The Usual Suspects (Questions)

Vietnamese people are very inquisitive, and will probably ask you these typical questions:

• how old are you

• where are you from

• why are you in Viet Nam

• are you married

• do you have a lover

• do you have kids

• do you want to live in Viet Nam forever

• do you want to marry a Vietnamese

• where do you live right now

• etc

So... Learn how to answer these questions.

You'll learn a great deal of useful vocabulary & phrases just by answering these questions.

And those words & phrases will form your foundation.

Get good at answering.

Get good at pronouncing clearly.

With pronunciation, our goal is always to make it as easy as possible for others to understand us.

Why should they be making extra effort to understand us?

We are visitors, guests in their country. Make the effort.

Don't feel awkward or embarrassed for trying to mimic their sounds. This is the correct way to acquire the pronunciation & accent.

And also, learn how to ask these questions, too!

Such questions are normal for them in their culture. You are allowed to ask such things, especially if they have already asked you.

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How to ask & answer

how old are you

Q: Bạn bao nhiêu tuổi?

A: Tôi ba mươi tuổi.

where are you from

There are a few common variants of how this is asked.

Q: Bạn đến từ đâu?

A: Tôi đến từ nước Anh.

Q: Bạn là người nước nào?

A: Tôi là người Anh / người nước Anh.

Q: Bạn từ nước nào?

A: Tôi từ nước Anh.

If you are from the USA, please make the effort to say Hoa Kỳ. The common Vietnamese name for the USA is "America country" which, if you are politically sensitive, is obviously wrong and is a key component of national & ethnic erasure. Hoa Kỳ is just as well-known, so you can use it without confusion.

why are you in Viet Nam

are you married

do you have a lover

do you have kids

do you want to live in Viet Nam forever

do you want to marry a Vietnamese

where do you live right now