How to Type Vietnamese | Complete Guide to Telex & VNI Keyboards
Learn how to type Vietnamese on your computer and phone! This guide covers Telex and VNI input methods, with setup instructions for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android.
Updated 2025-01-17
Want to type Vietnamese on your computer or phone but don't know where to start? Vietnamese has special letters and tone marks that require a dedicated input method. This guide will teach you Telex and VNI — the two most popular input methods — so you can easily type đ, ă, ơ, ư, and all six tones!
Why Do You Need a Vietnamese Keyboard?
Vietnamese uses the Latin alphabet, but with many special characters you won't find on a standard English keyboard:
d with stroke
a variants
circumflex vowels
horn vowels
Additionally, Vietnamese has 6 tones, each with its own diacritic mark. A standard English keyboard can't type these letters and marks directly, so you need a Vietnamese input method.
Two Main Input Methods Compared
Telex vs VNI
| Feature | Telex | VNI |
|---|---|---|
| Input method | Letter combinations | Numbers |
| How to type "á" | a + s | a + 1 |
| Learning difficulty | ⭐⭐ Easier | ⭐⭐⭐ Medium |
| Typing speed | ⭐⭐⭐ Faster | ⭐⭐ Medium |
| Popularity | 🏆 Most popular | Less common |
| Recommendation | ✅ Highly recommended | Optional |
Our recommendation: The vast majority of Vietnamese people use Telex, and it's the easiest to learn. We recommend beginners start with Telex!
Complete Telex Tutorial
Telex Input Rules
1 Special Vowels
| Target letter | Telex keys | Description |
|---|---|---|
| ă | a + w | Short a (with breve) |
| â | a + a | A with circumflex |
| ê | e + e | E with circumflex |
| ô | o + o | O with circumflex |
| ơ | o + w | O with horn |
| ư | u + w | U with horn |
Memory tip: "w" stands for "wavy/curved" — use it for letters with breves or horns; double letters (aa, ee, oo) create circumflex vowels.
2 Special Consonant
| Target letter | Telex keys | Description |
|---|---|---|
| đ | d + d | D with stroke (sounds like English "d") |
3 Six Tone Marks
| Tone name | Mark | Telex key | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| ngang (level) | — | none | ma → ma |
| sắc (rising) | ´ | s | ma + s → má |
| huyền (falling) | ` | f | ma + f → mà |
| hỏi (questioning) | ˇ | r | ma + r → mả |
| ngã (tumbling) | ˜ | x | ma + x → mã |
| nặng (heavy) | . | j | ma + j → mạ |
Memory trick: "sharp rise, fall down, raise a question, extra twist, heavy junk"
Telex Practice Exercises
Practice Typing
Type: X i n [space] c h a o + f + !
Type: C a + r + m [space] o + w + n
Type: V i e + e + j + t [space] N a m
Type: T o + o + i [space] l a + f [space] n g u + w + o + f + i [space] M y + x
Type: R a + s + t [space] v u i [space] d + d + u + w + o + j + c [space] g a + j + p [space] b a + j + n
VNI Input Method
VNI Input Rules
VNI uses number keys to input tones and special letters. It's suitable for those who prefer using the number row.
Tone Numbers
Special Letter Numbers
VNI Examples
Platform Setup Guides
Computer & Phone Setup
🪟 Windows Setup
- 1Open Settings → Time & Language → Language & Region
- 2Click "Add a language" and search for "Tiếng Việt" or "Vietnamese"
- 3After installation, click "Options" for that language
- 4Add keyboard and select "Vietnamese Telex" or "Vietnamese Number Key-Based" (VNI)
- 5Use Win + Space to switch input methods
🍎 macOS Setup
- 1Open System Settings → Keyboard → Input Sources
- 2Click the "+" button at the bottom left to add an input source
- 3Search for "Vietnamese" and select "Vietnamese UniKey"
- 4Click the input method icon in the menu bar to switch between Telex or VNI
- 5Use Control + Space to switch input methods
📱 iOS / iPadOS Setup
- 1Open Settings → General → Keyboard → Keyboards
- 2Tap "Add New Keyboard..."
- 3Find and select "Vietnamese"
- 4iOS has built-in Telex support; hold down vowels to see variants
🤖 Android Setup
- 1Open Settings → System → Language & Input → Virtual Keyboard
- 2Select "Gboard" (Google Keyboard) or your preferred keyboard
- 3Tap "Languages" → "Add keyboard"
- 4Search for "Tiếng Việt" and select it; Gboard supports Telex
Tip: You can also download dedicated Vietnamese keyboard apps like "Laban Key" or "OpenWnn Plus" from the Play Store.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ
Q: Which vowel gets the tone mark?
A: Most input methods automatically place it correctly. The rules are:
- • Single vowel: place it on that vowel
- • Multiple vowels: prioritize special vowels (ă, â, ê, ô, ơ, ư)
- • If all regular vowels: place on the last one (e.g., ai → ái)
Q: How do I fix a wrong tone?
A: In Telex, press the same tone key again to remove it. For example, if you typed má but wanted ma, press s again to remove the acute accent. Or just delete and retype.
Q: How do I type regular letters like w, s, f?
A: Most input methods detect when a letter combination doesn't form a Vietnamese syllable and will keep the original letter. You can also add a space after the letter, or temporarily switch to English input.
Q: Why is Telex recommended over VNI?
A: Telex is the most popular input method in Vietnam. Its benefits include:
- • No need to reach for number keys — faster typing
- • Easier to remember — more intuitive rules
- • Easier to communicate with Vietnamese people about typing
Pro Tips
Speed Up Your Typing
1. Type the whole syllable first, then add tones
For example, to type "được", first type duoc, then add w (→ dươc) and j (→ được), rather than adding marks as you go.
2. Practice common phrases
Master high-frequency words like "xin chào", "cảm ơn", "không", "được", "việt nam" first — they'll become muscle memory quickly.
3. Use predictive text
Gboard and other phone keyboards offer word predictions — type the first few letters and select from suggestions to speed up typing.
4. Practice 10 minutes daily
It's normal to be slow at first! Spend 10 minutes a day typing Vietnamese sentences, and you'll see significant improvement in 1-2 weeks.
Summary
Start Typing Vietnamese!
Learning to type Vietnamese is an important step in your language journey. Choose Telex to start, remember a few simple rules, practice regularly, and you'll be typing fluently in no time!
Quick Reference Card Special vowels: aa=â, ee=ê, oo=ô, aw=ă, ow=ơ, uw=ư
Special consonant: dd=đ
Tones: s=´, f=`, r=ˇ, x=˜, j=.
Have questions about Vietnamese typing? Feel free to reach out!