Vietnamese translation: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What vietnamese translation is

A Vietnamese translator converts documents between English and Vietnamese, handling tone marks and regional vocabulary for northern or southern readers. Vietnamese uses diacritics to show tone, and the words for everyday things and the forms of address shift between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City usage.

Signs you need it

  • Your readers are in Vietnam or a Vietnamese community abroad, and you need wording that fits how they speak and write.
  • You have a notice, form or letter for Vietnamese speakers that must be clear and correct.
  • You are publishing a website, menu, product guide or course in Vietnamese and want it to read naturally.
  • You have a Vietnamese document that must be read in English for a business, legal or family purpose.
  • A machine translation has dropped tone marks, which changes the meaning of many words.
  • You need a formal document for an office or employer where the forms of address matter.

What the pro does

  • Confirms the readers' region, northern or southern usage, and the level of formality the document needs.
  • Builds a glossary of names, product terms and titles, with the Vietnamese form of each.
  • Translates the text and checks every word carries the correct tone marks.
  • Chooses the pronouns and forms of address for the relationship between writer and reader, and keeps them consistent.
  • Reviews the translation for natural phrasing, then returns the file with notes on regional choices to approve.

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Word count or page count, and the number of documents.
  • Regional usage needed, northern, southern or neutral for readers across the country.
  • Subject complexity, such as legal, medical, technical or marketing text.
  • Formatting, such as tables, forms or design files.
  • Whether a second reviewer checks the Vietnamese text.
  • Deadline for delivery.

What a written quote should spell out

  • The word count or page count, and the language direction.
  • The regional usage the translation targets.
  • The glossary step, and who approves the terms.
  • Whether a second review and a check of the tone marks are included.
  • The file format returned, and whether the layout is recreated.

Questions to ask before you hire

  • Which region will read the Vietnamese text, north or south?
  • How do you choose the pronouns and forms of address for my readers?
  • How do you check the tone marks in names and terms?
  • Will a second person review the Vietnamese text?
  • Can you keep the layout of my forms or tables?
  • Can you show a sample passage on a subject like mine?

Red flags

  • Returns Vietnamese text without tone marks and presents it as complete.
  • Uses the same forms of address for every reader without asking the relationship.
  • Changes names, dates or figures in the translation.
  • Sends a machine translation with no human review and presents it as professional work.
  • Cannot explain the regional choices or the forms of address used.

What you can do yourself

You can list the readers' region, the names and terms that must stay the same, and whether the document is formal, then have a Vietnamese speaker read a draft and check the tone marks. Hire a translator when the document is official, will be published or sent to customers, or contains legal, medical or technical terms where one wrong word changes the meaning.

Licenses and permits

Vietnamese translation is not commonly licensed, so a license is usually not required for this work. Check with the office or organization that will receive the document, since some set their own rules for accepted translations, and ask the translator for Vietnamese samples in your subject as proof of skill.

Vietnamese translation questions

Why do tone marks matter?

Vietnamese uses tone marks on the vowels, and a word with a different tone can mean something else. A translation without correct tone marks can be misread, so a careful check of every marked word is part of the work.

Is northern Vietnamese different from southern?

Yes, in pronunciation, some everyday words and some spellings used in informal writing. Choose the usage your readers use, or ask for a neutral version for readers across the country.

How are forms of address chosen?

Vietnamese pronouns depend on the age and relationship of the writer and reader. A formal document uses a set of forms that differs from personal writing, so tell the translator who will read it and in what relationship.

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