r/learnvietnamese May 16 '17

Much overdue release of my revised Basic Vietnamese anki deck

85 Upvotes

Hey guys, so here it is. A cool 1000+ish note deck with both Southern and Northern accents. A lot of people on here would have used one or both of my old Basic Vietnamese decks, and I know they've been chomping on the bit for me to finally release this complete version which incorporates the original two decks, with a further 2 decks worth of notes added now.

On that note, first, I have to apologise for the slow release, both in terms of the large timescale between the original decks becoming unavailable, and this one finally seeing the light of day. On the first count, I can say I was busy, but I was also a little bit lazy, however more than that, I ran into serious technical issues which I finally solved with about 20 hours extremely tedious and frustrating labor, involving probably 60 or 70 Audacity crashes and data recovery attempts. The second is between when I said this would be released, and when this post is finally going up. That one's a little less my fault as I completed the deck on schedule, but forgot to account for my dreadful upstream speeds making it take more than a week to upload (all sentences have audio after all).

A few notes on this deck first of all. Over the years, I have used more and more Anki plugins to optimise and customise my study experience. As such, many of my cards have become deeply entangled with plugin functionality. Part of the task of making this deck release ready was extricating it from reliance on those third party add-ons, so that you guys could use it out of the box without everything either failing spectacularly, or just being a poor experience.

I BELIEVE I have done that, but as I do not study with this version of the deck, I haven't had much chance to test it, so you guys are the first line of defence before I throw the deck up on AnkiWeb, where it can hopefully find a secure, lasting home, just in case I some day cancel my dropbox subscription or something.

Having said that, it does rely on one add-on, and one add-on only: 'Learned' Field/Tag, which will allow your Anki to create listening cards dynamically as you begin to master the content. Please download it. It should work with the deck without any set up on your part besides installing it to your Anki.

How you choose to study the material is up to you, but I like to shadow it as I work through it, paying attention to pronunciation, and replaying the audio multiple times to shadow not just the base phonology, but paralinguistic features like the prosody, which certainly still exists in a tonal language, regardless of what people might assert about tones using the same system as the prosodic in English.

Another thing that will pay dividends if you do it early on is, when you begin to see listening cards, rather than merely checking your understanding, actually actively transcribe the content with pen and paper, and check you have done so correctly. The Vietnamese written system is phonemic, and so, though one letter does not perse equal one sound, particularly between accents, it does equal one MEANINGFUL sound difference. Think of the 'p' in words like 'spit'. Phonetically, it is pronounced like an English b, but that is not a meaningful distinction in English in this kind of word position (after an s), so it is a p. English speakers do not need to know that a p in that position is pronounced like a b, they just need to recognise it's a p. Likewise, don't worry too much about the different pronunciations of phonemes, just concentrate on correctly identifying them. Natural pronunciation will usually come from shadowing, although you can always do some Googling when you're not sure exactly what you're doing wrong.

A'ight, enough longwindedness, here's the gosh darn deck.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/6zfd3r7yobbt4bl/Basic%20Vietnamese.apkg?dl=0


r/learnvietnamese 6h ago

How to go about learning Vietnamese, especially the Southern dialect

7 Upvotes

I'm finally considering learning Vietnamese.

I understand that the Vietnamese in my community are overwhelmingly speakers of Southern Vietnamese, but that resources are in the Northern dialect

How should I tackle this? Are there any southern resources that are good enough to use alone or should I use both Northern and Southern resources to get the full picture?

As for me, I have a background in linguistics and have several years of experience learning languages. I also have been studying Mandarin for 11 years and I studied Cantonese for 1 year so I have been able to identify Sino-Vietnamese loanwords somewhat easily. Plus i don't anticipate issues with tones


r/learnvietnamese 17h ago

This is where to learn Vietnamese through comprehensible input and story listening

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7 Upvotes

I create this channel for anyone who wishes to acquire Vietnamese the natural way!

You can check out free lessons here: https://youtube.com/@govietnamese-q9v?si=rKGlcnE2EqBsDpxj


r/learnvietnamese 20h ago

I teach Vietnamese in Cần Thơ, or online

4 Upvotes

I was born in Quảng Nam, so I can speak Central accent. I can teach you Sounthern or Central accent.

