How to Learn Vietnamese: 6 Simple Steps to a Daily Study Routine

Discover 6 simple steps to learn Vietnamese effectively. Perfect for beginners and expats looking to build a daily practice routine.

Learning a new language can feel overwhelming. But with a structured approach, you can make steady progress and enjoy the process. In this guide, you’ll discover 6 simple steps to create a daily Vietnamese study routine that really works. You’ll learn how to learn Vietnamese efficiently, practice Vietnamese in real-life situations, and build confidence speaking from day one.

If you just step into Vietnamese for beginners, follow these practical tips. You’ll turn your learning into a habit, see measurable progress, and make your experience in Vietnam even more rewarding.

Step 1 – Set Clear and Realistic Goals

Before you dive in, it’s essential to know how to learn Vietnamese effectively. Setting clear and realistic goals will give you direction, keep you motivated, and make your learning journey much more enjoyable. This is especially important if you are an expat or a Vietnamese beginner starting from scratch.

For Vietnamese beginners, your goals can be short-term or long-term:

• Short-term goal: Order food confidently at a local café in Vietnamese within one week.
  
• Long-term goal: Hold a 15–20 minute conversation with your colleagues or neighbors after three months.

Here’s a simple trick: write your goals down and keep them somewhere visible — on your desk, fridge, or phone. This daily reminder will encourage you to practice Vietnamese consistently and turn your study time into a habit.

Use the SMART Framework

The SMART framework helps you create goals that are clear and actionable:

1. Specific: Make your goal concrete. Instead of “I want to learn Vietnamese”, say, “I want to learn 10 new Vietnamese words this week”.
   
2. Measurable: Ensure you can track progress. Example: “I will be able to introduce myself in Vietnamese to a colleague in one week”.
   
3. Achievable: Set goals that are realistic for your schedule. If you’re busy with work, 10–15 minutes a day of practice is better than aiming for an hour.
   
4. Relevant: Align your goals with your needs. If you live in Ho Chi Minh City, focus on words and phrases for ordering food, asking directions, or talking to neighbors.
   
5. Time-bound: Give yourself a deadline. Example: “By the end of this week, I will be able to order lunch in Vietnamese without hesitation”.

By applying SMART goals, you’ll know exactly what to practice, when to practice it, and how to measure your improvement. This makes it easier to practice Vietnamese consistently, stay motivated, and see real progress as a Vietnamese beginner.

Step 2 – Create a Daily Vietnamese Practice Schedule

Once you’ve set clear goals, the next step is to create a daily Vietnamese practice schedule. Consistency is key when you’re learning a new language. Even beginners can make significant progress if they dedicate a short, focused time every day.

Start by deciding how much time you can realistically commit. If your work schedule is busy, 10–20 minutes per day is better than trying to cram an hour and burning out. The goal is to make practicing Vietnamese a habit, not a chore.

Here’s an example of a simple daily schedule:

• Morning: Learn 5–10 new words or phrases using flashcards or a language app.
  
• Afternoon: Listen to a Vietnamese podcast, YouTube video, or song during your commute to improve listening skills.
  
• Evening: Practice speaking by using the words and phrases you learned in real-life situations, such as ordering food, chatting with neighbors, or talking to colleagues.

Optional Frameworks to Help You Build Your Routine

To make your schedule more effective, you can use Time Blocking and Habit Stacking:

1. Time Blocking
   
   • Origin: Popularized by productivity expert Cal Newport, Time Blocking is a method where you schedule specific blocks of time for focused work or learning.
     
   • How it works: Allocate dedicated periods in your day for language practice.
     
     • Example: 7:30–7:50 am: flashcards; 12:30–12:50 pm: podcast listening; 6:30–7:00 pm: speaking practice.
       
   • Benefits: Ensures you consistently practice Vietnamese, reduces procrastination, and makes your routine predictable.
     
2. Habit Stacking
   
   • Origin: Introduced by James Clear in his book Atomic Habits, Habit Stacking is about linking a new habit to an existing one to make it easier to adopt.
     
   • How it works: Pair your Vietnamese practice with a habit you already do daily.
     
     • Example: “After I drink my morning coffee, I will review 5 new Vietnamese words.”
       
