How to say "you're welcome" in Vietnamese

The most common way to say "you're welcome" in Vietnamese is không có gì (roughly "khohng gaw zee"), which literally means "it's nothing." In Central and Southern Vietnam, you'll also hear không có chi, with the same meaning.

Vietnamese doesn't have a word-for-word "you're welcome." Instead, people brush off the thanks, a bit like saying "no problem" or "don't mention it" in English. Here's how to do it in different situations.

Không có gì: the all-purpose reply

Không có gì breaks down like this:

• không: not, no
• có: have, there is
• gì: what, anything

Together: "there's nothing," meaning "it was nothing, no need to thank me." It works with almost anyone, in almost any setting.

Pronunciation: không has a level tone and sounds like "khohng," with a soft throaty "kh." Có rises, like "gaw?" with a lift. Gì falls, and the "g" sounds like a "z" in the North and closer to a "y" in the South.

Không có chi: the Central and Southern version

Chi is a regional word for "what," used in Central Vietnam and heard in parts of the South. Không có chi sounds friendly and a little old-fashioned to some ears. You'll be understood anywhere with either version.

Polite replies for elders

If an older person thanks you, add dạ at the beginning and ạ at the end:

• Dạ, không có gì ạ. You're welcome (politely).
• Dạ, không có chi ạ. Same, with a Central or Southern flavor.
• Dạ, cháu không dám ạ. Literally "I don't dare," a humble response meaning "I don't deserve thanks." It is polite and a bit formal, often used by younger people to elders.

That last one can sound traditional, but it shows a lot of respect.

Casual replies between friends

• Có gì đâu! It's no big deal! Warm and relaxed.
• Không có gì đâu. It's really nothing. The đâu adds a reassuring "at all."
• Ok, ok. or Ừ. Very casual acknowledgment between close friends.
• Chuyện nhỏ! Small matter! Like "piece of cake," playful.

The particle đâu is a soft way to say "not at all." You'll hear it in other phrases too, like Không sao đâu (It's okay). See không sao đâu: how to say it's okay.

Replying to thanks in a shop or restaurant

Staff and customers often swap short phrases:

• Customer: Cảm ơn em. Thank you.
• Server: Dạ. or Dạ, không có gì ạ. You're welcome.

In fast, busy places, a simple dạ with a smile is a common reply. For more about thanks itself, read how to say thank you in Vietnamese.

Replying to an apology

If someone says xin lỗi (sorry), "you're welcome" doesn't fit. Use one of these instead:

• Không sao. It's okay.
• Không sao đâu. It's totally fine.
• Không có gì đâu. It's nothing, don't worry.

So không có gì works for both thanks and small apologies, while không sao is mostly for apologies and mishaps.

Is there a formal "you're welcome"?

In very formal settings, like customer service scripts or official events, you might hear Rất hân hạnh (It's my pleasure, or I'm honored) or Rất vui được giúp (Glad to help). These are polite but uncommon in daily life. For most learners, không có gì is all you need.

Common mistakes

• Translating "welcome" directly. Chào mừng means "welcome" as in "Welcome to our home," not "you're welcome."
• Using casual replies with elders. "Có gì đâu" to a grandparent can sound flippant. Add dạ and ạ.
• Skipping the reply altogether. A smile alone is fine in passing, but a short reply is warmer.

Quick guide

• Standard: Không có gì
• Central/Southern: Không có chi
• Polite: Dạ, không có gì ạ
• Casual: Có gì đâu! or Chuyện nhỏ!
• After an apology: Không sao đâu

Practice by pairing it with thanks: say "Cảm ơn" to yourself and answer "Không có gì," until the reply comes out without thinking.