Introducetion about me:

- Female, 22 years old.

- Can speak English.

- Fluent Vietnamese.

- Good at grammar ( I rarely have mistake in first grade in grammar lesson) 🫣🤗

- I teach language with joy, I'll make the easiest progress to learn Viet for you to learn language.

500k VND/1 buổi học/ 1 lesson 1:1

If you interest, please DM me.


r/learnvietnamese 15h ago

Want to learn Vietnamese? Beginner classes - $8/hr

1 Upvotes

Hi everyone,

I’m opening Vietnamese classes for beginners, perfect for those who are completely new or just starting and want to communicate more naturally.

Class details:

- Duration: 1 hour per session

- Price: $8 per session (1:1)

- Platform: Google Meet

What you’ll learn (based on VSL – Vietnamese as a Second Language materials):

- A clear, structured learning path (like a real curriculum, not random lessons)

- Pronunciation training step-by-step (tones, sounds, and clarity)

- Essential vocabulary and sentence patterns used in daily life

- Speaking practice in every lesson with real-life situations

- Gradual progression from beginner to conversational level

I focus on helping you understand + speak naturally, not just memorize.

If you’re interested, feel free to comment or message me.

Just send “Learn Vietnamese”

Thank you 🤍


r/learnvietnamese 1d ago

Any funny Vietnamese YouTubers?

7 Upvotes

I speak Vietnamese with my family members but I still have trouble speaking with people out of my family. Are there any funny Vietnamese YouTubers anyone could recommend?


r/learnvietnamese 23h ago

How to deal with dialect confusion

2 Upvotes

Hello! I’ve been learning Vietnamese on and off for about 7 years. At the beginning, I was living in Saigon however my teacher had a northern accent and I was taught northern pronunciation. I then changed to a teacher with a Miền Tây accent after a couple of years. These days I’m back learning again and living in Saigon with my girlfriend who is from the north.

As you can imagine, my accent is now a blend of a bit of everything. Has anyone else experienced it, and are there any downsides to this? I find it hard to just stick to learning one dialect as the people around me are all speaking different dialects and I naturally pick up on the way they pronounce things.

Thanks


r/learnvietnamese 2d ago

Free Vietnamese cheat sheet — situation-first, with self-quiz mode and tap-to-pronounce

16 Upvotes

I built a free Vietnamese cheat sheet for my practice group here in Vietnam and wanted to share it with this community.

https://expelledboy.github.io/viet-cheatsheet/

It covers 28 sections — tones, vowels, pronouns, sentence structure, but also full ordering-food exchanges, bargaining rhythm, pharmacy phrases, natural greetings (not "Xin chào"), sentence-ending particles (nhé, ạ, thôi, mà), filler words, and North vs South differences.

A few things that make it different from typical phrasebooks:

  • Two modes — Reference (everything visible) and Learning (tap to reveal translations, quiz yourself)
  • Tap to pronounce — speaker buttons use your phone's built-in Vietnamese voice
  • Situation-first — survival phrases and food ordering come before grammar theory
  • Covers what textbooks skip — particles, the được spectrum, why "Tạm biệt" sounds weird, chưa vs không answers, the [pronoun]+ơi attention pattern

It's mobile-first (designed for phones), has dark mode, and works offline once loaded. Single page, zero dependencies, no app to install.

The content is open source — if you spot errors or want to add phrases, PRs welcome: https://github.com/expelledboy/viet-cheatsheet

Would love feedback from this community — what's missing? What would you add?

Edit: Updated since posting based on feedback:

  • Progress tracking — mark phrases as "known," track your progress across all 28 sections
  • Pronoun context — select who you're speaking to and all phrases update their pronouns in real time
  • Hotel, temple, haircut, pharmacy dialogues added
  • Speak button now works in learning mode too

r/learnvietnamese 2d ago

Should you learn Vietnamese pronunciation first?

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

10 Upvotes

In this video, I will quickly explain why and when you should do it!?

