Updated 11-26-11. I know there are folks out there who are looking for help with pronunciation of Vietnamese words and phrases, and are looking for accurate and easy to understand guidance and reference on how to properly pronounce certain words in Vietnamese. This post, which is Part 2 of this series, aims to help you with exactly what a word or phrase should sound like, in both Northern and Southern Vietnamese accents when appropriate.

Have a Vietnamese word or phrase you’d like to hear? Here’s what you do: Leave a comment to this post with the word(s) you would like to hear pronounced, and I’ll post a response with audio files demonstrating exactly how they should sound. Please include as much information about the words as you can, with maybe the context you found them in, their meanings (if you know), or where you encountered them. This is because with proper accent marks the same looking words may have different pronunciation and meanings altogether. This will help me say them correctly for you. This site is about pho first and foremost, but I’ll post answers to whatever inquiry received.

If you’re looking for more specific pronunciation, check out these posts:

• For the definitive guide to pronounce “pho” in complete conversational sentences with both English and Vietnamese audio: How to Pronounce Pho: You Can Say It, Pronounce Pho, Say: Phở…
• How to Order Pho in Vietnamese

Go to this link to find Part 1 of Pronunciation of Pho and Other Vietnamese Words and Phrases. A single sound can sometime confuse you even more than no sound at all. Therefore, I’m also providing full sentences to demonstrate how the words/phrases should really sound in everyday conversation. You should be able to recognize these sounds in both English and Vietnamese conversational sentences. I’ll start with something requested by Louie from the last comment from Part 1.

1. Pronounce: “Người Rừng” which literally means “jungle people.”
   • Southern accent (twice, slower then faster) then Northern (twice.)
2. Pronounce the lady’s name: “Nguyệt.”
   • Southern accent then Northern.
3. Pronounce: “Tôi nấu ăn cho gia đình tôi” which means “I cook for my family.”
   • Southern accent then Northern.
4. Pronounce: “Bún chả giò chay” which means “Vermicelli noodles with Vegetarian Spring rolls.”
   • Southern accent then Northern.
5. Pronounce: “Heo xào xả ớt” which means “Pork sautéed in Hot and Spicy Lemongrass.”
   • Southern accent then Northern.
6. Pronounce: “Bò xào xả ớt” which means “Beef sautéed in Hot and Spicy Lemongrass.”
   • Southern accent then Northern.
7. Pronounce: “nước mắm” which means “fish sauce.”
   • Southern similar to Northern, slow then faster.
8. Pronounce: “con chó, con mèo, con khỉ” which means “the dog, the cat, the monkey.”
   • Southern accent then Northern.

Pronunciation of Pho and Other Vietnamese Words and Phrases, Part 2 is a post from: Vietnamese Pho Noodles

Updated 05-16-11. Vietnamese bánh mì is not pho, of course, but I get inquiries about it so here are the pronunciations for various bánh mì types. By the way, it is spelled bánh mì (banh mi) and never bahn mi as you may see around the Internet. “Bahn mi” is an incorrect spelling.

Vietnamese banh mi, Google search results

Vietnamese bánh mì or banh mi has two main meanings. One, banh mi in general means a loaf/slice/piece of bread, most often related to the French baguette, but banh mi can also be used to describe sliced bread and other breads. It basically means bread of any kind. Two, banh mi refers to the bread stuffed with a variety of meats and Viet pickles. It is what most North Americans know as the submarine sandwich. In a Viet sandwich shop, you can buy not only the whole baguette banh mi, but also order the bread stuffed with meat sub sandwich kind of banh mi.

“Bánh” itself really has several meanings, but in this context it means any flour-, rice- or wheat-based food that is baked, cooked, or steamed (bánh ngọt means sweet cake, bánh bao means ball-shaped steamed dumpling, bánh chưng means rice cake, etc.) “Mì” also has several meanings (one of which is egg noodle) but in this context it means bột mì or wheat flour.

For a more detailed story on Vietnamese Banh Mi, head on over to read Andrea Nguyen’s post on banh mi, “Master Banh Mi Sandwich Recipe.”

Pronounce: Various types of Vietnamese bánh mì.

1. Bánh mì gà (banh mi with grilled chicken.) Southern accent then Northern accent.
2. Bánh mì trứng (banh mi with egg-omelette style.) Southern accent then Northern accent.
3. Bánh mì bì (banh mi with shredded pork.) Southern accent then Northern accent.
4. Bánh mì thịt nướng (banh mi with grilled pork.) Southern accent then Northern accent.
5. Bánh mì xiú mại (banh mi with pork meatballs.) Southern accent then Northern accent.
6. Bánh mì thịt nguội (banh mi with cold cuts-cured pork & pork roll.) Southern accent then Northern accent.
7. Tôi muốn ổ bánh mì chay (I would like a vegan sandwich, please.) Southern accent then Northern accent.

Thanks to Christian Belanger and Jim Fung for the request for the audio files.

If you have another type of banh mi you’d like to hear, please drop a request in the comment below. Okay this is a pho blog, so please take a poll below.

How to Say Bánh Mì (Banh Mi) Vietnamese Submarine Sandwich is a post from: Vietnamese Pho Noodles

Bánh phở is the noodle used in the Vietnamese pho dish. Reader Eric left a request over at the other post “Pronunciation of Pho and Other Vietnamese Words and Phrases” inquiring about what to say when you want to order extra Bánh Phở noodles, or a side order of pho noodles. Eric says:

hi there- i’m wondering how to pronounce the following question about ordering extra rice noodles:
có thể tôi xin có bún thêm cho một đồng đô la phụ? Tôi rất đói.
the direct translation (from google translate) is:
can i please have extra rice noodles for an extra dollar? i’m very hungry.
thanks!

