All six tones
The North keeps all six tones distinct, including hỏi (?) and ngã (~), which merge in much of the South and Centre. That makes Northern speech a clear model for learning tones. The six tones explained.
Việt Connect › Learn Northern Vietnamese
Hà Nội Vietnamese
Learn Northern Vietnamese, free
Việt Connect is a free app for learning Vietnamese the way it's spoken in Hà Nội and the North, the accent used in most textbooks and national news. Choose the Northern accent and every word, example sentence and voice is Northern Vietnamese. Then practice with real Vietnamese teachers.
In short: Northern (Hà Nội) Vietnamese is the basis of the standard taught in textbooks. All six tones are pronounced distinctly, d, gi and r sound like a “z”, and everyday words include lợn, bát and vâng. Việt Connect's lessons are written in Northern Vietnamese, read by ten Northern AI voices, with a tone trainer, phrases, role-plays and teachers you can book. It's free and runs in your browser on a phone or computer.
What makes Northern Vietnamese different
Everyday words
Grammar is the same across Vietnam, but some everyday words change by region. Choosing Northern means you learn the left-hand column. Here is what a Southerner says instead, from the word list the app uses:
| Northern (you learn) | Southern | English |
|---|---|---|
| lợn | heo | pig |
| bát | chén | bowl |
| thìa | muỗng | spoon |
| cốc | ly | glass, cup |
| ô tô | xe hơi | car |
| đắt | mắc | expensive |
| nghìn | ngàn | thousand |
| ngõ | hẻm | alley |
| vâng | dạ | yes (polite) |
| bố / mẹ | ba / má | dad / mom |
| nhé | nha | okay? (soft ending) |
| điều hòa | máy lạnh | air conditioner |
Northern sounds
d, gi and r all sound like an English “z” (dạ ≈ “zạ”), and tr/ch and s/x often sound the same. You'll hear Thế à? (“Really?”) and nhé at the end of sentences. More on pronouns.
How Việt Connect teaches the Northern accent
Pick Northern once, everything follows
Flashcards, example sentences, survival phrases and role-play scenes use Northern words, and they're read by Northern-accent voices.
A tone trainer
Say a word and see the shape of your voice drawn next to a native speaker's, so you can hear and see where your tone differs.
Real-life phrases and role-plays
Ordering food, taking a taxi, shopping, haggling, a trip to the barber. Every scene is written in Northern Vietnamese, so you learn bát phở, tiền thừa and rẽ trái the way people say them in Hà Nội.
Hear other regions when you want
An Other accents button on flashcards plays the same word from the other regions, so you can understand everyone without mixing the accent you're learning.
Practice with real people
Book a teacher
Find a Vietnamese teacher in the app and ask for Northern Vietnamese. Teachers keep 100% of what you pay; the app takes no commission.
Talk in the classroom
Lessons happen in a video room with the tone trainer, shared flashcards and role-plays built in.
Join the community
Ask questions in Community rooms and find language-exchange partners who are learning English.
What to look for in a Northern Vietnamese app
| What matters | Why | In Việt Connect |
|---|---|---|
| Real Northern audio for all six tones | Tones are the hardest part, and the North keeps all six distinct. | Ten Northern voices and a tone trainer that draws your voice next to a native speaker's |
| A real person to talk to | Recordings can't answer back. | Book Vietnamese teachers; Community rooms; language exchange |
| Price | You should be able to try before you pay. | Free to use; you only pay a teacher if you book one |
Who it's for
Living in or moving to Hà Nội
Start with survival phrases for taxis, food and shopping, then build up with flashcards and lessons.
Students and exam learners
Northern Vietnamese is the standard used in textbooks and courses, so it matches what you study in class.
Partners and families
Married to, dating or related to someone from the North? Learn the words you'll hear at home.
Travelers to the North
Hà Nội, Hạ Long, Sa Pa, Ninh Bình: learn a few dozen phrases before you go. See travel phrases.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free app to learn Northern Vietnamese?
Yes. Việt Connect is free to use. Its flashcards, example sentences, phrases and role-plays are written in Northern (Hà Nội) Vietnamese and read by Northern-accent voices.
Is Northern Vietnamese the standard?
Northern (Hà Nội) pronunciation is the basis of the standard used in textbooks and national broadcasts. Southern and Central Vietnamese are just as valid and spoken by tens of millions of people.
Does Northern Vietnamese have six tones?
Yes. Northern speakers pronounce all six tones distinctly, including hỏi and ngã, which many Southern and Central speakers merge.
Will people in the South understand Northern Vietnamese?
Yes. The accents are mutually understandable. Some everyday words differ (heo instead of lợn, for example), and Việt Connect's Other accents button lets you hear them.
Can I switch accents later?
Yes. You can change between Northern, Central and Southern at any time, and the words and voices follow your choice.
Start learning Northern Vietnamese
- Choose the Northern accent and the words and voices follow.
- Practice tones with the tone trainer.
- Learn real-life phrases and role-plays.
- Book a Vietnamese teacher when you're ready to talk.