   • Benefits: Helps turn new actions into a consistent habit, making it easier to stick to your routine long-term.

Using these frameworks, you can customize your own daily Vietnamese study routine that fits your lifestyle, helps you stay consistent, and makes practicing Vietnamese a natural part of your day.

Step 3 – Use Real-Life Contexts to Practice Vietnamese Every Day

To learn Vietnamese, one of the most effective ways is to bring Vietnamese into your everyday life. Real-life exposure helps you understand how locals speak, how sentences are naturally structured, and how tones are used in real conversations. This step is especially valuable when you learn Vietnamese for beginners, because it builds confidence without needing long study sessions.

Below are practical, realistic ways you can practice Vietnamese naturally as an expat living in Vietnam:

1. Turn Daily Errands Into Mini Practice Sessions

• At cafés: Order in Vietnamese (“Cho tôi một ly…”). Try adding variations each week, like changing size or sweetness level.
  
• At convenience stores: Ask basic questions like “Cái này bao nhiêu anh?” or “Có size lớn hơn không em?”.
  
• At the market: Practice listening — even if you don’t speak much, you’re training your ear to hear tones, pace, and common expressions.

2. Use Vietnamese in Your Workplace

Even if your company mainly communicates in English, you can still practice Vietnamese in small but meaningful ways:

• Greet coworkers with simple phrases like “Chào anh/chị” or “Ăn trưa chưa?”.
  
• Learn common workplace terms (deadline, meeting, feedback) and use one or two Vietnamese words in your daily tasks.
  
• Ask colleagues to correct your pronunciation—they’ll be happy to help.

3. Build Listening Skills With Everyday Input

You don’t need long study sessions to improve your listening. Small exposures add up fast:

• Listen to short Vietnamese TikToks, news clips, or cooking videos.
  
• Pay attention to background conversations on the street, in cafés, or in the office.
  
• Follow one Vietnamese social media account and read their captions every day.

4. Use Visual Vietnamese Around You

Vietnam is full of signs, menus, labels, and instructions in Vietnamese. You can turn them into micro-learning moments:

• Try to identify at least one new word every time you walk into a store.
  
• Practice reading street names and recognizing common words (đường, phường).
  
• When eating out, read the Vietnamese menu first before checking the English version.

5. Practice Speaking Without Waiting for the “Perfect Sentence”

Many people who learn Vietnamese for beginners hesitate to speak because they fear making mistakes. But locals appreciate effort more than accuracy.

• Start with single words (“Cà phê đá”, “Không đường”).
  
• Move to short phrases.
  
• Then gradually grow into full sentences.
  Speaking imperfectly daily is much more effective than waiting to speak “correctly” once a week.

6. Keep a “Real-Life Phrase List”

Every day you’ll encounter phrases you wish you knew. Write them down immediately in your phone. This becomes your personalized Vietnamese toolkit.
Examples:

• How to ask for directions
  
• How to ask someone to repeat slowly
  
• How to confirm a price
  
• How to order “no ice” or “less sweet”

Learning phrases that you actually need is one of the fastest ways to understand how to learn Vietnamese effectively.

Step 4 – Mix Different Learning Methods

Apps & online lessons
Combine different apps like Duolingo and Anki to build a balanced routine. Each tool has its strength: Duolingo helps you maintain daily streaks, and Anki optimizes long-term memory. Even 10–15 minutes a day can help you practice Vietnamese consistently.

Flashcards & spaced repetition
Use flashcards to memorize new words and review them regularly using spaced repetition. This technique is particularly effective for beginners and busy expats who want to retain vocabulary for work or daily life.
Tip: Make flashcards with phrases you actually use, like ordering food, asking for directions, or workplace vocabulary.

Language exchange
Find a Vietnamese partner to practice speaking. Short daily sessions can help you improve pronunciation, tone, and confidence. If you’re looking for a supportive community, VLS offers a free club called Vietnamese Circle, where expats can meet regularly to practice Vietnamese with native speakers in a friendly, informal setting.

Watch movies, listen to music & TikTok videos
Short, relatable content helps improve your listening skills naturally. Watch vlogs, podcasts, or TikToks with subtitles to get used to real accents, pace, and everyday expressions.
Pro tip: Rewatch the same clip 2–3 times: first for meaning, second for vocabulary, third to repeat aloud.