Hmm Google translation helps sometimes, but not in this case.

But first let’s get something straight. In my opinion, the best thing to do is to have bánh phở added to your bowl in the kitchen before they pour in the hot pho broth. Some may prefer a side bowl of just bánh phở at your table, but if you think about it, you’ll want everything in the bowl before the broth is poured in. This is because bánh phở needs to cook with the rest of the other pho ingredients in the bowl. Even if the pho noodles are blanched and then served in a separate side bowl at your table, you’ll have to immediately put it in your bowl. Otherwise if you leave it in the side bowl while enjoying the main portion first, the side noodles will continue to cook on the inside and get all lumped up and mushed together, and will become cold and dry on the outside, all while your broth is cooling in your bowl as well. Anyway if you must then you must, but I recommend extra bánh phở inside the bowl, not outside.

Note that Eric’s message implies that he wants certain quantity (a dollar’s worth) of pho noodles. As far as I know, most pho restaurants either charge one price for sides or none at all. So specifying a dollar amount’s worth of banh pho may not work well in most situations. Also there is absolutely nothing wrong with the “very hungry” part, but I’ll leave that part out of the audio files as well. If someone really must have the “I’m very hungry” then please leave a request in the comment, I’ll do it then.

As requested by Eric, below are 3 variations of ordering extra pho noodles when you’re in a restaurant. The variation between each phrase is very minimal, but the impact can be major. They range from more formal to casual ordering tones.

Pronounce: Ordering extra bánh phở noodles with your phở.

• More formal. Xin cho thêm bánh phở (Please add/give more banh pho noodles.) Southern accent once, then Northern accent twice.
• Neutral. Cho tôi thêm bánh phở (Add/give me more banh pho noodles.) Southern then Northern accent.
• Casual. Cho thêm bánh phở (Add/give more banh pho noodles.) Southern then Northern accent. 

Thanks for the question Eric!

So have you ordered anything extra with your pho? Take the poll below.

How to Order Extra Bánh Phở Noodles With Your Pho is a post from: Vietnamese Pho Noodles

Updated 10-31-09. Here’s a unique YouTube video telling an important story about a great pho family in Vietnam. It made my list of top phở videos (Great Vietnamese Pho YouTube Videos Worth Seeing.) It’s narrated in Vietnamese, so not surprisingly it has a very limited audience. I think non-Viet speaking pho lovers will find it fascinating just like I did. For this reason, even though the audio is quite degraded, I was able to make a loose transcription of the video to share with everyone. Some specific audio details may be lost, but I believe the overall meanings are still intact.

The whole program is more than 16 minutes but hamivovn, the YouTube uploader of this video, had to break it into two 8-minute parts, because YouTube only allows 10 minutes maximum per video upload. So here’s part one, beginning with the video itself, followed by my loose transcript. Time stamps in brackets [ ] match video timecodes for easy reference.

Video: Phở by the Multigenerational Cồ Family (currently 3rd, 4th and 5th generation,) from Town of Nam Định, Near Hà Nội (part 1.) Narrated in Vietnamese.

Phở Cồ is pronounced

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P513niljeMg

The Co Family and Pho Hanoi

Early morning in the old copper antique row Hàng Đồng, the small shop at the crossroad of Hang Tai and Hang Dong seems completely hidden among the constant noisy of the surrounding commerce activites.

The large block of well-done beef steak for many years has come to symbolize the inviting sign that welcomes customers to the many Hanoi pho shops.

The large vat with soup stock as clear as rain water just comes to its boiling point.

Every morning, as the air is still full of morning dew, the shop owner and his wife together with their children begin their daily chores as owners of a pho shop. This is hard work.

This is the family business that has passed down to them through 3-4 generations.

The smokes and steams from boiling vats are the signs that easily identify these family-owned shops as the famous pho shops of Hanoi. The fragrance of the familiar pho and its tasty beef always seem to bond themselves to their server’s presence, in their hair and in their clothes.

Known as the multigenerational pho of Nam Dinh, there’s only one kind of pho: beef pho or phở bò.

[1;32] The family Cồ started from the village Vân Cù, district of Nam Trực in the town of Nam Định. This man’s father, Mr. Phở Chiêu, or elder Cồ Như Chiêu, opened this pho shop, called Hàng Phở Đồng (or Pho Hang Dong,) among the copper antique row since the middle of the 20th century, and handed it down for him and his wife to take over the business to this day. Mr. Phở Chiêu himself was in fact the first-born son of grandfather Phở Cồ, who brought his pho from Nam Dinh to make a living in Hanoi back at the beginning of the 20th century.

Like any other well-known pho shops in Hanoi, Hàng Phở Đồng not only has many regular customers, but always attracts many more new customers all the time.

[2:15] Like this guest. Every morning he walks 5-7 km to come to Pho Hang Dong in order to enjoy a bowl of authentic Phở Chiêu, as the pho is still called.

Guest Mr. Nguyen Huu Tho says: “The pho here is very good, fragrant, the noodle is so soft. I like it so much [undecipherable audio].”

Sitting at the same table is a visitor [undecipherable] of Phở Chiêu. Guest Mr. Duong Dinh Thien says: “I came here to eat ever since the day when it was still called Phở Chiêu, who was the father of the current owner. Now I still come quite often. The pho here has a special characteristic that is just the perfect taste for us.”

Like many third-generation decendents of the family Co from Nam Dinh now in Hanoi, the shop owner Mr. Việt and his wife are very popular among many customers, owing to the experience and discipline passed down from his father before him.

