Da Nang: One month in

You can tell a lot about an expatriate from the first words they learn in their new host country.

So here is what I’ve added to my vocabulary (which previously consisted of pho, banh mi and ao dai); apologies for all the missing diacritical marks:

Xin chào

First thing I learned, and I say this quite a lot — a very friendly hello.

Tram phan tram / do

Literally this means 100% percent, which is how much you should drink. Bottoms up!

Ngon

What you say when you like the food — so basically, what I say to everything.

Nhanh lên

Hurry up, also known as the Vietnamese equivalent of yallah (habibi!) Go ahead and judge me.

Cam on

A useful thing to say to someone who’s helped you find your way around or translated something for you — thank you.

Chúc mung nam moi

The Tet holiday is the biggest celebration of all. Say this to everybody and wish them a wonderful Lunar New Year.

Bún cha

Rice vermicelli, fresh herbs and grilled pork, with a sauce that tastes predominantly of fish and chili. Delightful stuff.

Cao lau

Another noodle-pork-greens dish, without the soup.

Topmo

Like chicharon, only spicier, and extremely bad for you, the way all addictions are. (Just one more, please.)

Com gà

Rice and chicken: separately, two words you should know to read at the supermarket; together, that simple, tasty meal called chicken rice that Hoi An is so famous for.

San

An interesting little snack I first encountered served in a paper cup. Strips of chewy yucca, sprinkled with coconut and a dusting of sesame for a distinct flavour.

Tra sua

This one was easy to recall, partly because tra sounds a lot like cha or tea, but also because the office loves it and there is always somebody buying a round of milk teas (hold the sugar, 50% ice, extra milk foam, please) for everybody.

Ca phe sua

Ah, the famous Vietnamese coffee, blended with condensed milk and iced to perfection. Sweet and strong enough to pack a wallop that — if I’m careless about timing — can keep, and has kept, me buzzing all night.

We can safely assume then, that I have spent my first month in residence here asking people for help, being friendly to strangers, and eating everything. 😉