Ask price
Cái này bao nhiêu tiền?
How much is this?
Start with this before bargaining.
Southern Vietnamese
Vietnamese Market Phrases
Ask prices, quantities, and bargain politely at markets.
Quick answer
In one sentence
Use these market phrases to ask prices, quantities, bargain softly, choose items, and refuse politely.
- Use this page in wet markets, fruit stalls, small shops, and tourist markets where price and quantity matter.
- Start with: Bao nhiêu tiền?, Bớt được không?, Tôi lấy cái này.
Mini lesson
Use this when...
Use this page in wet markets, fruit stalls, small shops, and tourist markets where price and quantity matter.
Day 37 market focus
Intro: shopping and asking prices
Ask prices, hear expensive/cheap, and bargain politely in a Vietnamese market.
Market tip
Bargaining is normal in markets, but not in supermarkets.
Too expensive
Đắt quá
Too expensive
Say it lightly, not aggressively.
Ask discount
Giảm giá được không?
Can you discount it?
A polite bargaining line.
Ready for the next step?
Mark this task complete, then continue without going back to the checklist.
Day 37 vocabulary focus
Vocabulary: bao nhiêu tiền, đắt, rẻ, giảm giá, mặc cả, thanh toán, hoá đơn, đổi, trả
Practice the price and payment words you need for a simple market exchange.
price
Bao nhiêu tiền?
How much is it?
The core price question.
expensive
Đắt
expensive
Common standard word for expensive.
cheap
Rẻ
cheap
Useful price adjective.
discount
Giảm giá
discount
Use as noun or verb phrase.
bargain
Mặc cả
bargain
Normal in markets, not supermarkets.
pay
Thanh toán
pay / payment
Useful at checkout.
bill
Hoá đơn
bill / receipt
Also written hóa đơn.
exchange
Đổi
exchange
Use when changing an item.
return
Trả
return / pay
Context decides return or pay.
Ready for the next step?
Mark this task complete, then continue without going back to the checklist.
Day 37 speaking skill
Speaking skill: ask price and bargain
Build a polite market exchange from price to discount to payment.
Ask
Cái này bao nhiêu tiền?
How much is this?
Point to the item while asking.
Lower price
Rẻ hơn được không?
Can it be cheaper?
Ask for a lower price.
Pay
Tôi muốn thanh toán
I want to pay
Useful at the end of a purchase.
Ready for the next step?
Mark this task complete, then continue without going back to the checklist.
Day 37 grammar focus
Grammar note: Cái này bao nhiêu tiền?
Cái này points to this item. Bao nhiêu tiền asks how much money.
This item
Cái này bao nhiêu tiền?
How much is this?
Use while pointing to an item.
That item
Cái kia bao nhiêu tiền?
How much is that?
Use for an item farther away.
Ready for the next step?
Mark this task complete, then continue without going back to the checklist.
Day 37 roleplay
Exercise: roleplay buying at a market
Practice one full market exchange: ask price, bargain once, then pay.
1
Ask price
Cái này bao nhiêu tiền?
How much is this?
Point to the item while asking.
2
React
Đắt quá
Too expensive
Say it lightly when bargaining.
3
Bargain
Giảm giá được không?
Can you discount it?
A polite bargaining line.
4
Buy
Tôi lấy cái này
I will take this one
Use after choosing an item.
Ready for the next step?
Mark this task complete, then continue without going back to the checklist.
Real situations
Ask the price
Start with price questions for this item, that item, per kilo, or per piece.
Price first, then quantity.
Choose quantity
Use common market quantities for pieces and produce.
Một ký and nửa ký are more useful than many textbook food words.
Check quality
Ask whether fruit or produce is ripe, sweet, fresh, or the good kind.
Xoài chín chưa? Cái này chín chưa? Cái này ngọt không? Cái này tươi không? Cho tôi loại ngon Cho tôi chọn được không?
These questions help the seller choose better items for you.
Bargain or refuse
Use short bargaining phrases without sounding angry, and refuse softly when needed.
Mắc quá Đắt quá Bớt được không? Giảm giá được không? Tôi chỉ xem thôi Tôi lấy cái này Cho tôi cái kia
Smile and keep the phrase light.
Pay and bag items
Clarify cash or card, ask for the right bag, or close politely.
Trả bằng thẻ được không? Trả tiền mặt Cho tôi túi Cho tôi túi lớn Không lấy túi Tui không cần Cảm ơn
Tui is casual southern speech; tôi is safer if you want neutral speech.
All phrases
Play normal audio first, then slow audio, then save only the phrases you will actually need.
