Sitting on the couch can be productive for movie buffs in the present day. Traveling to Vietnam is usually seen as one of the most effective ways to learn the language, but it costs money and time. The good news is: watching movies or feature films is one of the most effective ways to improve your language skills if you apply the right approach. Before jumping to the 10 free Vietnamese movies and feature films online that you can both enjoy and expand your lexicon, here are some tips that might help you throughout the process:

• Pick your favorite Vietnamese film genre: You might probably have had some basic vocabulary for specific topics at this point. Choosing your favorite genre or plot, therefore, will be extremely helpful so that you can really know how to apply it to practical conversations. 


• Do not depend on Vietnamese films’ subtitles: Watching a feature film twice is a trick to understanding the plot while learning the language. The first time watching can be either with or without subtitles in your mother tongue, and the second one is the opposite.
  – If you watch Vietnamese movies or feature films with English subtitles (or in your mother tongue) for the first time, you will understand the meaning of the movie immediately. Then turn off subtitles when watching it again and focus on the target language instead the second time. You’ll see that you’ll understand the movie easily even without subtitles because you’ve watched it and now you remember when they’re about to say something. Bear in mind that this is the best time to practice pronunciation by repeating after the characters.
  – Not using subtitles the 1st time, on the other hand, allows you to focus on understanding the context without focusing much on exact words. You’ll make your brain work and practice in the target language without depending on the translation. Hence watching the 2nd time is to confirm what you have got so far and clarify what you haven’t understood clearly.

• Take notes: Needless to say that taking notes is significant while watching movies and feature films because this is a chance for you to catch the words and phrases that you haven’t heard before. Try to focus on the ones that you might be using on a daily basis. You’ll be impressed by how it’ll enrich your vocabulary. I used to watch Grey’s Anatomy because I was learning medical English at that time. That was when I learned about “OR – operating room,” “complication,” or other medical terms, and I was so excited that I still remember those words even though I’m not using them often now.  


• Enjoy the movie: Learning can be pressuring, and you don’t want to ruin the whole process. Relax and allow yourself to really enjoy the movie sometimes so that you have a chance to listen to the vocabulary listed again and again in the coming episodes. 

It’s time to start learning Vietnamese through movies and feature films. Here are some words that I’m going to use while listing the 10 best Vietnamese films. Why don’t we practice a little bit beforehand? 

Cấp độ Level	Khó Difficult	Trung bình Medium	Dễ Easy
Phụ đề Subtitles	Tiếng Anh English	Tiếng Việt Vietnamese	Không  No subtitles
Ngữ điệu Dialect	Miền Nam Southern	Miền Bắc Northern	Miền Trung               Central
Tốc độ nói Speaking speed	Nhanh Fast	Bình thường Normal	Chậm Slow

These 10 movies and feature films are not all famous but entertaining and meaningful in their plots. Some of them are for sure very popular and even rated The best movie of the year. I’ll let you explore what you can learn from them, so take a look at the links provided, and you’ll find out what suits you best. Remember, everything is free!

Table of Contents

1. Bố già (Old father)
2. Lan Quế Phường (Lan Kwai Fong)
3. Bố trẻ (Young father)
4. Phim ngắn (Short movie)
5. Phim ngắn|Bạn gái tôi làm gái (My girlfriend is a call girl)
6. Mối tình đầu của tôi (My first love)
7. Hoa Hồng trên ngực trái (The rose on the left chest)
8. Con ghẻ (The adopted child)
9. Về nhà đi con (Come home, kids)
10. Gạo nếp gạo tẻ (Sticky rice, ordinary rice)
11. Conclusion

1. Bố già (Old father) 

“Bố già” is a family-love web drama, a 2020 new year comedy project with the ambition to become an international film by Tran Thanh, the most famous Vietnamese host. Tran Thanh is also well known as a comedian, even though he’s not making any romantic comedy. In Bố già, Tran Thanh plays the main role – a brute, conservative but loving father who always cares about his family. The film revolves around the theme of the gangster world, focusing on keeping an honest nature or chasing money. The crew filmed for 11 days. The director is Mr. To – who performed the web drama Thirteen Tam Soi, Thirteen Lady, and Vi Ca prequel… In addition to Le Giang, Tuan Tran, who is very famous for the comedy genre, Tran Thanh’s sister, also played a role. Due to its success in Vietnam for creat, Bố già has been shown abroad as an international film also, and you can watch it on Netflix now. Music is also a very attractive aspect of the film in which Tran Thanh wrote the main song. If you’re curious about Vietnamese music, take a look at one of the newest videos on our Youtube channel talking about the Top 10 Vietnamese popular singers and songs. 

