Lessons · Level 2
2-2. Shopping 3: clothes shops · exchanges/refunds · online shopping
Mua quần áo & mua hàng online
🎯 Goal Try on clothes, ask for an exchange or refund, and receive online-order deliveries · about 35 min
Shopping in stores and online
District 2 has malls such as Vincom Mega Mall Thảo Điền and Estella Place, plus plenty of small clothes shops in the neighborhoods. Mall stores have fixed prices, but small shops allow a little haggling.
Vietnamese people shop online a lot on Shopee, Lazada and TikTok Shop. When an order arrives, the delivery person (shipper) calls you, so practicing these calls is important.
A key feature of online shopping in Vietnam is cash on delivery (COD — thanh toán khi nhận hàng). You pay in cash or by transfer when you receive the item.
Clothes shop words
| Vietnamese | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| quần áo | clothes quần = pants/trousers, áo = top | wuhng ao |
| size | size Vietnamese people use S, M, L, XL as is | size |
| thử | to try on | tew |
| phòng thử đồ | fitting room | fawng tew doh |
| rộng | loose | rohng |
| chật | tight | chuhk |
| màu | color | mao |
| đen | black | deng |
| trắng | white | chang |
| đổi | to exchange | doy |
| trả lại | to return | cha lai |
| giảm giá | discount, sale | yam ya |
At the clothes shop
| Vietnamese | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Em thử được không? | Can I try it on? | em tew dew-uhk khohng? |
| Phòng thử đồ ở đâu? | Where is the fitting room? | fawng tew doh uh duh-oo? |
| Có size lớn hơn không? | Do you have a bigger size? | kaw size luhng huhng khohng? |
| Có màu khác không? | Do you have another color? | kaw mao khak khohng? |
| Hơi chật một chút. | It's a little tight. | huhy chuhk mohk chook. |
| Em lấy cái này. | I'll take this one. | em luhy kai nai. |
| Nếu không vừa thì đổi được không? | Can I exchange it if it doesn't fit? vừa = fits just right (size) | nay-oo khohng yew-uh tee doy dew-uhk khohng? |
| Em muốn trả lại cái này. | I'd like to return this. | em moo-uhng cha lai kai nai. |
Online shopping · receiving deliveries
| Vietnamese | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| đặt hàng | to place an order | dak hang |
| giao hàng | delivery | yao hang |
| thanh toán khi nhận hàng | cash on delivery This is what the app's payment screen shows | tan twang khee nyuhng hang |
| mã giảm giá | discount code | ma yam ya |
| Em có đơn hàng phải không? | You have an order, right? The first thing the delivery person says when they call | em kaw duhng hang fai khohng? |
| Dạ, em xuống liền. | Okay, I'll come down right away. liền = right away (Southern) | ya, em soo-uhng lee-uhng. |
| Anh để ở quầy lễ tân giùm em. | Please leave it at the reception desk. | an day uh wuhy lay tuhng yoom em. |
| Em chuyển khoản cho anh nha. | I'll pay you by bank transfer. | em chwee-uhng khwang chaw an nya. |
Real conversation 1 — at a clothes shop in the mall
Minsu tries on a shirt at a clothes shop in a District 2 mall. The sales assistant is younger than him.
| Minsu | Em ơi, áo này có size L không? | Do you have this shirt in size L? |
| Staff | Dạ có. Anh thử đi, phòng thử ở bên kia. | Yes. Try it on, the fitting room is over there. |
| Minsu | Hơi chật. Có size XL không em? | It's a bit tight. Do you have XL? |
| Staff | Dạ, XL chỉ còn màu trắng thôi anh. | We only have XL in white. |
| Minsu | Được, màu trắng cũng đẹp. Nếu không vừa thì đổi được không? | Okay, white looks nice too. Can I exchange it if it doesn't fit? |
| Staff | Dạ được, trong bảy ngày, anh nhớ giữ hóa đơn nha. | Yes, within seven days. Please keep the receipt. |
| Minsu | Ok, anh lấy cái này. | Okay, I'll take this one. |
Real conversation 2 — a call from the delivery person
Minsu's Shopee order has arrived. The delivery person calls him.
| Driver | Alo, anh Min-su phải không? Anh có đơn hàng Shopee. | Hello, is this Minsu? You have a Shopee order. |
| Minsu | Dạ đúng rồi. Anh tới chưa? | Yes, that's right. Are you here? |
| Driver | Anh đang ở dưới sảnh. Đơn này thanh toán khi nhận hàng, hai trăm ba chục ngàn. | I'm in the lobby. It's cash on delivery, 230,000 dong. |
| Minsu | Dạ, em xuống liền. Em chuyển khoản được không anh? | I'll come down right away. Can I pay by transfer? |
| Driver | Được, anh đưa mã QR cho em quét. | Sure, I'll show you the QR code to scan. |
| Minsu | Dạ, cảm ơn anh. | Thank you. |
Online shopping tips
- Delivery people usually call just before they arrive. On days you're expecting a parcel, answer even unknown numbers. If you miss the call, delivery may be canceled or pushed to the next day.
- If you live in an apartment, you can ask them to leave it at the lobby reception (lễ tân) or security desk (bảo vệ). COD orders, though, must be received in person.
- In the app address, include your block (tòa), unit number and building name, and add a note like 'Please call when you reach the lobby'.
- You can request returns and refunds from the 'Đổi trả' / 'Trả hàng/Hoàn tiền' menu in the app. App wording changes slightly with updates.
Things to watch out for
- For COD parcels, check the order and amount in the app before paying. There's a scam where items you never ordered are sent COD.
- If you can, film yourself opening the box. It's evidence if you request a return or refund.
- Many small clothes shops allow exchanges but not refunds. Ask before buying: 'Đổi được không? Trả lại được không?'
- Sale items (hàng giảm giá) often can't be exchanged or refunded.
- Avoid sellers who ask you to pay separately on Zalo, outside the app. You lose the app's buyer protection.