Bao nhiêu tiền?
How much is it?
The key market phrase.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Bao bao level Keep the voice steady and level. nhiêu nhieu level Keep the voice steady and level. tiền tien falling Keep the final n short.
Vietnamese spelling
Bao → bờ ao bao
nhiêu → nhờ iêu nhiêu
tiền → tờ iên tiên huyền tiền
Bao nhiêu một ký?
How much per kilo?
Useful for fruit and vegetables.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Bao bao level Keep the voice steady and level. nhiêu nhieu level Keep the voice steady and level. một mot heavy Drop the voice low and short. ký ky rising Lift the voice upward.
Vietnamese spelling
Bao → bờ ao bao
nhiêu → nhờ iêu nhiêu
một → mờ ôt môt nặng một
ký → cờ y ky sắc ký
Mắc quá
Too expensive
Common bargaining phrase.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Mắc mac rising Lift the voice upward. quá qua rising Qu is closer to kw than English q.
Vietnamese spelling
Mắc → mờ ăc măc sắc Mắc
quá → quờ a qua sắc quá
Bớt được không?
Can you lower the price?
Polite bargaining.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Bớt bot rising Lift the voice upward. được duoc heavy Đ starts like English d; do not say z. không khong level Keep the voice steady and level.
Vietnamese spelling
Bớt → bờ ơt bơt sắc Bớt
được → đờ ươc đươc nặng được
không → khờ ông không
Tôi lấy cái này
I will take this one
Use while pointing.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Tôi toi level Keep the voice steady and level. lấy lay rising Lift the voice upward. cái cai rising Lift the voice upward. này nay falling Let the voice fall gently.
Vietnamese spelling
Tôi → tờ ôi tôi
lấy → lờ ây lây sắc lấy
cái → cờ ai cai sắc cái
này → nờ ay nay huyền này
Cho tôi cái kia
Please give me that one
Use when pointing farther away.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Cho cho level Keep the voice steady and level. tôi toi level Keep the voice steady and level. cái cai rising Lift the voice upward. kia kia level Keep the voice steady and level.
Vietnamese spelling
Cho → chờ o cho
tôi → tờ ôi tôi
cái → cờ ai cai sắc cái
kia → cờ ia kia
Nửa ký
Half a kilo
Useful for fruit and food.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Nửa nua dipping Dip slightly, then recover. ký ky rising Lift the voice upward.
Vietnamese spelling
Nửa → nờ ưa nưa hỏi Nửa
ký → cờ y ky sắc ký
Một ký
One kilo
Common quantity.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Một mot heavy Drop the voice low and short. ký ky rising Lift the voice upward.
Vietnamese spelling
Một → mờ ôt môt nặng Một
ký → cờ y ky sắc ký
Cho tôi túi
Please give me a bag
Useful after buying.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Cho cho level Keep the voice steady and level. tôi toi level Keep the voice steady and level. túi tui rising Lift the voice upward.
Vietnamese spelling
Cho → chờ o cho
tôi → tờ ôi tôi
túi → tờ ui tui sắc túi
Không lấy túi
No bag
Useful if avoiding plastic.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Không khong level Keep the voice steady and level. lấy lay rising Lift the voice upward. túi tui rising Lift the voice upward.
Vietnamese spelling
Không → khờ ông không
lấy → lờ ây lây sắc lấy
túi → tờ ui tui sắc túi
Tui không cần
I do not need it
Casual southern refusal.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Tui tui level Keep the voice steady and level. không khong level Keep the voice steady and level. cần can falling Keep the final n short.
Vietnamese spelling
Tui → tờ ui tui
không → khờ ông không
cần → cờ ân cân huyền cần
Cảm ơn
Thank you
Close the interaction warmly.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Cảm cam dipping Dip slightly, then recover. ơn on level Keep the final n short.
Vietnamese spelling
Cảm → cờ am cam hỏi Cảm
ơn → ơn
Cái này bao nhiêu?
How much is this?
Pointing price question.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Cái cai rising Lift the voice upward. này nay falling Let the voice fall gently. bao bao level Keep the voice steady and level. nhiêu nhieu level Keep the voice steady and level.
Vietnamese spelling
Cái → cờ ai cai sắc Cái
này → nờ ay nay huyền này
bao → bờ ao bao
nhiêu → nhờ iêu nhiêu
Cái kia bao nhiêu?
How much is that?
Farther item price question.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Cái cai rising Lift the voice upward. kia kia level Keep the voice steady and level. bao bao level Keep the voice steady and level. nhiêu nhieu level Keep the voice steady and level.
