Vietnam is a fairly large country, and because of this, the language changes depending on where you are.

While there are technically three main dialect regions (North, Central, and South), the biggest divide for learners is usually between Northern Vietnamese (Hanoi) and Southern Vietnamese (Ho Chi Minh City/Saigon).

It’s a common struggle for beginners.

You might learn a word in a textbook (which usually teaches Northern dialect), and then try to use it in Ho Chi Minh City, only to receive a confused look.

Don’t worry, though. It’s still the same language.

In this guide, I’ll break down the simple differences so you can understand what is going on.

The main difference: pronunciation

The most obvious difference you will hear immediately is the pronunciation of certain consonants.

In general, Northern Vietnamese (Hanoi) is considered the “standard” for television and news. It tends to distinguish clearly between letters in writing, but it also merges some sounds in speaking.

Southern Vietnamese is softer and more relaxed.

Here is a simple breakdown of the specific sounds that change the most.

The letters D, Gi, and R

This is the biggest giveaway of where a speaker is from.

In Northern Vietnamese:

The letters D, Gi, and R are all pronounced like a Z (as in “Zoo”).

In Southern Vietnamese:

The letters D and Gi are pronounced like a Y (as in “Yes”). The letter R is often pronounced like a G (guttural) or a rolled R, depending on how careful the speaker is.

Let’s look at an example. The word da (skin):

Or the word for “family”, gia đình:

The letter V

In Northern Vietnamese:

The letter V is pronounced clearly as a V (as in “Video”).

In Southern Vietnamese:

In casual speech, the letter V is often pronounced as a Y (or a soft “Ye”). However, in formal situations, Southerners might pronounce the “V” clearly.

Tones: 6 tones vs 5 tones

Vietnamese is a tonal language. This means the pitch of your voice changes the meaning of the word.

If you are studying from a standard textbook, you will learn that there are 6 tones.

However, this is only strictly true for Northern Vietnamese.

In Southern Vietnamese, there are essentially only 5 tones.

Why?

Because in the South, the Asking Tone (Dấu hỏi) and the Tumbling Tone (Dấu ngã) are pronounced almost exactly the same.

In the North, the Tumbling Tone (~) is broken and distinct. It sounds like your voice drops and then abruptly rises, almost like a hiccup in the middle of the word.

In the South, this “hiccup” disappears. The Tumbling Tone just sounds like a smooth, deep Asking Tone.

For a learner, this is actually good news! It means if you are learning Southern Vietnamese, you have one less tone to worry about distinguishing when you speak.

Vocabulary: same meaning, different words

Just like “cookie” (US) and “biscuit” (UK), or “truck” (US) and “lorry” (UK), Northern and Southern Vietnamese use different words for the same things.

This mostly happens with items related to food, fruits, and daily household objects.

If you use a Northern word in the South, people will usually understand you (thanks to TV and internet), but they might smile because you sound like a textbook!

Here is a table of the most common differences you must know.

A note on particle words

You will also hear a difference in the little words added to the end of sentences to show emotion or politeness.

For example, to soften a sentence or make a suggestion (like “okay?”), Northerners often use nhé.

Southerners are more likely to use nhen or nhe.

Which dialect should you learn?

This is the question I get asked the most. “Oanh, which one is better?”

Neither is “better.” It depends entirely on your goals.

You should learn Northern Vietnamese if:

• You are planning to live or work in Hanoi or Northern Vietnam.
• You are interested in politics, formal journalism, or literature.
• You want to speak the “textbook standard” that is taught in most universities abroad.
• You prefer a pronunciation where “D” and “Gi” have a clear “Z” buzz to them.

You should learn Southern Vietnamese if:

• You are moving to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) or the Mekong Delta.
• You have family from the South (many overseas Vietnamese communities in the USA and Australia speak Southern dialect).
• You find 5 tones easier to manage than 6.
• You prefer the sound of “Y” over “Z”.

My advice?

Pick one and stick to it until you are intermediate.

If you try to learn both at the same time as a beginner, you will get confused with pronunciation.

Once you are comfortable with one, you can easily listen to the other. Vietnamese people understand each other perfectly fine, so you will be understood no matter which one you choose.

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Do you prefer the sound of the North or the South?