• Cấp độ (Level): Khó (Difficult)
• Phụ đề (Subtitles): Tiếng Anh (English)
• Ngữ điệu (Dialect): Miền Nam (Southern)
• Speaking speed (Tốc độ nói): Nhanh (Fast)
• Quote

Tui nói cho ông biết nha (Let me tell you): This is very common for Vietnamese women at their middle age to speak to their husbands. Instead of using Anh – Em to address each other, they often use Ông – Tui/tôi. “Ông” means “grandpa,” but it also means “you,” as now you’re a grandpa.

For example 

	Northern style	Southern style
For young couples	Em nói cho anh biết (Let me tell you)	Em nói cho anh biết nha (Let me tell you)
For middle age couples who already have grandchildren	Tôi nói cho ông biết (Let me tell you)	Tui nói cho ông biết nha (Let me tell you)

2. Lan Quế Phường (Lan Kwai Fong)

You probably have heard about Lan Kwai Fong in Hongkong, haven’t you? Don’t expect one if you plan to travel to Vietnam, though. We don’t have a Lan Kwai Fong here, but we have a web-drama, a romantic comedy called the same – Lan Quế Phường.

President’s daughter Ky Thu, famous for her father’s wealth, often hangs out with friends who are badasses in school. One day, her father got revenge and went bankrupt. How can she suffer a poor life, and will she be able to overcome life’s challenges?

The short web drama with a romantic comedy vibe has become super popular for its meaning and modern topic, not to mention all the sexy girls appearing in every scene.

• Cấp độ (Level) :  Trung bình (Medium)
• Phụ đề (Subtitles) : Tiếng Anh & Tiếng Việt (English & Vietnamese)
• Ngữ điệu (Dialect) : Miền Nam (Southern)
• Speaking speed (Tốc độ nói) :  Bình thường (Normal)
• Quote:

– Làm tốt nhiệm vụ của mày đi (Do your job well)
– Nếu không tụi bay chết với tao (If not you are dead to me)
– Khách sắp tới (The clients are coming)

3. Bố trẻ (Young father)

“Bố trẻ” is a Vietnamese romantic comedy. In Bố trẻ, Tuan Tran plays a young man named Hoang, a clumsy, arrogant owner of a small riverside bar. Hoang’s life is turned upside down when he is caught in an ironic situation: reluctantly becoming a father of an abandoned baby girl (Ngan Chi). From the initial conflicts, he was forced to accept the situation and adapt to the new role. On the other hand, this also made the father and son Hoang and the people involved also fall into the sights of a gang of gangsters… Let’s take a look at more details in this Vietnamese film. 

• Cấp độ (Level) : Vừa (Medium)
• Phụ đề (Subtitles) : Tiếng Anh (English)
• Ngữ điệu (Dialect) : Miền Nam (Southern)
• Speaking speed (Tốc độ nói) : Bình thường (Normal)
• Quote

– Giờ sao ta (What now?)
– Tôi không phải là ba (I’m not you, dad)
– Con muốn về nhà (I wanna go home)
– Từ nay về sau, em không cần phải làm gì hết. Em chỉ cần làm công chúa của anh thôi (From now on, you don’t have to do anything. You only need to be my princess.)

4. Phim ngắn (Short movie)

Short Vietnamese films are very profitable for producers because of their low cost and high coverage. One of them recently is a short movie about the big family issue – having an affair. 

Criticizing his wife for the “smell of milk” after giving birth, the husband went to find another “milk” that was better. The short film is about a man cheating on his wife, who is not young and attractive anymore, with a young beautiful girl and their story afterward. 

• Cấp độ (Level) : Trung bình (Medium)
• Phụ đề (Subtitles) : Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
• Ngữ điệu (Dialect) : Miền Nam (Southern)
• Speaking speed (Tốc độ nói) : Bình thường (Normal)
• Quote:

– Nó đi đổ rác thôi nó cũng phải đẹp (She has to be pretty even for taking the garbage out)
– Anh làm chồng làm cha kiểu gì vậy? (What kind of husband, father are you?)
– Cô nhìn lại bản thân mình đi (Look at yourself)
– Cô có xứng đáng với tôi không? (Do you deserve me?)