[3:30] Mr. Cồ Như Việt says: “Since I was small, I have followed them [his parents] everywhere to work this business. Now in my 50′s, you can say that I know the business inside out, of course because of what they have taught us and left for us. My brothers, all running famous pho shops around Hanoi, have also followed the family business. Both our father’s and mother’s sides have been successful and dependent on this profession. All the other well-known pho shops from Nam Dinh in the old days have also made their ways here [to Hanoi] to work and help their family business to prosper.”

Mr. Việt: ”The way to maintain the delicious taste, first off, one must possess a real passion for the profession. You cannot use tricks, you cannot be deceitful, or use other schemes, in order to achieve a delicious bowl of pho, with delicious broth, and fragrant meats.”

[4:27] So then as it turns out, almost all the pho Nam Dinh in Hanoi have come from the same family of the village Van Cu, district Nam Trực in the town of Nam Dinh.

It has been known among Hanoians that in Hanoi there are 2 famous pho shops. They are the family Canh Diễn from the province Hà Tây, represented by the pho shop Pho Thìn by Hoan Kiem Lake, and the pho shop Tư Lùn in the Hai Ba Trung district. Today descendants of the Canh Dien family from Ha Tay, and many other pho chefs trained by both families, also operated dozens of pho shops around the streets of Hanoi. Not surprisingly, the 2 original pho shops on Dinh Tien Hoang and Hai Ba Trung streets still maintain business operation regularly.

By the 1990′s into 2000′s, the pho family from Nam Dinh has surpassed pho from Ha Tay in operation and popularity. The children of the family Co’s third-, fourth- and fifth-generation, and their families, have, are and will gain the majority of the pho market.

[5:41] This is the pho shop Cồ Cử on Van Hieu Street as it appeared in the mid 1990′s. The owner, Cồ Hữu Cử, though having the same surname, is actually of the same descent but by a different lineage from the descendants of Mr. Pho Hung [?]

Also from Nam Dinh, he had been in the profession for many years in Hanoi under the name Pho Co Cu, and his shop has also become quite famous. For Co Cu, finding a stable location to operate his pho business has not been easy, and at times the challenges seem insurmountable. But he is not one who is easily discouraged, like the old saying: “lửa thử vàng, gian nan thử sức,” a phrase that loosely means “when the going gets tough, the tough gets going.”

[6:29] Recently Co Cu has taken his pho shop to a new location on Nguyen Chi Khanh Street, and has been doing well. It’s only 9 AM, yet many of his vats have already emptied. His broth is so well brewed that, although down to the last few ladles, the liquid itself is still clear and full of fragrance and flavors, its quality just like the full vats of Pho Hang Dong in early morning.

Another unique characteristic of the family Co pho lies in the wide and long strands the pho noodle, or banh pho.

[7:01] Mr. Co Cu: “The banh pho itself has been passed down from the ancestors, and truthfully, today in Hanoi one can probably count only a few banh pho makers that make the family-style noodles like ours. These banh pho have been cut by hand, they’re always large in size, and they go together very well with the pho broth.”

“To tell the truth, our shop here may be at a disadvantage when it comes to economics, but really we do have our reputation.”

[7:46] It’s not until the afternoon when customers have thinned out a bit that Mr. Co Cu then has a few relaxing minutes to greet and chat with his special guests. Visiting today are Mr. Phở Hùng, an uncle of Mr. Co Cu, and Nguyen Dinh Rao, a specialist in Vietnamese cuisine studies and President of Unesco Club of Gastronomy.

You can view part 2: ”Pho Dynasty: Pho Hanoi by the Multigenerational Co Family from Town of Nam Dinh, Part 2.”

To read more about events and people related to this video’s production, check out these articles:

• An Interview with Chef Didier Corlou on Vietnamese Pho and Cuisine
• Chef Didier Corlou, A Passion for Pho and Vietnamese Cuisine
• Pho by Chef Didier Corlou

Pho Nam Dinh: Pho Hanoi by the Multigenerational Co Family from Town of Nam Dinh, Part 1 is a post from: Vietnamese Pho Noodles

I received a number of requests for pronunciation of “Bún Bò Huế” and “Hủ Tiếu Nam Vang.” Bún Bò Huế or Bun Bo Hue is the spicy beef noodle dish with larger round noodle, pork hocks and coagulated pork blood. It’s originated in Central Vietnam and named after the old capital Huế. Hủ Tiếu Nam Vang or Hu Tieu Nam Vang, on the other hand, is the Vietnamese hu tieu Phnom Penh-style noodle, originated in the south but (obviously) with Phnom Penh influence.

Here are audio files on how to say Bún Bò Huế and Hủ Tiếu Nam Vang in Vietnamese. As always I included both southern and northern accents.

• Pronounce: Bún Bò Huế (Hue-style spicy beef noodle)
  
• Pronounce: Hủ Tiếu Nam Vang (hu tieu Phnom Penh-style noodle)
  

I’m ready to order one of these today.

How to Pronounce Bun Bo Hue and Hu Tieu Nam Vang is a post from: Vietnamese Pho Noodles

The pho menu needs a major improvement or facelift. Pho noodle itself is great, but the pho menu needs to get with the 21st century. Here’s why.

Existing Pho Menu - Too Many Choices

Vietnamese pho is poised for an explosive growth around the world; it already started by some estimates. Pho as a dish should retain its authenticity, taste and tradition, but the pho menu needs to be upgraded if pho stands any chance of really going global and staying global. Pho menu needs a better appeal to a wider audiences outside of the Viet communities.

