Everyday Southern Vietnamese by SVFF
The Vietnamese Sài Gòn and the South really speak, from your first tones at A0 through the planned path to C2. The continuing Ben-and-Mai story is complete through Level 10; every later book stays visible as it is developed.
The story you follow
Ben is Australian and new in Sài Gòn for work. Mai becomes his guide and friend; cô Sáu, anh Tuấn, Vy and chú Bảy make up the familiar circle around work and the hẻm. The language grows because their lives do.
Ben’s first ride from the airport leads to công ty Xanh, market errands, finding a home, friendships and family journeys. By the B1 exit, learners can look back on years of story; Level 10 carries the group into B2. Levels 11–21 are shown as planned books without invented story details.
Survival phrases become introductions, schedules, directions and plans.
Shopping, travel, renting, repairs, work changes, invitations and a year in Sài Gòn.
Southern manners, neighbours, money, family, the Mekong Delta and Tết.
Interviews, formal emails and a visit to Bến Tre bring the B1 story together.
Ben handles an accident, explains customs, debates politely and checks rumours.
Approved study time
Each number is a class-hour target for that level or band. Plan approximately the same amount of time again for homework. Levels 11–20 complete the planned B2 and C1 path; Level 21 is the planned C2 book, with hours still to be announced.
| Band | Levels (books) | Class hours per level | Class hours for band | With homework (≈ ×2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A0 | Level 00 (1) | 12 h | 12 h | ≈ 24 h |
| A1 | Levels 01–02 (2) | 24 h | 48 h | ≈ 96 h |
| A2 | Levels 03–05 (3) | 26 h | 78 h | ≈ 156 h |
| B1 | Levels 06–09 (4) | 28 h | 112 h | ≈ 224 h |
| B2 | Levels 10–14 (5) | 30 h | 150 h | ≈ 300 h |
| C1 | Levels 15–20 (6) | 34 h | 204 h | ≈ 408 h |
| C2 | Level 21 (1) | To be announced | ||
Levels 11–14 complete B2; Levels 15–20 make up C1; Level 21 is C2. No price or course link is shown until a course is actually available.
The complete path
Open any level to see its lesson sequence. Names, prices, posters and availability come from the current SVFF course catalogue; study hours follow the approved learning path above.
By the end: Hear and form the tones, greet people, order a drink and ask for help. Read the CEFR guide
A0 · Everyday Southern Vietnamese
Your first week in Sài Gòn: master the tones, greet people, order drinks and learn survival phrases.
Ben lands at Tân Sơn Nhất, rides into Sài Gòn with chú Bảy, checks into his hotel, orders his first cà phê sữa đá and meets Mai at công ty Xanh.
By the end: Introduce yourself, manage prices and time, travel across town and make simple plans. Read the CEFR guide
A1 · Everyday Southern Vietnamese
Your first month in Sài Gòn: introduce yourself, say your nationality, tell the time and order at a café.
Mai introduces Ben at công ty Xanh. His first month moves through work, the market, addresses, schedules and a café celebration with the team.
A1 · Everyday Southern Vietnamese
The A1 exit: ask for directions, take a bus or Grab, talk about family, find a room and make plans.
A birthday invitation sends Ben across the city. He asks directions, takes a bus and xe ôm, meets family, orders a meal and starts looking for a room.
By the end: Shop, rent, visit a doctor, make calls and explain familiar events in connected sentences. Read the CEFR guide
A2 · Everyday Southern Vietnamese
Your first A2 book: shop, compare, call, travel and plan in real Southern Vietnamese.
Cô Sáu takes Ben to Bà Chiểu market; Mai and Vy help him compare, call, book and change plans for a Đà Lạt trip before Anna arrives for the test.
A2 · Everyday Southern Vietnamese
Home, habits, weather, doctors, getting around and big numbers — daily life in Sài Gòn.
Ben views apartments with Mai, then Vy and chú Bảy help him move. Daily life expands into habits, weather, doctors, directions and a housewarming.
A2 · Everyday Southern Vietnamese
The last A2 book: work changes, people, repairs, parcels, apologies and invitations — the A2 exit.
Work changes for anh Tuấn while Ben handles repairs, parcels and a complaint. A wedding invitation and Ben’s first-anniversary party lead to the A2 exit.
By the end: Handle problems, follow natural Southern speech, tell stories and defend a clear opinion. Read the CEFR guide
B1 · Everyday Southern Vietnamese
The bridge into B1: eat out, make friends, understand Southern manners and fast Sài Gòn speech.
The group eats out, makes new friends and navigates Southern manners. Health, housing and travel problems push Ben toward faster, more natural Sài Gòn speech.
B1 · Everyday Southern Vietnamese
Courses, banks, apartments, neighbours, tailors, messages and money — life in your second year in Sài Gòn.