5. Phim ngắn|Bạn gái tôi làm gái (My girlfriend is a call girl)

Another short Vietnamese film is Bạn gái tôi làm gái (My girlfriend is a call girl). If you travel to Vietnam, it’s very common to see a lot of motorbike taxis on the street. Bạn gái tôi làm gái is a 5-episode web drama talking about a love story of a motorbike taxi driver and a call girl. They both are poor and have to face different challenges in life. However, their ego issues have separated them from each other, and they have to overcome all the difficulties themselves to live their life. Will they be able to forgive and give each other another chance? Although it’s not a typical romantic comedy that young people are obsessed with, Bạn gái tôi làm gái embraces the tough lives of Vietnamese blue-collar workers and will give you emotional moments throughout the film.

• Cấp độ (Level) : Trung bình (Medium)
• Phụ đề (Subtitles) : Tiếng Anh & Việt (English & Vietnamese)
• Ngữ điệu (Dialect) : Miền Nam (Southern)
• Speaking speed (Tốc độ nói) : Bình thường (Normal)
• Quote

– Người ta phải ăn cơm để sống chứ (I have to eat to live)
– Cho anh một cơ hội chăm sóc em (Give me a chance to take care of you)
– Anh thương em, anh thương con người của em (I love you, I love who you are)

6. Mối tình đầu của tôi (My first love)

“Mối tình đầu của tôi” is a Vietnamese film remake of the Korean romantic comedy ‘’She was pretty” – an international film with the participation of Ninh Duong Lan Ngoc, B Tran, Chi Pu, and Binh An who are famous actors and actresses in Vietnam. This is a romantic and funny story about the friendship, love, and work of modern young people. The romantic comedy revolves around the story of close friends An Chi and Ha Linh. While Ha Linh is a beautiful, successful girl, and many boys pursue her, An Chi has an unattractive appearance, is unemployed, and has an outdated style of dress. However, they have had a very beautiful friendship from childhood to the present. Until two “marshal” guys, Nam Phong and Minh Huy appeared and messed up the lives of the two girls. Mối tình đầu của tôi promises many new surprises with the Vietnamese version. You can watch the full Vietnamese drama following this link : Mối tình đầu của tôi

• Cấp độ (Level) : Khó (Difficult)
• Phụ đề (Subtitles) :  Không (No)
• Ngữ điệu (Dialect) : Miền Nam & Miền Bắc (Southern & Northern)
• Speaking speed (Tốc độ nói) : Nhanh (Fast)
• Quote

– Được làm bạn với một người xinh đẹp, giỏi giang và hoàn hảo như An Chi, mình thật là may mắn (To be friend with a beautiful, talented and perfect person like An Chi, I’m so lucky)
– Cho cô một like (I give you a like)
– Tự tin đón chào ngày mới (Confidently welcome a new day)
– Trùng hợp quá ha (What a coincidence)
– Tại sao trên đời này lại có thứ đàn ông đáng ghét như vậy chứ? (Why is there such an abhorrent man in this world)

7. Hoa Hồng trên ngực trái (The rose on the left chest)

In Vietnam, the husband is very powerful in the family. You might not be able to see it easily if you only travel to Vietnam. It’s clearer if you live with a Vietnamese family. “Hoa hồng trên ngực trái” (The rose on the left chest) is a Vietnamese film talking about a multi-dimensional story of family life, the journey of preserving and finding happiness for women in modern society. Khue – Mrs. Hong’s daughter-in-law, like many women who accept to retreat to the rear, only knows about cooking and the story of “diaper, milk” all year. But when she retired to perform her duties as a wife and a mother, Khue was considered useless, a parasite by her husband. Meanwhile, her husband cheated on her with younger, more modern women. You can watch the full series by clicking this link: Hoa hồng trên ngực trái

• Cấp độ (Level) : Khó (Difficult)
• Phụ đề (Subtitles) :  Không (No)
• Ngữ điệu (Dialect) : Miền Bắc (Northern)
• Speaking speed (Tốc độ nói) : Bình thường (Normal)
• Quote

– Cô bị điên à? (Are you crazy?)
– Cứ làm theo những gì chị dặn đi (Just follow what I told you)
– Chuyện của nhà chị cứ để chị tự giải quyết (Let me take care of my family’s business)
– Mình có thể không ly hôn được không anh? (May we not get a divorce?)

8. Con ghẻ (The adopted child)

“Con ghẻ” is a short musical movie published in 2017 and has received over 47 million views on Youtube so far. The movie is set in a poor family context where the parents have to sell their first daughter in order to get money for the husband’s injury treatment. The daughter then became adopted by a rich couple who can’t have kids. After some time, the wife suddenly got pregnant and they happily had their own kid. The adopted girl then became abandoned and got very badly treated by her adoptive parents. 