Too Many Unnecessary Choices

Starting in North Vietnam, Pho Bac or Northern Pho is pretty much available at street vendors as a single dish. Once brought to the South in 1945, pho took on more elaborate form with many options of meat and garnishes added. Pho restaurants in the South present customers with a menu that include all combination and permutation possible of the same pho bowl. Forty five years later the same practice continues, as it migrated with Viet immigrants to all corners of the globe.

Looking at the pho restaurant market, there are really only 2 groups of pho customers: one already knows pho, the other does not.

The fact is, when ordering pho, Vietnamese and many many non-Viet diners do not need to look at the menu. On rare occasions, he/she (more likely a she through my observations) may want something else for that meal, thus he/she wants to look at the pho menu. But for the vast majority of us, we know what we’re there for.

Much Improved, More Simplification Still Needed, Pho Hoa Franchise Menu Page 3

The Trouble With Current Pho Menus

So what’s the real problem? Considering the non-Viet clientele and those new to pho, let’s start with these:

• Too many choices. Too many combinations and permutations of the same thing as already described above.
• Unfamiliar ingredients and terminologies. Let’s face it, pho is ethnic food outside of Vietnam, definitely in the U.S. Facing the challenge of conveying pho and its ingredients in English terms, early Viet immigrants did okay by strictly translating ingredients. At times these translations are a little too literally and may not be suitable for menu use.
• Culturally “unconventional,” odd, strange and scary meat parts. Many meat ingredients in pho are nonexistent on an American or Western dinner plate. When you talk about diners taking a “risk” to try the tendon, tripe, etc., you pretty much just created an obstacle in helping pho expand in popularity.
• Lack of explanation on proper use of garnishes. Thai basil, culantro and bean sprouts are important pho experiences, along with the chili sauce and hoisin sauce for pho. “Foreign” diners are left on their own to figure these out by themselves.
• Missing chicken meat choices for chicken pho. Beef pho is the king of pho, but chicken pho is very good too. On most menus chicken pho may be mentioned as a single item. This is true even for restaurants well known for their chicken pho! What more, that single chicken pho item is listed as the last item under the beef pho menu. Pho restaurants in the U.S. are missing an opportunity to sell thousands of chicken pho bowls to non-red meat diners.

Good Explanation of Ingredients and Options, Pho Hoa Franchise Menu Page 4

What Is Pho Really?

Why not just tell or show what pho really is? If you really look at it, pho is quite simple to serve and to order, and the menu should reflect this fact. Any bowl of pho (pho bo or pho ga) consistently contains the following:

• Pho noodle, or bánh phở: the square variety of rice noodle.
• From-the-kitchen garnishes: the standard chopped green onions (scallions) and cilantro.
• Pho broth: either beef or chicken broth option.
• Choice of meats: various beef or chicken meats. Chicken pho has many options or choices of chicken meats and parts as well, but these are excluded or omitted outright.

Once served at the table, diners can further customize with additional garnishes and sauces. That’s it. There are not 20 or 25 pho dishes to choose from.

Pho Menu For Mainstream Appeal

Existing pho menus can benefit from a good facelift. A very attractive design, with clear explanation, and great graphical elements will help take pho menus, and pho itself, mainstream. Content-wise, solution for a better pho menu should consist of the following characteristics:

1. Simplify description of pho choices. Keep it easy to understand.
2. Explain ingredients and their terminologies. Add photos or other helpful visual cues.
3. Describe unfamiliar meat choices and meat parts. Elaborate on their tastes, textures, etc. and why they’re important to pho.
4. Provide instructions on how to enjoy the garnishes and sauces. Present brief dos and don’ts.
5. Provide clear options for phở gà or chicken pho. Add a separate section for chicken pho and give it the same level of attention as beef pho section.

Several pho restaurants already made attempts to improve their menus, most probably to differentiate from the competition and/or to appeal to more clientele. In doing so they are (deliberately or inadvertently) taking their pho menus in the right direction. For now these are the exception rather than the rule though, and it will take more to go mainstream.

David McGaw's Repaired Pho Menu

Pho Hoa (the franchise) incorporated some innovative features in their menu, which are very helpful for pho diners. See the graphics above.

To the right is another great example. It’s David McGaw‘s repaired pho menu. It’s got many elements that can provide inspiration for improved pho menus. Read his full write-up on pho menu.

So pho restaurants, having a large pho menu does not equate to having quality pho – the two are mutually independent. But having clear and easy to understand pho menu will improve your clientele’s pho experience, and will definitely attract new business.

Pho franchises should take note.

Improving the Pho Menu For Mainstream Appeal is a post from: Vietnamese Pho Noodles

Updated 08-04-10. Per a request from Barb Carter over at the “Tips on Ordering Pho” post, here are audio files to help with your pho ordering in Vietnamese language. The selection is based on a typical pho menu one may find at many Viet restaurants. So drop me a note in the comment if I missed anything and I’ll add it.

First a few words about convention. In Vietnamese, the word “tô” means “bowl.” When ordering a bowl of pho tai, for example, a Viet would call a “tô phở tái” or just “tô tái.” If you’re already in a pho restaurant, then saying “phở” is redundant and is really not necessary (but optionally okay.) If you’re in a Viet restaurant that also serves pho, then ordering a ”tô phở tái’ would be more appropriate to make it clear that you want pho and not another dish. So for those who find saying pho a little challenging, “tô” will solve your problem!

Note: The “t” in “tô” pronounces as a hard t like in French (e.g., Tour de France) or in Spanish (e.g., Latino,) and not like a soft t in English (i.e., tow truck.)

