Lessons · Level 1
1-4. Asking directions and addresses — finding your way in D2
Hỏi đường & địa chỉ
🎯 Goal Ask for and understand directions, and read Vietnamese addresses (old and new) · about 30 min
Vietnamese addresses and the 2025 administrative reform
Vietnamese addresses go from small to large, much like English addresses.
Old address: Số 12 (house number), đường Quốc Hương (street), phường Thảo Điền (ward), Quận 2 (district), TP. Hồ Chí Minh (city)
From 1 July 2025, districts (quận) were abolished and addresses became two levels: phường (ward) → city. The old District 2 area became 3 new wards (Standing Committee of the National Assembly Resolution 1685/NQ-UBTVQH15).
- phường An Khánh = old Thảo Điền, Thủ Thiêm, An Lợi Đông, An Khánh + most of An Phú
- phường Bình Trưng = old Bình Trưng Đông, Bình Trưng Tây + part of An Phú
- phường Cát Lái = old Cát Lái, Thạnh Mỹ Lợi
So a Thảo Điền address is now '…, phường An Khánh, TP. Hồ Chí Minh'. But taxi drivers and everyday conversation still use 'Quận 2' and 'Thảo Điền'. Know both.
Directions
| Vietnamese | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| đi thẳng | go straight | dee tang |
| quẹo trái | turn left South: quẹo / North: rẽ | weh-oo chai |
| quẹo phải | turn right | weh-oo fai |
| bên trái | on the left | ben chai |
| bên phải | on the right | ben fai |
| quay lại | go back, turn around | wai lai |
| ngã tư | intersection | nga tew |
| ngã ba | T-junction | nga ba |
| đèn đỏ | traffic light When giving directions, traffic lights are usually called đèn đỏ | deng daw |
| đối diện | opposite | doy yee-uhng |
| bên cạnh | next to | ben kan |
| gần | near | guhng |
| xa | far | sa |
Address words and landmarks
| Vietnamese | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| địa chỉ | address | dee-uh chee |
| số nhà | house number | soh nya |
| hẻm | alley South: hẻm / North: ngõ | hem |
| phường | ward | few-uhng |
| chung cư | apartment building | choong kew |
| 12/5 Quốc Hương | 12/5 Quoc Huong Street In the South, '/' is read xẹt ('sek'). 12/5 = house 5 in the alley at number 12 | mew-ee hai sek nam wohk hew-uhng |
| ga metro Thảo Điền | Thao Dien metro station Metro Line 1 (Bến Thành–Suối Tiên) | ga metro tao dee-uhng |
| hầm Thủ Thiêm | Thu Thiem Tunnel Tunnel under the Saigon River linking District 2 and District 1 | huhm too tee-uhm |
| chợ Bến Thành | Ben Thanh Market | chuh ben tan |
Sentences for asking directions
| Vietnamese | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Xin lỗi, cho em hỏi đường. | Excuse me, can I ask for directions? | sin loy, chaw em hoy dew-uhng. |
| Siêu thị gần nhất ở đâu vậy? | Where is the nearest supermarket? | see-oo tee guhng nyuhk uh duh-oo yuhy? |
| Đi thẳng, rồi quẹo trái. | Go straight, then turn left. | dee tang, roy weh-oo chai. |
| Có xa không? | Is it far? | kaw sa khohng? |
| Đi bộ được không? | Can I walk there? | dee boh dew-uhk khohng? |
| Khoảng năm phút. | About five minutes. | khwang nam fook. |
| Chỉ giùm em trên bản đồ được không? | Could you show me on the map? giùm = to do (something) for someone (Southern) | chee yoom em chen bang doh dew-uhk khohng? |
| Em bị lạc đường. | I'm lost. | em bee lak dew-uhng. |
| Từ Quận 2 qua Quận 1 mất bao lâu? | How long does it take from District 2 to District 1? | tew wuhng hai wa wuhng mohk muhk bao luh-oo? |
| Cho em xuống chỗ này. | Please drop me off here. | chaw em soo-uhng choh nai. |
Real conversation — finding the metro station in Thảo Điền
Minsu is looking for the metro station on Quốc Hương Street. He asks a woman passing by (she looks older than him).
| Minsu | Chị ơi, xin lỗi, cho em hỏi đường một chút. | Excuse me, can I ask for directions? |
| Passerby | Ừ, em đi đâu? | Sure, where are you going? |
| Minsu | Ga metro Thảo Điền ở đâu vậy chị? | Where is Thao Dien metro station? |
| Passerby | Em đi thẳng đường này, tới ngã tư thì quẹo phải. | Go straight on this road, then turn right at the intersection. |
| Minsu | Dạ, tới ngã tư quẹo phải. Có xa không chị? | Okay, right at the intersection. Is it far? |
| Passerby | Không xa đâu. Đi bộ khoảng mười phút. | Not far. About ten minutes on foot. |
| Minsu | Ga nằm bên trái hay bên phải vậy chị? | Is the station on the left or on the right? |
| Passerby | Bên trái, đối diện siêu thị. | On the left, opposite the supermarket. |
| Minsu | Dạ, cảm ơn chị nhiều. | Thank you very much. |
| Passerby | Không có chi. | You're welcome. |
Practical tips for finding your way
- Vietnamese people give directions by landmarks more than street names. Remember 'gần …' (near…) and 'đối diện …' (opposite…).
- When entering an address in Grab or delivery apps, both the new address (phường An Khánh) and the old address (Thảo Điền, Quận 2) may come up. Always check where the pin lands on the map.
- The surest way: save your home address in Vietnamese on your phone and show the screen to the driver.
Things to watch out for on the street
- Looking at a map on your phone at the roadside can make you a target for motorbike snatch thieves. Stand close to the buildings and hold your phone in the hand away from the road.
- Numbered street names like Đường số 1, số 2… exist in many neighborhoods. When giving an address, include the ward (phường) name.
- Cars can't get into many narrow hẻm (alleys). If you live down an alley, book a motorbike Grab or get off at the alley entrance.