Stage 3 · Context
Sightseeing
Tickets, opening hours, photos, the view. Built around the Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake, and Sapa’s hills.
The sightseeing arc
ENTRY → greet + anchor. INITIATION → “is this open?” PURPOSE → tickets, what’s included, the view, photos. WRAP-UP → thanks, it was wonderful. For your trip: the Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake, and the Jade Emperor Temple are the Hanoi core; Sapa gives you the hills and rice terraces.
1. Initiation — hours
Đây có mở không?SEED
day koh moh kong?
Is this open?
Mở lúc mấy giờ?LOOKUP
moh luc may goh?
What time does it open?
Đóng lúc mấy giờ?LOOKUP
dohn luc may goh?
What time does it close?
2. Tickets, info & experience
Mất bao lâu?LOOKUP
mat baw law?
How long is the visit?
“mất bao lâu” = how long (does it take).
Vé bao nhiêu tiền?SEED
ve baw nyew tyen?
How much is the ticket?
Có bao gồm [điều] không?LOOKUP
koh bao ghom [dieu] kong?
Is [thing] included?
Bạn có bản đồ / hướng dẫn không?LOOKUP
ban koh ban-doh / hoong-dan kong?
Do you have a map / guide?
Cái này đẹp quá!SEED
kay nay dep kwah!
This is beautiful!
Cho tôi chụp ảnh được không?LOOKUP
koh toy chup anh duoc kong?
Can you take a photo?
Or: Chụp cho tôi được không? — Take a photo for me?
Điểm ngắm cảnh đẹp nhất ở đâu?LOOKUP
diem ngam canh dep nhat oh dow?
Where’s the best view?
3. Wrap-up
Cảm ơn. Tuyệt vời quá.LOOKUP
cam on. tuyet vway kwah.
Thank you. It was wonderful.
Tạm biệt.LOOKUP
tam byeet.
Goodbye.
4. Domain vocabulary (lookup)
Hanoi-specific places. “Phố cổ” (Old Quarter) and “Hồ Hoàn Kiếm” (Hoan Kiem Lake) are worth saying out loud — shopkeepers and guides will light up when you name them in Vietnamese.
| Place / item | Vietnamese | Says | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| museum | bảo tàng | bao tang | |
| temple | chùa | choo | Hanoi has many |
| pagoda | chùa | choo | |
| monument | đài tưởng niệm | day toong nyem | |
| park | công viên | kong vyen | |
| square | quảng trường | khwang choong | Hoan Kiem area |
| bridge | cầu | kaw | |
| river | sông | song | the Red River |
| lake | hồ | hoh | Hoan Kiem Lake |
| hill | đồi | dway | |
| photo | ảnh | anh | |
| ticket | vé | ve | |
| guide | hướng dẫn | hoong dan | |
| entrance | cổng vào | kong vaw | |
| exit | cổng ra | kong rah | |
| Old Quarter | Phố cổ | phoh koo | Hanoi’s 36 streets |
| Hoan Kiem Lake | Hồ Hoàn Kiếm | hoh hoan kem | the iconic lake |
| temple of the Jade Emperor | Đền Ngọc Sơn | den ngok son | on the lake |
| train street | Phố tàu | phoh tow | the famous narrow street |