Vietnamese spelling
Cái → cờ ai cai sắc Cái
kia → cờ ia kia
bao → bờ ao bao
nhiêu → nhờ iêu nhiêu
Bao nhiêu một cái?
How much per item?
Per-item price.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Bao bao level Keep the voice steady and level. nhiêu nhieu level Keep the voice steady and level. một mot heavy Drop the voice low and short. cái cai rising Lift the voice upward.
Vietnamese spelling
Bao → bờ ao bao
nhiêu → nhờ iêu nhiêu
một → mờ ôt môt nặng một
cái → cờ ai cai sắc cái
Lấy hai cái
I will take two
Quantity phrase.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Lấy lay rising Lift the voice upward. hai hai level Keep the voice steady and level. cái cai rising Lift the voice upward.
Vietnamese spelling
Lấy → lờ ây lây sắc Lấy
hai → hờ ai hai
cái → cờ ai cai sắc cái
Lấy ba cái
I will take three
Quantity phrase.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Lấy lay rising Lift the voice upward. ba ba level Keep the voice steady and level. cái cai rising Lift the voice upward.
Vietnamese spelling
Lấy → lờ ây lây sắc Lấy
ba → bờ a ba
cái → cờ ai cai sắc cái
Lấy nửa ký
I will take half a kilo
Quantity phrase.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Lấy lay rising Lift the voice upward. nửa nua dipping Dip slightly, then recover. ký ky rising Lift the voice upward.
Vietnamese spelling
Lấy → lờ ây lây sắc Lấy
nửa → nờ ưa nưa hỏi nửa
ký → cờ y ky sắc ký
Xoài chín chưa?
Are the mangoes ripe yet?
Produce quality.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Xoài xoai falling Let the voice fall gently. chín chin rising Keep the final n short. chưa chua level Keep the voice steady and level.
Vietnamese spelling
Xoài → xờ oai xoai huyền Xoài
chín → chờ in chin sắc chín
chưa → chờ ưa chưa
Cái này chín chưa?
Is this ripe yet?
General produce question.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Cái cai rising Lift the voice upward. này nay falling Let the voice fall gently. chín chin rising Keep the final n short. chưa chua level Keep the voice steady and level.
Vietnamese spelling
Cái → cờ ai cai sắc Cái
này → nờ ay nay huyền này
chín → chờ in chin sắc chín
chưa → chờ ưa chưa
Cái này ngọt không?
Is this sweet?
Fruit question.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Cái cai rising Lift the voice upward. này nay falling Let the voice fall gently. ngọt ngot heavy Start with the back-of-mouth ng sound. không khong level Keep the voice steady and level.
Vietnamese spelling
Cái → cờ ai cai sắc Cái
này → nờ ay nay huyền này
ngọt → ngờ ot ngot nặng ngọt
không → khờ ông không
Cái này tươi không?
Is this fresh?
Quality question.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Cái cai rising Lift the voice upward. này nay falling Let the voice fall gently. tươi tuoi level Keep the voice steady and level. không khong level Keep the voice steady and level.
Vietnamese spelling
Cái → cờ ai cai sắc Cái
này → nờ ay nay huyền này
tươi → tờ ươi tươi
không → khờ ông không
Cho tôi loại ngon
Give me the good kind
Ask seller to choose.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Cho cho level Keep the voice steady and level. tôi toi level Keep the voice steady and level. loại loai heavy Drop the voice low and short. ngon ngon level Start with the back-of-mouth ng sound.
Vietnamese spelling
Cho → chờ o cho
tôi → tờ ôi tôi
loại → lờ oai loai nặng loại
ngon → ngờ on ngon
Cho tôi chọn được không?
Can I choose?
Picking items.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Cho cho level Keep the voice steady and level. tôi toi level Keep the voice steady and level. chọn chon heavy Keep the final n short. được duoc heavy Đ starts like English d; do not say z. không khong level Keep the voice steady and level.
Vietnamese spelling
Cho → chờ o cho
tôi → tờ ôi tôi
chọn → chờ on chon nặng chọn
được → đờ ươc đươc nặng được
không → khờ ông không
Đắt quá
Too expensive
Useful synonym you may hear outside the south.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Đắt dat rising Đ starts like English d; do not say z. quá qua rising Qu is closer to kw than English q.
Vietnamese spelling
Đắt → đờ ăt đăt sắc Đắt
quá → quờ a qua sắc quá
Giảm giá được không?
Can you discount it?
