There is much to learn before embarking on a trip to Vietnam, and the Vietnam address format should be one of your main priorities. This will allow you to locate and get to your favorite destinations without breaking a sweat.

Vietnam address format is one of the main things to learn for a seamless and hassle-free Vietnam travel experience. Whether you are traveling to an urban or rural area, the address format in Vietnam remains, requiring you to find the pattern to facilitate navigation. Brush up your knowledge about Vietnamese addresses with this article for your next trip.

1. The components in a standard Vietnam address format

The official Vietnam address format applies to all registered locations, including tourist destinations, hotels, resorts, restaurants, and so on. It is important to learn how to write Vietnam addresses to get around your chosen destination.

At most destinations in Vietnam, you can easily find addresses prominently displayed on large signs at the front of businesses or on a small plate for private residences. This not only helps people pinpoint certain locations but also plays a tremendous part in the organization and zoning processes of the authorities.

This is the Vietnam address format example: number, alley (for some regions), street name, cluster, group, ward/commune/town, district, city/province. From left to right, the address will start from the smallest unit all the way to the biggest one.

In terms of apartment buildings, the property number will be replaced by the apartment number, floor, block number, and name of the building.

For your reference, this is a Vietnam address sample: No. 1, Nguyen Tat Thanh Street, Ward 12, District 4, Ho Chi Minh City.

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2. When is there a slash or a letter after the number in Vietnam address format?

The number in the standard Vietnam address format is not always a whole number. Chances are, you may encounter slashes, letters, and even words accompanying the numbers, and here is why.

A slash indicates that the place is located in an alley. The more slashes there are, the deeper it goes. For example, in an alley on one of the main streets, the houses there will have one slash. When you go into another alley within the previous one, you will see two slashes on said houses.

Additionally, another characteristic of the Vietnam address format that may confuse foreigners are the letters behind the number. On the same side of the street, you may find consecutive houses sharing the same number with a letter (A, B, C, D, F) following it.

Instead of redoing the numbering of the entire street, which will require considerable work to update, these letters will help differentiate the houses without changing the number.

The word “bis” can mainly be found in an address in Ho Chi Minh City. It is somewhat similar to the letters, also indicating the house number repeating. For example, a 100 Bis house is probably next to the 100 house. “Bis” means “again, repeated” in French, which remains one of the most notable remnants of the French colonial era of Ho Chi Minh City.

3. Differences in Vietnam address format between rural and urban areas

The general Vietnam address format applies to the entire country, but that does not mean every house address in Vietnam is the same. In fact, the differences between urban and rural areas are stark.

With a population of nearly 100 million people, Vietnam cities are crowded, to say the least. The large population density in urban areas results in the need for accommodations, which leads to more houses. This is why the addresses here are usually on the complex side. For example:

No. 19, Pham Ngoc Thach Street, Phương Lien Ward, Dong Da District, Hanoi.
No. 193/D3, Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street, Ward 7, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City.

On the other hand, Vietnam rural areas may not have the numbers or even the street names. This may pose some challenges in navigation, so you should look into your destinations in advance before the trip. Furthermore, these regions are famous for their natural destinations like mountains, beaches, and forests, which take up an entire area. For example:

Lo O Hamlet, An Tay Commune, Ben Cat Town, Binh Duong Province
Cuc Phuong Commune, Nho Quan Ward, Ninh Bình Province

Aside from learning how to write Vietnam address, you will also need experience to navigate around the cities and provinces. These two tips will help you find your destinations easily and avoid getting lost.

4.1. Same number and street but in different districts

Vietnamese streets are often named after historical figures, dates, events, etc. There are no rules indicating that districts, cities, and provinces cannot choose duplicating names for their streets.

This may result in two streets locating different districts sharing a name, which is a very common occurrence in big cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

There is no doubt that you will encounter two places with the same number and street name located in two wildly different areas of the city.

To distinguish the locations, you need to pay attention to the ward and district. For example, Tran Hung Dao Street spans from District 1 to District 5, but that is still not the most complex example.

In Ho Chi Minh City, both District 5 and District 8 have a street named An Duong Vuong, but these are two entirely different streets. Chu Van An currently holds the record for the most common street name, with 5 streets in District 6, Tan Phu District, Thu Duc City, and Binh Thanh District.

4.2. Even and odd numbers in the address

The number can also give you a clue as to which side of the street the location is on. One side will only have odd-numbered houses, and the other side will only have even numbers. So when you look at a Vietnamese address, make sure to stick to the corresponding side of the street to get to the location easily.

5. Common questions to ask about Vietnam address

Knowing how to write Vietnam address in English is a great first step, but you will still need to ask for directions. Google Maps can surely assist you, but the locals know their way around, so it is best to ask for their help.

Here are some ways to ask about addresses in Vietnamese:

Start by saying hello; “Xin chào” or “Anh/chị/cô/chú ơi” (equivalent to Excuse me!) would do. Follow the greetings with “cho tôi hỏi” (may I ask).

“[Address/Place] ở đâu ạ?” (Where is [address/place]?)
“[Address/Place] xa/gần không ạ?” (Is [address/place] near/far from here?)
“Đi đường nào để đến [address/place] ạ?” (How do I get to [address/place]?)

>>> Check out: Travel to Vietnam tips: All a newcomer should know

The Vietnam address format is highly beneficial to learn. It will help you get to your destinations easier, saving you precious time during your visit. Despite having an official format, each city and province has some unique characteristics in their addresses. So before starting your journey, research your destinations carefully for a safe and comfortable trip.

Vietnamese addresses may reflect the region’s culture, especially through the street, ward, and district names. To explore the distinctive traits of Vietnam’s most popular destinations, take a vacation to Phu Quoc, Nha Trang, Ho Chi Minh City, Hoi An, Da Nang, Ha Long, Hanoi, etc.

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