In his second year, Ben signs up for a course, visits a bank, deals with apartment and neighbour problems, visits a tailor and says goodbye at a farewell party.
B1 · Everyday Southern Vietnamese
Family, holidays, the past and your plans — a giỗ in Cần Thơ, the Mekong Delta, Tết in Sài Gòn and a visitor from Hà Nội.
Family takes the story to a giỗ in Cần Thơ and across the Mekong Delta. Back in Sài Gòn, Tết, plans, childhood memories and a visitor from Hà Nội widen Ben’s world.
B1 · Everyday Southern Vietnamese
The B1 exit: defend your opinions, write formal emails, interview for a job and compare city and country life.
Ben’s circle joins a running club, talks work and weekends, interviews for jobs and writes formal emails. Mai takes him to Bến Tre before the story reaches the B1 exit.
By the end: Debate politely, assess reports and rumours, handle complications and explain culture clearly. Read the CEFR guide
B2 · Everyday Southern Vietnamese
The bridge into B2: debate politely, pass on what others said, handle a traffic accident and explain Tết customs.
The B2 bridge begins at a race, moves through rush hour and a minor traffic accident, then reaches Tết in Bến Tre before office debates and rumours.
B2 · Everyday Southern Vietnamese
The detailed curriculum will be announced when this level is ready.
This poster reserves Level 11 in the complete learning path. The lesson plan, price and release date will appear only after the curriculum and course are approved.
B2 · Everyday Southern Vietnamese
The detailed curriculum will be announced when this level is ready.
This poster reserves Level 12 in the complete learning path. The lesson plan, price and release date will appear only after the curriculum and course are approved.
B2 · Everyday Southern Vietnamese
The detailed curriculum will be announced when this level is ready.
This poster reserves Level 13 in the complete learning path. The lesson plan, price and release date will appear only after the curriculum and course are approved.
B2 · Everyday Southern Vietnamese
The detailed curriculum will be announced when this level is ready.
This poster reserves Level 14 in the complete learning path. The lesson plan, price and release date will appear only after the curriculum and course are approved.
By the end: Understand demanding language and express complex ideas fluently for work, study and relationships. Read the CEFR guide
C1 · Everyday Southern Vietnamese
The detailed curriculum will be announced when this level is ready.
This poster reserves Level 15 in the complete learning path. The lesson plan, price and release date will appear only after the curriculum and course are approved.
C1 · Everyday Southern Vietnamese
The detailed curriculum will be announced when this level is ready.
This poster reserves Level 16 in the complete learning path. The lesson plan, price and release date will appear only after the curriculum and course are approved.
C1 · Everyday Southern Vietnamese
The detailed curriculum will be announced when this level is ready.
This poster reserves Level 17 in the complete learning path. The lesson plan, price and release date will appear only after the curriculum and course are approved.
C1 · Everyday Southern Vietnamese
The detailed curriculum will be announced when this level is ready.
This poster reserves Level 18 in the complete learning path. The lesson plan, price and release date will appear only after the curriculum and course are approved.
C1 · Everyday Southern Vietnamese
The detailed curriculum will be announced when this level is ready.
This poster reserves Level 19 in the complete learning path. The lesson plan, price and release date will appear only after the curriculum and course are approved.
C1 · Everyday Southern Vietnamese
The detailed curriculum will be announced when this level is ready.
This poster reserves Level 20 in the complete learning path. The lesson plan, price and release date will appear only after the curriculum and course are approved.
By the end: Understand almost everything and express fine shades of meaning accurately in complex situations. Read the CEFR guide
C2 · Everyday Southern Vietnamese
The detailed curriculum will be announced when this level is ready.
This poster reserves Level 21 in the complete learning path. The lesson plan, price and release date will appear only after the curriculum and course are approved.
Inside every lesson
The story is the thread. Each lesson surrounds it with material for class, listening practice and active recall between sessions.
35–45 pages that carry the scene, language and practice from first input to production.
Every listening sequence comes at two speeds: slow for noticing, natural for real Sài Gòn rhythm.
Dictation, listening, role-play with a twist, flashcards, tones, pronunciation and games.
The teacher guide follows the book page by page, while your teacher gives live feedback and adapts practice to you.
Levels range from 12 to 34 class hours, with approximately the same time for homework.
Story vocabulary returns through recordings, activities, role-plays and later scenes.
Review, take the level test — an oral check at Level 00 — then continue to the next level.
Southern-only promise. The words, pronouns, particles and accent are the Vietnamese you hear in Sài Gòn’s streets, markets, homes and offices.
Questions before you start
You do not have to guess your starting point.
Take the level check if you are unsure. If you are ready for A2, Level 03 is available now.