For pho bo or beef pho, as noted in “Tips on Ordering Pho,” the seemingly endless pho options on the menu are really permutation and combination of the available meat cuts and types that you can mix and match. The most common options are:

• bo chin (sliced well-done steak),
• bo tai (sliced rare steak),
• nam (flank),
• ve don (crunchy flank),
• gau (fatty brisket),
• gan (tendon),
• sach (tripe) and
• bo vien (beef meatballs, normally with tendon).

So without further ado, here is the audio pho menu. As always each has the Southern Viet accent followed by Northern Viet accent.

1. Pronounce: Tô Đặc Biệt Xe Lửa (pho dac biet xe lua) – special (combo) large
   size pho
2. Pronounce: Tô Đặc Biệt (pho dac biet) – special (combo) regular size pho
3. Pronounce: Tô Tái, Nạm, Gầu, Gân, Sách (pho Tai, Nam, Gau, Gan, Sach) -
   rare steak, flank, fatty brisket, tendon, tripe pho
4. Pronounce: Tô Chín, Nạm, Gầu, Gân, Sách (pho Chin, Nam, Gau, Gan, Sach)
   - well-done steak, flank, fatty brisket, tendon, tripe pho
5. Pronounce: Tô Tái, Chín, Gầu, Gân, Sách (pho Tai, Chin, Gau, Gan, Sach)
   - rare steak, well-done steak, fatty brisket, tendon, tripe pho
6. Pronounce: Tô Tái, Chín, Nạm, Gân, Sách (pho Tai, Chin, Nam, Gan, Sach)
   - rare steak, well-done steak, flank, tendon, tripe pho
7. Pronounce: Tô Tái, Nạm, Gân, Sách (pho Tai, Nam, Gan, Sach) – rare steak,
   flank, tendon, tripe pho
8. Pronounce: Tô Tái (pho Tai) – rare steak pho
9. Pronounce: Tô Chín (pho Chin) – well-done steak pho
10. Pronounce: Tô Tái, Chín (pho Tai, Chin) – rare steak, well-done steak pho
11. Pronounce: Tô Tái, Nạm, Gân (pho Tai, Nam, Gan) – rare steak, flank, tendon
    pho
12. Pronounce: Tô Tái, Nạm, Sách (pho Tai, Nam, Sach) – rare steak, flank,
    tripe pho
13. Pronounce: Tô Nạm, Vè Dòn (pho Nam, Ve Don) – flank, crunchy flank pho
14. Pronounce: Tô Chín, Nạm, Vè Dòn (pho Chin, Nam, Ve Don) – well-done steak,
    flank, crunchy flank pho
15. Pronounce: Tô Tái, Gầu (pho Tai, Gau) – rare steak, fatty brisket pho
16. Pronounce: Tô Tái, Nạm (pho Tai, Nam) – rare steak, flank pho
17. Pronounce: Tô Tái, Gân (pho Tai, Gan) – rare steak, tendon pho
18. Pronounce: Tô Tái, Sách (pho Tai, Sach) – rare steak, tripe pho
19. Pronounce: Tô Bò Viên (Southern)/Tô Phở Bò Viên (Northern) (pho with meatballs) – Viet meatball pho
20. Pronounce: Nước béo (fatty broth) – Southern/Northern similar

Pho Pronunciation – How to Order Pho in Vietnamese is a post from: Vietnamese Pho Noodles

There are probably 2 reasons why a non-Viet speaking person wants to know how to pronounce phở. The obvious reason is to be able to order your favorite dish at the restaurant. The other is to be able to talk about and share it with others about your own satisfying gastronomic experience. Being able to do both well becomes the third reason. Why? Because we’re social creatures, and enjoying and sharing food experience is the best satisfaction of all social experiences. But it can be tricky.

So reading the article on Pho Pronunciation still leaves you confused? And “Tips on Ordering Pho” still gives you pause? Well a few readers felt the same way. In fact some indicated to me that they’re still confused, if not more confused, because they still hear different pronunciations of phở. Non-Viet speakers are really looking for something consistent sounding and repeatable, and what they hear from the different sources (including my own on this site) just don’t sound the same and therefore not duplicable.

On Pronouncing Pho

Here are a few things to keep in mind when listening to pho pronunciation while trying to learn to say it.

1. People just don’t speak the same way. Consider how tough it would be for a non-English speaker to learn American English from a New Yorker, a Louisianan and maybe a Californian. The accents alone would be confusing and to the untrained ears, the same word will sound differently depending on whom you talk to. This is why I recorded the audio files in both Northern and Southern Vietnamese, the 2 most prominent Viet accents, when applicable,.
2. It’s one thing to show how a single word sounds, it’s another to demonstrate how it should sound in conversational sentences. Demonstrating how a word sounds in a sentence is the only way for the listener to understand and recognize the word in practical scenarios. A single sound can’t help you speak another language. This is why I recorded the audio files in single word pronunciation plus in complete sentences, often with slower then faster rates of speech.
3. A word such as phở can be used in both Vietnamese and English sentences. There’s no translation for it from Viet to English. A native Vietnamese speaker (especially one with good command of English) will tend to say phở differently when speaking in Viet and in English sentences. This means he/she says phở the correct way when conversing with other Vietnamese, but inadvertently adjusts the pronunciation in such a way to sound ‘normal’ in English, which results in the added confusion. This is why I recorded both Vietnamese and English phrases with phở pronunciation spoken in Viet accent throughout. It’s the only way to get consistency.