Bargaining phrase.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Giảm giam dipping Dip slightly, then recover. giá gia rising Lift the voice upward. được duoc heavy Đ starts like English d; do not say z. không khong level Keep the voice steady and level.
Vietnamese spelling
Giảm → giờ am giam hỏi Giảm
giá → giờ a gia sắc giá
được → đờ ươc đươc nặng được
không → khờ ông không
Tôi chỉ xem thôi
I am just looking
Soft refusal.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Tôi toi level Keep the voice steady and level. chỉ chi dipping Dip slightly, then recover. xem xem level Keep the voice steady and level. thôi thoi level Keep the voice steady and level.
Vietnamese spelling
Tôi → tờ ôi tôi
chỉ → chờ i chi hỏi chỉ
xem → xờ em xem
thôi → thờ ôi thôi
Trả bằng thẻ được không?
Can I pay by card?
Payment question.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Trả tra dipping Dip slightly, then recover. bằng bang falling Let the voice fall gently. thẻ the dipping Dip slightly, then recover. được duoc heavy Đ starts like English d; do not say z. không khong level Keep the voice steady and level.
Vietnamese spelling
Trả → trờ a tra hỏi Trả
bằng → bờ ăng băng huyền bằng
thẻ → thờ e the hỏi thẻ
được → đờ ươc đươc nặng được
không → khờ ông không
Trả tiền mặt
Pay cash
Payment phrase.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Trả tra dipping Dip slightly, then recover. tiền tien falling Keep the final n short. mặt mat heavy Drop the voice low and short.
Vietnamese spelling
Trả → trờ a tra hỏi Trả
tiền → tờ iên tiên huyền tiền
mặt → mờ ăt măt nặng mặt
Cho tôi túi lớn
Please give me a large bag
Bag request.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Cho cho level Keep the voice steady and level. tôi toi level Keep the voice steady and level. túi tui rising Lift the voice upward. lớn lon rising Keep the final n short.
Vietnamese spelling
Cho → chờ o cho
tôi → tờ ôi tôi
túi → tờ ui tui sắc túi
lớn → lờ ơn lơn sắc lớn
Cái này bao nhiêu tiền?
How much is this?
Point to the item while asking.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Cái cai rising Lift the voice upward. này nay falling Let the voice fall gently. bao bao level Keep the voice steady and level. nhiêu nhieu level Keep the voice steady and level. tiền tien falling Keep the final n short.
Vietnamese spelling
Cái → cờ ai cai sắc Cái
này → nờ ay nay huyền này
bao → bờ ao bao
nhiêu → nhờ iêu nhiêu
tiền → tờ iên tiên huyền tiền
Cái kia bao nhiêu tiền?
How much is that?
Use for an item farther away.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Cái cai rising Lift the voice upward. kia kia level Keep the voice steady and level. bao bao level Keep the voice steady and level. nhiêu nhieu level Keep the voice steady and level. tiền tien falling Keep the final n short.
Vietnamese spelling
Cái → cờ ai cai sắc Cái
kia → cờ ia kia
bao → bờ ao bao
nhiêu → nhờ iêu nhiêu
tiền → tờ iên tiên huyền tiền
Bao nhiêu tiền?
How much is it?
The core price question.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Bao bao level Keep the voice steady and level. nhiêu nhieu level Keep the voice steady and level. tiền tien falling Keep the final n short.
Vietnamese spelling
Bao → bờ ao bao
nhiêu → nhờ iêu nhiêu
tiền → tờ iên tiên huyền tiền
Đắt
expensive
Common standard word for expensive.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Đắt dat rising Đ starts like English d; do not say z.
Vietnamese spelling
Đắt → đờ ăt đăt sắc Đắt
Rẻ
cheap
Useful price adjective.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Rẻ re dipping Dip slightly, then recover.
Vietnamese spelling
Rẻ → rờ e re hỏi Rẻ
Giảm giá
discount
Use as noun or verb phrase.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Giảm giam dipping Dip slightly, then recover. giá gia rising Lift the voice upward.
Vietnamese spelling
Giảm → giờ am giam hỏi Giảm
giá → giờ a gia sắc giá
Mặc cả
bargain
Normal in markets, not supermarkets.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Mặc mac heavy Drop the voice low and short. cả ca dipping Dip slightly, then recover.
Vietnamese spelling
Mặc → mờ ăc măc nặng Mặc
cả → cờ a ca hỏi cả
Thanh toán
pay / payment
Useful at checkout.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Thanh thanh level Keep the voice steady and level. toán toan rising Keep the final n short.