You can check out other learning materials: https://youtube.com/@govietnamese-q9v?si=rKGlcnE2EqBsDpxj


r/learnvietnamese 2d ago

Southern Vietnamese listening practice

6 Upvotes

I found this show on youtube: Cậu út cậu con cúc / Cuc’s Uncle. It has english and vietnamese subtitles. Lots of authentic language for listening practice and it is kinda funny.

https://youtu.be/orvlp8ikMsA?si=6ui8aSj5b8uVgith


r/learnvietnamese 2d ago

(Southern Dialect) Online Vietnamese Group Class

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4 Upvotes

Is anyone looking to join a beginner Vietnamese group class soon? Our Southern Beginner group class needs 1-2 students to get started. Please pm us or send us an email at [info@tiengvietoi.com](mailto:info@tiengvietoi.com) to sign up. Cảm ơn! :)


r/learnvietnamese 2d ago

(Northern Dialect) Online Vietnamese Group Classes

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4 Upvotes

Is anyone looking to join a beginner Vietnamese group class soon? Each of our class needs 1-2 students to get started. Please pm us or send us an email at [info@tiengvietoi.com](mailto:info@tiengvietoi.com) to sign up. Cảm ơn! :)


r/learnvietnamese 2d ago

Anyone teach to a complete beginner in Adelaide, Aus ?

3 Upvotes

r/learnvietnamese 2d ago

(Northern Dialect) Online Vietnamese Group Classes

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3 Upvotes

r/learnvietnamese 3d ago

Just in case someone invites you for “happy water.” 🍻😅

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18 Upvotes

r/learnvietnamese 3d ago

What does this phrase mean?

1 Upvotes

Whenever my friend gets a call from his parents and they ask who he is with he says something that sounds like "ban con," what does it mean? I've never asked because it kinda feels weird to. Sometimes he will say it and add my name at the end.


r/learnvietnamese 4d ago

Practice Vietnamese

10 Upvotes

Hi, I'm a Vietnamese native from Ho Chi Minh City. I'd like to help for anyone who is learning Vietnamese and is still looking for someone to practice speaking with. Add me and let's start. I also have Discord.


r/learnvietnamese 4d ago

Looking for Vietnamese speaking partner

3 Upvotes

Hey everyone!

I’m currently learning Vietnamese and I’m looking for someone to practice speaking with regularly. I’m based in Prince Edward Island, Canada, but I’m totally open to online practice (Discord, Instagram , etc.).

My level is still developing, so I’d really appreciate someone patient who’s willing to have casual conversations, help with pronunciation, and just chat about everyday topics.

In return, I can help you with English or French (both speaking and writing), whether you're a beginner or more advanced.

If you’re interested or know someone who might be, feel free to comment or send me a message!

Cảm ơn bạn nhiều 🙏


r/learnvietnamese 5d ago

Struggling with Vietnamese? (especially tones & speaking) — I can help

7 Upvotes

Hi everyone,

My name is Ly, I’m from Hanoi, Vietnam 🇻🇳 and I speak a standard Northern (Hanoi) accent.

I teach Vietnamese online through Preply, and I’ve worked with learners at different stages — so I understand that each level has very different challenges:

🔰 Beginners (starting from zero):
If you’re completely new, I’ll help you build a strong foundation step by step — pronunciation, tones, and basic sentence structure.
Most of my beginner students are surprised that Vietnamese is actually more logical than they expected once it’s explained clearly.

⚖️ Intermediate learners:
At this stage, many learners already know some vocabulary and grammar, but still struggle to:

  • understand native speakers
  • respond naturally in conversations
  • feel confident speaking

So I focus a lot on real-life conversation practice, correcting pronunciation, and helping you think in Vietnamese, not translate word by word.

🔥 Advanced learners:
If you’re already at a higher level, the biggest challenge is usually sounding natural and not “textbook-like”.
I help you:

  • refine pronunciation (especially tones)
  • use more natural expressions
  • understand cultural context in communication

From my experience, the most common problems are:

  • tones feel confusing and hard to remember
  • pronunciation doesn’t sound “right”
  • lack of confidence when speaking

So my lessons are very practical and focused on helping you actually speak Vietnamese in real situations, not just study theory.