So the best thing is to provide consistent, repeatable, varying and practical usage and scenarios, which I attempt to do with the series of audio recordings. My hope is that, with the various ways and context that phở is spoken, the listener will understand and find a way to say phở in his/her own way, correct but different. It’s the same way a Northern Viet and Southern Viet understand each other: we know the word and how it should sound, we know the context in which the word is used, and we know the other person’s accent, so our ears can make the proper adjustments. That’s exactly how we understand each other. I guess that’s why communication is both an art and a science.

On Ordering Pho

Alright, so here are some final thoughts. You may get a funny look from the order taker while trying to order pho in a restaurant. What do you do? Your situation will probably fall in one of these 3 scenarios:

• You’re really mangling the Viet word very very badly, in which case a little more practice is in order. Just have a fun moment and keep trying while pointing at the item on the menu. Absolutely resist the urge to order by the number. Even when the order taker says, “oh you mean number 3?”, just say “that’s right, phở tái chín sách, please.” Practice makes perfect.
• You’re pronouncing your pho selection to perfection that any Viet-speaking person would be proud of, yet the order taker still looks baffled. It may be that he/she didn’t expect such fluent Viet language coming out of your mouth. So just give him/her time to recover, and try again.
• You know you did okay with the pronunciation, but still feel like a fool because the order taker just wouldn’t understand you. He/she may be just messing with you and trying to put you back in your place (where a non-Viet speaking person belongs, i.e. ordering by numbers.) But don’t fret or give up. As a last resort, politely point to the item, smile and say it again. You’ll get what you want. Plus a little respect too.

Pronouncing Pho and Ordering Pho For the Confused and the Timid is a post from: Vietnamese Pho Noodles

Ordering pho has always been a baffling matter to many. A pho menu, for the unacquainted, will seem like a mishmash of words that are as good as gibberish. And what’s with all those numbered choices of combination and permutation of ingredients?

In an attempt to help an unfamiliar customer order a bowl of pho, Vietnamese restaurants inadvertently make their menus more complex than needed. But if you love pho, then knowing how to order pho is a must. It’s pretty easy if you just keep these 3 things in mind: how much pho you want (regular or large size bowl), what the ingredients on the menu means, and which ones you like.

Which Bowl Size?

Bowl sizes come in small or regular called “nho” or “nhỏ”, large or “lon” (“lớn”), special or dac biet, and the locomotive/train size bowl or xe lua. The train bowl is for the adventurous pho connoisseur, and it is also quite large for the average eater.

Beef Pho or Chicken Pho?

The two main types of pho are pho bo and pho ga, or beef pho and chicken pho, respectively. Depending on the restaurant you choose, you may also come across vegetarian pho, and semi-vegetarian pho dishes such as seafood pho or shrimp pho, as called by a few restaurants. In actuality, these non-beef and non-chicken soup noodle dishes are really “hu tieu” and not pho. For a good definition of pho, read the articles “What is Vietnamese Pho?” and “The History and Evolution of Pho.”

So take your pick: beef pho or chicken pho.

What Beef Parts Do You Like?

For beef pho, you have a variety of beef parts to choose as the ingredients of your beef pho. The most basic meat that you can have added to your beef pho is sliced rare beef steak, which is called “bo tai” (“bò tái” or just “tái.”) This is an ideal choice for first time pho eaters. It’s not too exotic, tastes great and represents the typical minimal pho very well.

However, if you want something closer to the classic beef pho, choose ingredients such as “nam” (or “nạm”) or sliced beef flank in addition to “tai.” This means that you could order a pho dish called “pho tai nam” and you’re good to go. So to stay simple: pho tai, pho nam, or pho tai nam. Pretty easy.

Outside of these two most basic beef cuts, there are a lot more exotic beef parts such as “gân” or tendon, “sách” or tripe, “chín” or brisket, vè dòn or crunchy flank, gầu or fatty flank, chín nạc or sliced beef brisket, and bò viên or meatballs. The meatballs in a pho dish are not to be likened to the meatballs you encounter in Italian pasta dishes. Pho meatballs are a bit chewy because they contain pieces of beef tendon and cartilage. Yum!

What Chicken Parts Do You Like?

If you prefer chicken pho, you also have a wide selection of chicken meat parts such as chicken back, chicken neck, chicken wings, and organs such as heart and liver, even unlaid chicken eggs. These may sound strange to non-Asians but are commonplace in Asia and very tasty. If you get a restaurant that serves free-range chicken, gives a choice of side dish of dark or white chicken meats, and serves with a side dipping fish sauce with ginger, then you are in pho ga heaven.

Try the Garnishes…

Maybe garnish is a misnomer when applied in the case of pho. Pho garnishes are not just for decoration and embellishment. You actually eat them as part of the experience.

When it comes to pho garnishes, the standard fare includes “giá” or bean sprouts, “chanh” or lime wedges, “rau quế” or basil, “hành” or scallions, “ngò” or cilantro, ”ớt” or jalapeno or Serrano chilies. Some restaurants offer more options, such as “rau ngò gai” or culantro, or sawgrass, also known as saw leaf herb. Culantro is abundant in Vietnam but harder to get in the U.S., hence it’s an option. Pho garnishes are always served with the meal, which means you do not have to order them, but knowing what they are and what they are called will help you anticipate and try them to get the taste that you want. By the way, putting garnishes in your pho is strictly a personal preference, so don’t let anyone tell you that you have to put them in your bowl.

… and The Sauces

You can also choose from various optional additions, such as the popular hot chili sauce or “tương ớt” (Sriracha brand or equivalent), hoisin sauce for pho or “tương ăn phở”. These sauces are always available at your table like salt and pepper in western restaurants. Again using the sauces is a personal choice. Many mix them directly in their pho broth, while some mix them in a small saucer for dipping the meat.