• Cấp độ (Level) : Dễ (Easy)
• Phụ đề (Subtitles) :  Tiếng Anh (English)
• Ngữ điệu (Dialect) : Miền Nam (Southern)
• Speaking speed (Tốc độ nói) : Chậm (Slow)
• Quote

– Tôi qua để hỏi mượn anh ít tiền (I come to borrow some money from you)
– Sao mày dám giành đồ chơi của con tao (How dare you take my baby’s toy?)
– Mày cút ra khỏi nhà tao (Get out of my house)

9. Về nhà đi con (Come home, kids)

The story of the movie “Come home, kids” revolves around 3 sisters Thu Hue, Anh Thu, Anh Duong, who lost their mother at a very young age, each with a different personality and a lifestyle.

The eldest sister Thu Hue is gentle and calm, Anh Thu is beautiful, sharp, and practical while the youngest, Anh Duong, is outspoken, wild, and lives like a son. All three girls have been through their own ups and downs, but they are fortunate to have the same fulcrum, Mr. Son – a devoted father who loves his children wholeheartedly. After many things going on, the 3 daughters all realized that the greatest happiness they have is a father who is always ready to cover and say “Come home, kids” whenever they need a home at the end of the day. You can watch the full Vietnamese series online by clicking this link : Về nhà đi con

• Cấp độ (Level) : Vừa (Medium)
• Phụ đề (Subtitles) :  Không (No)
• Ngữ điệu (Dialect) : Miền Bắc (Northern)
• Speaking speed (Tốc độ nói) : Bình thường (Normal)
• Quote

– Tha thứ cho một kẻ không ra gì không phải vị tha mà là tột đỉnh của sự ngu dốt (Forgiving someone who is worthless is not forgiveness but the culmination of ignorance)
– Không phải sai lầm nào cũng có thể sửa chữa, hối hận nào cũng có thể tha thứ (Not every mistake can be fixed, every regret can be forgiven)
– Nó thừa sức lấy một thằng ít tiền nhưng đạo đức tốt hơn mày (She’s more than capable of marrying a guy with less money but better morals than you)

10. Gạo nếp gạo tẻ (Sticky rice, ordinary rice)

Exploiting a familiar family theme to the Vietnamese audience, Gạo nếp gạo tẻ brings a different color compared to movies in the same genre. The ironic situations in Gạo nếp gạo tẻ stem from the mother’s bias towards her children. Conflicts and differences in behaviors and living situations between the two daughters, one side is loved and spoiled by the mother, the other is despised, have made the relationship between mother-daughter and sisters in the family increasingly difficult and distant from time to time.

• Cấp độ (Level) : Khó (Difficult)
• Phụ đề (Subtitles) : Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
• Ngữ điệu (Dialect) : Miền Nam (Southern)
• Speaking speed (Tốc độ nói) : Bình thường (Normal)
• Quote

– Tôi sinh ra là để được yêu thương chiều chuộng, đây không phải cuộc sống mà tôi mong muốn (I was born to be loved and pampered, this is not the life I want) 
–Tôi hối hận vì tôi lấy anh (I regret that I married you)
– Tại sao anh lại bắt tôi suy nghĩ cho người khác vậy chứ. Sống gì mà khổ cực quá vậy? (Why do you make me think for other people? Why do you have to make your life difficult?
– Chỉ cần mình có mục tiêu rõ ràng và quyết tâm thì nhất định sẽ đạt được mục tiêu đó (As long as you have a clear goal and determination, you will definitely achieve it)
– Ép bản thân mình làm chuyện mình không thích thì sẽ khiến cho mình rất mệt mỏi (Forcing yourself to do what you don’t like would exhaust you.)
– Học là để có kiến thức, có kỹ năng. Từ đó mới có thể làm được nghề nghiệp mà mình yêu thích (Learning is to have knowledge and skills. Only then will you be able do the job that you like)

11. Conclusion

Not only can you learn Vietnamese from the movies that I have introduced to you but also from many life experiences from the characters’ lines. I hope that these lines and quotes will inspire you to look for and watch the full movie in your leisure time. 

In case you’re still afraid of not knowing where to start, why don’t you visit VietnamesePod101 for more lessons, flashcards, vocabulary lists, and many audio files for better preparation? A free lifetime account is waiting for you and a Youtube channel is also there to support you with pronunciation. 

Now, enjoy the movies and I’ll catch you later!