Say "chao" to friends and family as a way to say "hi." Pronounce "chao" like the word "chow."
Greet a man with "chao anh" and a woman with "chao chi." To greet a Mr. Jackson, for example, say "chao ong Jackson." To greet a Mrs. Jackson, say "chao chi Jackson." To greet a young, unmarried Ms. Jackson, say "chao co Jackson."
Show respect to elders by adding a small bow as you say hello.
Swap "hello" for "good afternoon" or "good morning," both common greetings in Vietnam. "Good morning" is "chao buoi sang," pronounced "chow boy sang." "Xin chao," Vietnamese for "good afternoon," is pronounced "shin chow." "Xin chao" is commonly used for "hello."
Try using the phrase "a-lo" on the phone. This is commonly used for telephone greetings in Vietnam. Pronounce the word as "ah-low."
Ask "how are you" if you want to initiate a conversation, or to be extra polite. Say "ahn khoe khong?" to men and "chi khoe khong?" to women. Pronounce "khoe khong" as "ko-eh kong."