So now you are armed with the basics of pho menu with some knowledge on how to order pho. For ”advanced” pho ordering, read my article on “Tips on Ordering Pho Your Way: Just Tell Them What You Want.”

Finally, just for the fun of it, here’s Anthony Bourdain eating pho and drinking Beer 33 in Vietnam.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsSiA-JHm0U

Understanding the Pho Menu: No More Ordering Pho by the Numbers is a post from: Vietnamese Pho Noodles

Updated 08-13-11. I’m guessing that there may be folks out there who are looking for help with pronunciation of Vietnamese words and phrases, and are looking for accurate and easy to understand guidance and reference on how to properly pronounce certain words in Vietnamese. This post aims to help you with exactly what a word or phrase should sound like, in both Northern and Southern Vietnamese accents when appropriate. If you’re looking for more specific pronunciation, check out these posts:

• For the definitive guide to pronounce “pho” in complete conversational sentences with both English and Vietnamese audio: How to Pronounce Pho: You Can Say It, Pronounce Pho, Say: Phở…
• How to Order Pho in Vietnamese

Now, on with pronouncing Vietnamese words and phrases. A single sound can sometime confuse you even more than no sound at all. Therefore, I’ll also provide full sentences to demonstrate how the words/phrases should really sound in everyday conversation. You should be able to recognize these sounds in both English and Vietnamese conversational sentences. Here are some useful Vietnamese phrases in no particular order.

