Help and emergencies in Vietnamese
The words you hope to never need. Play the ten Vietnamese words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 10 Vietnamese phrases in this lesson
- Cứu với!KUU vuh-ee
- Help!
- Gọi bác sĩgoy bahk SEE
- Call a doctor
- Công ankong AHN
- Police
- Nhà thuốcnyah TWOHK
- Pharmacy
- Bệnh việnbenh vee-EN
- Hospital
- Tôi bị lạctoy bee LAHK
- I'm lost
- Tôi thấy không khỏetoy tay khong KHWEH
- I don't feel well
- Tôi bị mất trộmtoy bee muht CHOHM
- It was stolen
- Khẩn cấp!khun KUP
- It's an emergency
- Để tôi yêndeh toy EEN
- Leave me alone
The emergency cry. For calmer requests: "giúp tôi với" (zoop toy vuh-ee), help me please.
The ambulance number is 115, police 113 and fire 114. International clinics in big cities have English-speaking staff.
Công an is the general police. "Cảnh sát" (kanh SAHT) is used for specialised forces such as traffic police. Report theft to the local police station for insurance.
Literally "medicine house". Pharmacies are everywhere and sell many medicines over the counter. Pointing to where it hurts is enough to start.
Emergency departments are "cấp cứu" (kup KUU). Big cities have international hospitals; travel insurance is wise.
Bị marks something unfortunate happening to you, lạc is lost. Showing an address on your phone and saying this gets help fast.
Literally "I feel not healthy". Add "đau bụng" (dow BOONG), stomach ache, or "đau đầu" (dow DOW), headache, and point.
Add the thing: "tôi bị mất trộm điện thoại" (my phone was stolen). Phone snatching from passing motorbikes happens in big cities, so keep phones away from the curb.
Urgent, an emergency. For a medical emergency "cấp cứu!" (kup KUU), the word on ambulances, is clearer.
Firm and clear. For persistent vendors, a smiling "không cần, cảm ơn" (no need, thanks) and walking on usually works first.