Vietnamese spelling
Thanh → thờ anh thanh
toán → tờ oan toan sắc toán
Hoá đơn
bill / receipt
Also written hóa đơn.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Hoá hoa rising Lift the voice upward. đơn don level Đ starts like English d; do not say z.
Vietnamese spelling
Hoá → hờ oa hoa sắc Hoá
đơn → đờ ơn đơn
Đổi
exchange
Use when changing an item.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Đổi doi dipping Đ starts like English d; do not say z.
Vietnamese spelling
Đổi → đờ ôi đôi hỏi Đổi
Trả
return / pay
Context decides return or pay.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Trả tra dipping Dip slightly, then recover.
Vietnamese spelling
Trả → trờ a tra hỏi Trả
Đắt quá
Too expensive
Say it lightly when bargaining.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Đắt dat rising Đ starts like English d; do not say z. quá qua rising Qu is closer to kw than English q.
Vietnamese spelling
Đắt → đờ ăt đăt sắc Đắt
quá → quờ a qua sắc quá
Giảm giá được không?
Can you discount it?
A polite bargaining line.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Giảm giam dipping Dip slightly, then recover. giá gia rising Lift the voice upward. được duoc heavy Đ starts like English d; do not say z. không khong level Keep the voice steady and level.
Vietnamese spelling
Giảm → giờ am giam hỏi Giảm
giá → giờ a gia sắc giá
được → đờ ươc đươc nặng được
không → khờ ông không
Rẻ hơn được không?
Can it be cheaper?
Ask for a lower price.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Rẻ re dipping Dip slightly, then recover. hơn hon level Keep the final n short. được duoc heavy Đ starts like English d; do not say z. không khong level Keep the voice steady and level.
Vietnamese spelling
Rẻ → rờ e re hỏi Rẻ
hơn → hờ ơn hơn
được → đờ ươc đươc nặng được
không → khờ ông không
Tôi muốn thanh toán
I want to pay
Useful at the end of a purchase.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Tôi toi level Keep the voice steady and level. muốn muon rising Keep the final n short. thanh thanh level Keep the voice steady and level. toán toan rising Keep the final n short.
Vietnamese spelling
Tôi → tờ ôi tôi
muốn → mờ uôn muôn sắc muốn
thanh → thờ anh thanh
toán → tờ oan toan sắc toán
Tôi lấy cái này
I will take this one
Use after choosing an item.
Say it
Listen first, then use these tone cues.
Tôi toi level Keep the voice steady and level. lấy lay rising Lift the voice upward. cái cai rising Lift the voice upward. này nay falling Let the voice fall gently.
Vietnamese spelling
Tôi → tờ ôi tôi
lấy → lờ ây lây sắc lấy
cái → cờ ai cai sắc cái
này → nờ ay nay huyền này
Mini dialogue
You
Bao nhiêu tiền?
How much is it?
Seller
Năm mươi nghìn.
Fifty thousand.
You
Mắc quá. Bớt được không?
Too expensive. Can you lower the price?
You
Tôi lấy cái này. Cảm ơn.
I will take this one. Thank you.
Practice ladder
- 1 Play the first phrase at normal speed once.
- 2 Play it slowly, then repeat it aloud without reading English.
- 3 Cover the Vietnamese and recall it from the situation.
- 4 Save only the phrases you would actually need this week.
- 5 Review saved phrases tomorrow before learning new ones.
Common mistakes
- Do not bargain aggressively if the item already has a fixed price.
- Do not confuse nửa ký with một ký.
- Do not use tui in every context; it is casual southern speech.
Cultural notes
- Light bargaining can be normal in markets but not in supermarkets.
- Pointing is expected when fruit or items are in front of you.
Meaning check
Quick practice
You want to ask if the seller can lower the price. What do you say?
Finish this phrasebook
Ready to mark complete?
Mark complete only after you have listened, practiced, and saved at least one useful phrase. Then continue straight to the next task.
Week 6 · Day 37 in the 90-day path
Listen to at least 3 phrases
Use normal audio first, then slow audio.
Save at least 1 phrase
Only save phrases you would actually reuse.
Finish the quiz or practice task
Check that you can recall the idea, not only read it.
Mark this page complete
Completion is manual so you stay in control.
Ready for the next step?
Mark this task complete, then continue without going back to the checklist.
Explore related pages
FAQ
How should I practice this phrasebook?
Start with the Learn these first section, listen at normal speed, repeat slowly, then save only the phrases you expect to use.
Do I need to memorize every phrase on this page?
No. Memorize the first urgent or high-frequency phrases, then use scenarios and spaced review to add the rest gradually.