How to say "你好" in Vietnamese

In Vietnamese the default greeting Xin chào works in most everyday situations, but the language is very sensitive to age, relationship, and social hierarchy. When you know the other person’s relative age or status, you usually add a kinship term (anh, chị, em, bác, cô, chú, cậu…) to show respect or familiarity. Using the wrong term can sound rude or overly formal, so start with the neutral Xin chào and adjust as you learn the person’s position.

1. General everyday greeting

• Xin chào, tôi là Linh.
  "Hello, I am Linh."

2. Greeting someone older or of higher status

• Chào anh, anh có khỏe không?
  "Hello (older brother), how are you?"
• Chào chị, chị làm việc gì hôm nay?
  "Hello (older sister), what are you working on today?"
• Chào bác, bác có thời gian không?
  "Hello (uncle/aunt), do you have a moment?"

3. Greeting a younger person or a peer you’re close to

• Chào em, hôm nay em làm gì?
  "Hi (younger), what are you doing today?"
• Chào cậu, lâu không gặp!
  "Hey, long time no see!"

4. Formal or business greeting (e.g., meetings, speeches)

• Kính chào quý vị, cảm ơn đã tham dự.
  "Dear guests, thank you for attending."
• Kính chào ông/bà, rất hân hạnh được gặp.
  "Respectful greetings, it is a pleasure to meet you."

5. Casual greeting among close friends

• Chào, bạn có rảnh không?
  "Hey, are you free?"
• Ê, tới chơi nhé!
  "Yo, come over!"