The 7 Most Common English Mistakes Vietnamese Professionals Make (and How to Fix Them)

Admin Team August 22, 2025

If you’re a Vietnamese professional working (or dreaming of working) with U.S. teams, your English is more than just a skill — it’s your career passport. The way you write an email or join a Zoom call can make the difference between looking like a confident partner or someone who still struggles to express ideas.

Here’s the thing: you don’t need perfect English. But there are a handful of very common mistakes that many Vietnamese professionals make — and U.S. colleagues do notice them. The good news? Once you’re aware of them, they’re pretty easy to fix.

Let’s break them down together 👇

1️⃣ Saying “He/She” Too Much

❌ “My manager, she told me to finish the report.”
✅ “My manager told me to finish the report.”

Why this matters: Americans like sentences that are short and direct. Repeating “he/she” makes you sound less natural. Also, U.S. workplaces often use they as a gender-neutral pronoun.

👉 Quick fix: Next time you write an email, see if you can drop the extra he/she and keep it clean.

2️⃣ Mixing Up “Fun” and “Funny”

❌ “The meeting was very funny.” (People were laughing??)
✅ “The meeting was very fun.”

Why this matters: A small slip can completely change meaning. Saying something was funny when you mean fun can confuse colleagues.

👉 Quick fix: Remember — funny = makes you laugh. Fun = enjoyable.

3️⃣ Overusing “Very” (Instead of Smarter Words)

❌ “The client was very angry.”
✅ “The client was furious.”

Why this matters: Relying on very makes your English sound basic, even if you’re advanced. Stronger words = stronger impression.

👉 Quick fix: Keep a little “upgrade list.” Example:

very good → excellent
very tired → exhausted
very big → huge

4️⃣ Translating Word-for-Word from Vietnamese

❌ “I go out the light.”
✅ “I turn off the light.”

Why this matters: U.S. English has its own way of pairing words together. Literal translation almost always sounds off.

👉 Quick fix: Learn collocations (words that naturally go together), like “make a decision” or “take responsibility.”

5️⃣ Confusing Tenses (Past vs. Present Perfect)

❌ “I work here since 2020.”
✅ “I have worked here since 2020.”

Why this matters: Using the wrong tense makes you harder to follow. In business, that can sound careless.

👉 Quick fix:

If it started in the past and continues → Present Perfect
If it’s done/finished → Past Simple

6️⃣ Sounding Too Direct in Emails

❌ “Send me the file.”
✅ “Could you please send me the file?”

Why this matters: In Vietnamese, being direct is fine. In American business culture, it can sound bossy or even rude.

👉 Quick fix: Before hitting send, ask: Would this sound polite if my boss sent it to me? If not, add please or could you.

7️⃣ Pronunciation That Changes Meaning

❌ Saying “ship” when you mean “sheep.”
❌ Forgetting the “s” in plurals (“three cat” instead of “three cats”).

Why this matters: A single sound can completely change meaning. Imagine saying “lice” when you mean “rice” at a team lunch 🍚🙈.

👉 Quick fix: Use free tools like YouGlish or apps like ELSA Speak. Record yourself and compare to native pronunciation.

🚀 Pro Tips to Sound More Confident

Think in English. Don’t translate in your head — it slows you down.
Listen daily. U.S. podcasts, Netflix, YouTube — all count as practice.
Copy real speech. Repeat after native speakers like you’re an actor.
Keep an error journal. Write down mistakes you notice and correct them.
Get feedback. Ask a trusted colleague or coach to flag patterns.

🌟 Final Takeaway

You don’t need “perfect” English to shine with U.S. employers. What matters is clear, natural communication. By fixing these 7 common mistakes, you’ll instantly sound more confident, professional, and globally ready.

💡 Remember: Your ideas are valuable. Don’t let small language mistakes get in the way of sharing them.

👉 What’s the one English mistake you catch yourself making the most? Drop it in the comments — I’ll share the natural version you can use right away.

👉 Want to improve your English for U.S. jobs? Book a free strategy session.