1. Pronounce: Pho bac – Northern style pho  
   • “This bowl of pho bac is quite big.”
   • “I eat pho bac every chance I get.”
2. Pronounce: Pho chay – vegetarian pho (Southern then Northern accents)
   • “Pho chay has no meat ingredients.”
   • “I had some pho chay just last week.”
3. Pronounce: Pho ga – chicken pho 
   • “My friend Tim eats pho ga and nothing else.”
   • “Pho ga is my sister’s favorite noodle dish.”
4. Pronounce: Pho tai – rare beef pho 
   • “My friend Mason orders pho tai every time.”
   • “Pho tai is very easy to enjoy.”
5. Pronounce: Hu tieu – a different kind of noodle dish 
   • “I’ll have some hu tieu when pho is not available.”
   • “Hu tieu uses the same noodle as pho.”
6. Pronounce: Tan Son Nhut (or Tan Son Nhat)
   • “Tan Son Nhut,” Southern Viet accent.
   • “Tan Son Nhat,” Northern Viet accent.
7. Pronounce: Hue-Saigon-Hanoi
   • “Hue-Saigon-Hanoi,” Southern Viet accent.
   • “Hue-Saigon-Hanoi,” Northern Viet accent.
8. Pronounce: Bun thit nuong cha gio (Bún thịt nướng chả giò)
   • Southern Viet accent, slow then faster.
   • Northern Viet accent, slow then faster.
9. Pronounce: Cà phê sữa đá / Cà phê sữa nóng (milk coffee, iced/hot)
   • Southern Viet accent, cà phê sữa đá.
   • Northern Viet accent, cà phê sữa đá.
   • Southern Viet accent, cà phê sữa nóng.
   • Northern Viet accent, cà phê sữa nóng.
10. Pronounce: Sữa chua (sour milk or yogurt)
    • Southern then Northern accents.
11. Pronounce: Chè sữa chua nếp cẩm (dessert: yogurt with sticky rice and coconut milk)
    • Southern Viet accent, slow then faster.
    • Northern Viet accent, slow then faster.
12. Pronounce: Dĩa tái sống (plate of uncooked sliced steak)
    • Southern then Northern accents.
13. Pronounce: Xin chúc mừng cho 50 năm hôn nhân và gia đình tuyệt vời (Happy 50th wedding anniversary and a splendid/magnificent family.) See comment #18 below.
    • Northern accent.
    • Southern accent.
14. Pronounce: Xin chúc mừng 50 năm hôn nhân và dồi dào sức khỏe, thọ lâu muôn tuổi (Happy 50th wedding anniversary, with great health and longevity.) See comment #18 below.
    • Northern accent.
    • Southern accent.
15. Pronounce: Chúc mừng sinh nhật (Happy Birthday.) See comments #20 and #21 below.
16. Pronounce: Bún Bò Huế (Hue-style spicy beef noodle). Southern then northern accent.
17. Pronounce: Hủ Tiếu Nam Vang (hu tieu Phnom Penh-style noodle). Southern then northern accent.
18. Pronounce: Bún Mắm (fermented fish soup noodle). Southern then northern accent.
19. Pronounce: Mì Quảng. Southern then northern accent.
20. Pronounce: Việt Nam. Southern then northern accent.
21. Pronounce: Xin Chúa nhận lỗi chúng con (Lord forgive our sins.) Southern then northern accent.
22. Pronounce: Chúc Mừng Năm Mới (Happy New Year.) Southern and northern accent are similar.
23. Pronounce: Bà Nội (Grandmother – maternalpaternal) and Ông Nội (Grandfather – paternal.) Southern and northern accent are similar.
24. Pronounce: Gỏi cuốn (Spring roll.) Southern then northern accents.
25. Pronounce: Đặng Thùy Trâm.
    • Southern and northern accent are similar.
26. Translate and pronounce: “Hey, just hold on there a minute!” This can be translated to several different ways in Vietnamese, depending on the context, personality and region of the speaker. Several variations are provided, but not by any means exhaustive, and each is just as valid and applicable as the other. Only southern accent is provided. First all 4 variations in written form, then audio of all 4 together.
    • 1. “Khoan, chờ một chút, từ từ đã!” “Wait, just a moment, slow down!”
    • 2. “Từ từ, chờ chút!” “Slow down, just a moment!”
    • 3. “Khoan, chờ một chút!” “Wait, just a moment!”
    • 4. “Khoan, từ từ đã, chờ một chút!” “Wait, slow down, just a moment!”
27. Pronounce: Xinh.
    • Southern then northern accent.
28. Pronounce: Cá kho tộ (clay pot fish, or braised fish in caramel.)
    • Southern and northern accents similar. Slower then faster speech.
29. Pronounce: Chúc bạn được một niềm vui và tình yêu thương (loosely translated to “I wish you joy and love.”)
    • Southern accent.
30. Pronounce: Hữu nghĩa (friendship.)
    • Southern accent. Slower then faster speech.
31. Pronounce: Ông ngoại, bà ngoại (grandpa, grandma.)
    • Southern/northern accents similar. Slower then faster speech.
32. Pronounce: Xin vui lòng yên lặng (one variation for “quiet please.”)
    • Southern accent slower then faster speech. Same for Northern accent.
33. Pronounce: Đức Huy Trần or Trần Huy Đức (for Viet names, it’s customary for the surname Tran to go first and the given name Đức goes last.)
    • Đức Huy Trần (Southern accent) then Trần Huy Đức (Southern then Northern accents.)
34. Pronounce: Phi công (pilot) and Đại uý (Army Captain)
    • Phi công – Southern and Northern accent similar, repeated twice.
    • Đại uý – Southern and Northern accent similar, slow then normal speech.
35. Pronounce: Hello, goodbye, please and thank you.
    • Chào (hello, rarely used alone as is,) chào anh (hello to young male acquaintance,) chào chị (hello to young female acquaintance) (Southern accent.)
    • Chào tạm biệt (goodbye.) (Southern then Northern accent.)
    • Vui lòng, xin vui lòng (please, each repeated twice.) (Northern accent.)
    • Cám ơn/Cảm ơn (thank you, either same meaning.) (Each with Northern then Southern accent.)
36. Pronounce: Phở áp chảo bò gà tôm (Pan fried flat rice noodle with beef, chicken, shrimp.)
    • Southern accent, slow then normal speech.
37. Pronounce: Chanh muối/soda chanh muối (salted preserved lemonade in soda.)
    • Southern accent, then Northern.
38. Pronounce: Soda chanh (fresh lemonade in soda.)
    • Southern accent twice, then Northern twice.
39. Pronounce: Sữa đậu nành (fresh soybean milk.)
    • Southern accent, then Northern.
40. Pronounce: Phù Long, Hai Phong VN (a place in North Vietnam.)
    • Southern and Northern accents similar (slow than normal speech.)
    • View Phù Long on map: View Larger Map
    • There are also other places called Phú Long (slow than normal speech.)
41. Pronounce: Bắc Ninh (Province in North Vietnam.)
    • Southern accent, then Northern.
42. Pronounce: Ordering extra bánh phở noodles with your phở in Vietnamese.
    • See “How to Order Extra Bánh Phở Noodles With Your Pho“.
43. Pronounce: Bánh da lợn (Pig skin cake, Vietnamese steamed layer cake made from tapioca starch, rice flour, mashed mung beans, taro, or durian, coconut milk and/or water, and sugar.)
    • Southern accent, then Northern.
44. Here’s a look at what bánh da lợn looks like for those not familiar.
45. Pronounce: Various types of Vietnamese bánh mì in Vietnamese.
    • See “ How to Say Bánh Mì (Banh Mi) Vietnamese Submarine Sandwich “.
46. Pronounce names of boys in orphanage requested by Kay Coombes: Trí Đức, Phước, Lương, Phong, Bình/Bính, Thanh/Thành, Thiên/Thiện, Toi (unknown/not pronounced,) Vũ, Sang, Tâm, Tân, Sơn, Nhật, Tùng, Tuấn.
    • Southern accent only.
47. Pronounce the female name Anh-Thư.
    • Southern accent, then Northern.
48. Pronounce words and names from the play “Minefields and Miniskirts” as requested by Melissa. All pronunciation in Southern accent.
    • Tự Do (freedom.)
    • Vũng Tàu (place name.)
    • Đồng Khởi.
    • Đà Nẳng (place name.)
    • Pleiku (place name.)
    • Lam Sơn (place name.)
    • Lê Lợi (Emperor of Vietnam and founder of the Later Lê Dynasty.)
    • Ban Mê Thuột (city name.)
    • Huế (place name.)
    • Giác Lâm (place name.)
    • Qui Nhơn (place name.)
    • An Khê (place name.)
    • Xanh (color green or blue.)
    • Phương (female name, different from Phượng, also female name or flower.)
49. Pronounce the female name Ngọc-Hân.
    • Southern accent, then Northern.
50. Pronounce the last name Nguyễn.
    • Southern accent (twice,) then Northern (twice.)

In cutlery section of a Little Saigon supermarket: "Please do not use knives to cut the jackfruit. Thank you."

Requests are closed for this post, but still have a Vietnamese word or phrase you’d like to hear? Here’s what you do: Go to Pronunciation of Pho and Other Vietnamese Words and Phrases, Part 2 and leave a comment to that post with the word(s) you would like to hear pronounced, and I’ll post a response with audio files demonstrating exactly how they should sound.

Pronunciation of Pho and Other Vietnamese Words and Phrases is a post from: Vietnamese Pho Noodles