example of overloading in Vietnamese: it means both “pants” as well as underwear, shorts, overalls and more
We identity some of the most underrated travel destinations in Vietnam. From the precipitous cliffs Ha Giang on the Chinese border, to the lonely lost beaches of Phu Yen.
There are great deals to be found in Vietnam, but Vietnamese shop-keeps are shrewd hagglers. Study these tips to get an edge.
Nguyễn can be anglicized to “win/when”, with an upward-pitch at the end, but the correct pronunciation is nearly impossible for foreigners, unless you learn this trick.
“Stunting” was as high as 34% in Vietnam in the 1990’s. With better nutrition, the height of Vietnamese has changed. We use scientistic studies and personal to answer: “Why are Vietnamese so short?”
Nước means anything liquidy, from drinking water (nước) to the sauce for bánh hỏi. As a traveller in Vietnam, you must know nước mía.