In Vietnam, people usually answer the phone by saying “Alo” or “Alo, anh/chị/ông/bà” (Hello, sir/madam/sir/madam). It is a common practice to greet with a friendly “Alo” at the beginning of a call.
In Vietnam, people have a unique way of answering the phone that reflects their culture and customs. When receiving a phone call, it is common for Vietnamese individuals to answer by saying “Alo” or “Alo, anh/chị/ông/bà,” which translates to “Hello, sir/madam/sir/madam.” This simple greeting has become a standard practice in the country and adds a friendly touch to the conversation.
Interestingly, the use of “Alo” as a phone greeting in Vietnam has its roots in history. During the French colonial period in Vietnam, French telegraph operators used the phrase “Allo” when answering telephone calls, and it was subsequently adopted by the Vietnamese people. Over time, the pronunciation evolved to “Alo” as it is commonly heard today.
To further explore the topic of phone etiquette in Vietnam, let’s delve into a quote by former Vietnamese Prime Minister, Phan Van Khai: “The telephone is a marvelous invention. It enables people afar to communicate and talk to each other as if they were face to face.” This quote underscores the importance of phones in facilitating communication, including the initial greeting that sets the tone for the conversation.
Adding an element of visual appeal, here’s a table summarizing some interesting facts about the Vietnamese phone greeting:
| Vietnamese Phone Greeting |
|---|
| Common Greetings |
| ———————————————- |
| “Alo” |
| “Alo, anh” (Hello, sir) |
| “Alo, chị” (Hello, madam) |
| “Alo, ông” (Hello, sir) |
| “Alo, bà” (Hello, madam) |
| ————————————————————————————- |
| Historical Origin |
| —————————————————————————– |
| The French phrase “Allo” used by telegraph operators during the colonial period |
| ————————————————————————————- |
| Friendly Touch |
| —————————————————————————— |
| Reflects Vietnamese culture and adds warmth to the conversation |
| ————————————————————————————- |
In conclusion, when it comes to answering the phone in Vietnam, the greeting of “Alo” or “Alo, anh/chị/ông/bà” has become a customary practice. Rooted in history and reflecting the Vietnamese culture, this simple yet friendly greeting sets the tone for meaningful phone conversations.
Video related “How do Vietnamese answer the phone?”
In this section of the video, the speaker provides a dialogue simulation of a phone conversation in Vietnamese. The conversation revolves around inquiries for Vietnamese language lessons for foreigners. The speaker asks for personal information such as the child’s gender, age, name, and date of birth. They also discuss the importance of having an email address to access learning materials. The conversation further continues with inquiries about Vietnamese language classes and bus tickets. There are some difficulties in hearing each other, leading to clarifications regarding the number of guests and the arrival time. The speaker also mentions something about Oriflame and learning Vietnamese.
There are also other opinions
A lô is how Viet people answer the phone, a response copied from the French. In Vietnamese, the equivalent of “how do you do?” or “what’s up?” is (you) có khỏe không? Literally, do you have health? Khoẻ is to be healthy.
In addition, people ask
- First dial 011, the U.S. exit code.
- Next dial 84, the country code for Vietnam.
- Then dial the area code (1-3 digits — please see a sample calling code list below)
- and finally the phone number (5-7 digits).