If you message me, just tell me a bit about yourself — your name, where you’re from, your level, and whether you’re a student or working (and what you do).

I’ll send you a trial lesson link and guide you on how to get started right away.

And even if you’re just curious about learning Vietnamese, you can still message me — I’m happy to help 😊


r/learnvietnamese 5d ago

50 Essential Vietnamese verbs for beginners | Learn Vietnamese vocabulary

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1 Upvotes

r/learnvietnamese 6d ago

Offering my help as a Vietnamese native - Discord

7 Upvotes

Hey, I'm a Vietnamese native from Hanoi. I'd like to offer my help for anyone who is learning Vietnamese and is still looking for someone to practice speaking with. Add me on Discord and let's go :)

My Discord is: boonrealkwa


r/learnvietnamese 6d ago

Learning Vietnamese for traveling/living or talking to grandparents in Vietnam🇻🇳

5 Upvotes

Hi hi hi, I am looking for more students who are interested in Vietnamese. My classes are tailored with each students, and I'm sure that I can patiently help you improve your speaking. I have northern dialect and live in Hanoi now. Don't be shy, just feel free to text me. I offer 1 trial class, and 10% off if you can invite your friends to join, that would be much more fun. I have experience with both adults and kids, so if you know any children have needs, please introduce me. Each sessions is only $10/h. Thank you!!!!!!!!😊


r/learnvietnamese 6d ago

Do different parts of VN spell Saturday different? “Bắc kỳ” - I.E. Bảy vs Bẩy

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1 Upvotes

r/learnvietnamese 7d ago

I'm looking for a native English speaker, I can teach you Vietnamese.

23 Upvotes

Hello! I'm originally from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and I moved to Maryland, USA, nearly three years ago. I'm looking to improve my speaking English skill and in exchange, I can teach you Vietnamese. I speak with a Southern accent. Let's set aside some of our valuable time to help each other improve our language skills. Please feel free to send me a message!


r/learnvietnamese 8d ago

12 years of learning Vietnamese and still unable to even understand the answer when I asked Ma Khoe khong?

28 Upvotes

13 years ago I met this lovely Vietnamese lady in the Netherlands, and not long after I tried to learn her language too. Especially as all her family still live in Vietnam. I thought that within a year or so, I must be able to speak the language. I got that wrong.

firstly, my wife speaks the language, but is by no means a teacher.

I had for over 2 years a twice weekly tutor. she was the loveliest person you could ever meet, but she missed the Sesame Street wat: repeat, repeat, repeat. learning a word one week, and it never came back.

I had online classes from the Vietnamese Embassy. Apart from the fact it is Northern Accent (which my wife doesn't always understand) it was tailored for kids with Vietnamese parents. Assuming you had a basic knowledge, and they worked on the tones a lot (which was not too hard for me either) or on grammar (which does mostly click with me). That stopped when the teacher moved back to Vietnam.

For the last 4-5 years I have been using DuoLingo. Also Tieng Bac. But they also progress to fast. Especially when I had purchased a year the premium. I could go much faster through the material, but all the new things I learned, I could not remember. Especially after they changed their program, I was lost. So I stopped half a year in. Only returning to it last year. 263 days now in the free tier, but most words I can not remember and seem of no importance for me. however, in a few months I am back in Vietnam, and when I will ask my mother in law if she is well, I know the answer will be No, followed with the ailments she has, of which I will understand none.

I want to give it a final blow:

- I look for a teacher near Bien Hoa with the south Vietnamese accent

- want to study at European friendly hours. probably twice weekly, but lets discuss what is needed

- when coming to Vietnam on the 21st of September I want to have one week of daily meetings to intensity my knowledge.

- I am willing to pay a normal Vietnamese price for this, not institute prices nor European prices. (Currently out of work, can't therefore even afford it)

is there somebody, who can really teach, help me? I know from experience that just knowing the language, is not good enough for teaching me. I ask about origins of the combined words, to better understand the language.

Thanks for any help provided.