AI tools for Vietnamese practice
Use AI to practice speaking, listening, and writing anytime. Tools like ChatGPT or Speak can simulate conversations, correct pronunciation, and generate personalized exercises. You can ask AI to create flashcards, check your sentences, or explain phrases you don’t understand. This lets you practice Vietnamese daily, even without a native partner.

Step 5 – Review & Track Your Progress

To make your Vietnamese study routine truly effective, it’s important to review and track your progress regularly. Without tracking, it’s easy to lose momentum or forget what you’ve learned. For expats, seeing measurable improvement keeps motivation high and helps you adjust your routine based on real results.

1. Keep a daily or weekly log
Write down what you practiced each day: new vocabulary, phrases, conversations, or listening exercises. Apps, notebooks, or even a simple spreadsheet work well. By recording your practice, you can see which areas you need to focus on and celebrate small wins along the way.

2. Set mini-goals and check them weekly
Instead of only aiming for big milestones, create small, achievable goals:

• Learn 5 new words per day
• Hold a 3-minute conversation with a Vietnamese partner
• Understand one full Vietnamese TikTok or news clip without subtitles

Weekly reviews help you measure progress and adjust your routine. This ensures your efforts are consistent and practical for real-life use.

3. Reflect on challenges and successes
Ask yourself questions like:

• Which phrases do I still forget?
• Which situations make me nervous to speak?
• Which listening exercises help me most?

Reflection makes your routine smarter because you can focus on what actually works for you.

4. Celebrate progress
Learning a new language can feel slow at times. Celebrate small achievements like ordering food fluently, understanding a conversation, or remembering new vocabulary. Tracking progress visually (charts, checklists) can make improvements feel more tangible and motivate you to stick to your routine.

Step 6 – Stay Motivated and Make It Fun

Learning a new language can be challenging, especially as an expat adjusting to a new culture. The key to long-term success is keeping your routine enjoyable and motivating yourself to practice Vietnamese every day.

1. Reward yourself for milestones
Set small, achievable goals and celebrate when you reach them. For example:

• Finish learning 10 new words in a week → treat yourself to a favorite Vietnamese snack.
• Successfully hold a 5-minute conversation with a local → go out to a café or watch a short Vietnamese movie.

Rewards make learning feel more fun and encourage consistency.

2. Make practice part of enjoyable activities
Combine language learning with things you already like doing:

• Watch Vietnamese movies, dramas, or YouTube channels.
• Listen to Vietnamese music or podcasts during your commute.
• Play language games or quizzes online.

By associating learning with fun activities, you naturally increase the time you practice Vietnamese without feeling forced.

3. Join a community or find a study buddy
Interacting with others can boost motivation. Even informal conversations with fellow expats or local friends will give you accountability and make learning more enjoyable. Sharing experiences, tips, or funny mistakes keeps the routine lively and encourages daily practice.

4. Track your fun moments
Keep a small journal of things you enjoy while learning Vietnamese. Note your favorite phrases, funny interactions, or memorable cultural experiences. Reviewing these moments reinforces progress and reminds you why learning the language is worthwhile.

5. Stay flexible and patient
Some days you may have less time or energy. That’s okay. The goal is consistent practice, not perfection. Even spending 5–10 minutes to practice Vietnamese daily counts and contributes to long-term improvement.

Conclusion – Build Your Vietnamese Routine and Practice Vietnamese Effectively

Creating a successful Vietnamese study routine doesn’t have to be complicated. By following these steps — setting clear goals, planning your schedule, practicing in real-life situations, reviewing your progress, and keeping learning fun — you can make steady, meaningful improvement. These strategies will help you build confidence and understand how to communicate naturally.

Consistency is key. Even a few minutes a day to learn Vietnamese adds up over time and helps you gain confidence in speaking, listening, and understanding the language. Whether you are wondering how to learn Vietnamese efficiently or just starting out, real-life practice combined with structured tools ensures that learning becomes part of your daily life as an expat in Vietnam.For additional support, VLS offers resources, courses, and a welcoming community designed for expats who want to practice Vietnamese efficiently and practically. By using these resources, you can accelerate your progress and make learning more engaging, especially if you learn Vietnamese for beginners.