Looking for expert Vietnamese translation services? Since 2003, Green Crescent has been providing professional translation services between English and Vietnamese for clients globally. We specialize in various sectors, including legal, business, medical, and governmental fields. Our team ensures accurate, high-quality translations tailored to your specific needs. Get a fast, free Vietnamese translation quote today!
Our Comprehensive Vietnamese Translation Services
Green Crescent’s team of expert Vietnamese translators includes industry-specific specialists to cater to diverse needs. We provide translations tailored to all major dialects and variations of the Vietnamese language, ensuring precise and culturally relevant communication for every audience.
- Northern Vietnamese (Hanoi)
- Central Vietnamese (Hue)
- Southern Vietnamese (Ho Chi Minh City)
We specialize in both English to Vietnamese and Vietnamese to English translations, offering the following services:
- Legal Document Translation
- Technical and Engineering Translation
- Medical and Healthcare Translation
- Marketing and Advertising Translation
- Website, Software, and App Localization
- Certified Translation for Immigration and Legal Use
Green Crescent is committed to delivering high-quality translations that resonate with Vietnamese-speaking audiences, ensuring accuracy, cultural nuance, and the effective conveyance of your message in every project.
Simple Translation
Our simple translations in the English/Vietnamese language pair are designed for basic communication needs. These translations are completed by a single Vietnamese translator without the involvement of an editor or proofreader, and therefore should not be considered final or polished work for most professional or formal use cases. While they are typically of high quality, simple translations are essentially "rough drafts" that do not go through additional editing, proofreading, or other quality control processes. These translations are ideal for personal letters, informal communications, initial drafts that will later be revised, or for situations where you need to quickly understand the general meaning or "gist" of a Vietnamese text.
Standard Translation (TEP)
Our Standard Vietnamese Translation service is designed to provide high-quality translations for everyday use, including business correspondence, websites, reports, presentations, and similar content. This service includes translation, editing, and proofreading (TEP) to ensure the highest level of accuracy and clarity in your Vietnamese communications.
Organization Critical Translation (TEP+)
Our Organization Critical Vietnamese Translation service is designed for situations where perfection is essential. This option is recommended for texts intended for large-scale printing, technical documents, legal contracts and patents, medical documents, or any case where an error could be critical or costly. Each translated line is reviewed by a minimum of three linguists, with multiple rounds of proofreading. Subject matter experts (SMEs) may be involved as needed throughout the Vietnamese translation, editing, and proofreading (TEP) process.
Bilingual Editing
Bilingual Editing for Vietnamese Translation is the process of editing a translated text by comparing both the source and target texts in the English/Vietnamese language pair. The editor, fluent in the source language and a native speaker of Vietnamese, ensures that the translation is accurate, consistent, and faithful to the source text while also maintaining clarity and fluency in Vietnamese. This step occurs after the initial translation in our TEP (Translation, Editing, Proofreading) Organization Critical and Standard Translation services. We also offer this service as a standalone option for translations completed by individuals or organizations not affiliated with Green Crescent.
Proofreading
With each additional round of editing and proofreading, the error rate of a document approaches the perfection horizon. Our proofreading service for English to Vietnamese and Vietnamese to English translations involves reviewing a single-language text to identify and correct surface-level errors, such as spelling mistakes, grammar issues, punctuation errors, and formatting inconsistencies. This step is the final phase in our TEP (Translation, Editing, Proofreading) Organization Critical and Standard translation services. We also offer proofreading as a standalone service for translations completed by individuals or organizations not affiliated with Green Crescent.
Legal Translation
Green Crescent's elite team of linguists, each with subject matter expertise in specialized legal fields, is ready to assist you with the translation of a wide range of judicial, administrative, and private legal documents between Vietnamese and English. Nearly all countries recognize that submitting documents for translation does not compromise attorney-client privilege. Furthermore, we can implement enhanced security measures to ensure strict confidentiality upon request.
Technical Translation
Technical translations involve any text that features specialized vocabulary or language registers, necessitating additional research and terminology verification. Common technical subject matter includes legal, medical, scientific, engineering, and IT topics, but any text that utilizes industry-specific terminology or neologisms may be considered technical in nature. These translations cannot be executed by generalists alone; they require the expertise of linguists with in-depth knowledge of the relevant technical field in both Vietnamese and English.
Medical Translation
Green Crescent has established protocols to ensure compliance with HIPAA and HITECH regulations, which you can learn more about here. Our Vietnamese medical translations are treated as "organization critical," unless otherwise specified, and we are committed to implementing the necessary digital security measures and legal safeguards for every project subject to HIPAA and HITECH requirements. Our team of skilled linguists, specialized in medical terminology, ensures that your translations are both accurate and secure.
Localization
Our translation services are tailored for specific target markets that require non-standard varieties or dialects of the Vietnamese language. Green Crescent is equipped to accommodate requests for localized Vietnamese translation, ensuring that your content resonates with the intended audience. For example, we offer translations in regional dialects such as "Northern Vietnamese," "Central Vietnamese," and "Southern Vietnamese." Our experienced linguists are well-versed in the nuances of these dialects, allowing us to provide translations that are not only accurate but also culturally relevant and engaging. By focusing on the unique linguistic characteristics of each Vietnamese dialect, we help you effectively connect with your audience and enhance the impact of your message.
Website, App, and Software Localization for Vietnamese
At Green Crescent, we leverage our extensive experience in software development to provide specialized Vietnamese localization services. We excel in adapting your website, app, or software’s content, design, and functionality for Vietnamese-speaking audiences. Whether you need a fully multilingual solution or specific adaptations for Vietnamese, our services encompass translating text, adjusting images, and modifying layouts. We also adapt and program code for both mobile and desktop applications, ensuring that your app functions seamlessly across Vietnamese-speaking regions while adhering to platform-specific guidelines. Let us help you create an engaging and culturally relevant experience for your Vietnamese-speaking users.
Back-translation
Back-translation is often a crucial component of the quality control process, particularly when translating highly technical documents or for critical translations in the Vietnamese/English language pair where an error could have significant consequences. This process involves an independent linguist translating a previously translated text back into its original source language—either Vietnamese or English—without reference to the original document. The resulting text is then compared to the original translation to verify its intelligibility, accuracy, and suitability for its intended use. Back-translation is also relevant in situations such as the translation of legal documents, medical texts, and marketing materials, where precise wording is essential. It can be particularly beneficial when adapting content for different cultural contexts, ensuring that the intended message is preserved and resonates appropriately with the target audience in both Vietnamese and English.
Peer Review
Green Crescent offers professional focus group services that include a comprehensive "read-through" conducted by one or more linguists who were not involved in the original translation process. This approach allows for an unbiased assessment of the translation's quality, style, and overall fitness for its intended purpose. The focus group can evaluate various aspects of the text, including linguistic accuracy, cultural relevance, and the effectiveness of the messaging in reaching the target audience. Feedback is provided on how well the translation conveys the original intent and nuances of the source material, ensuring that it resonates with readers in both Vietnamese and English contexts.
SME Review
Subject Matter Expert (SME) review is a specialized form of peer review conducted by non-linguist professionals with deep expertise in specific fields. This process is particularly important for Vietnamese to English or English to Vietnamese translations of highly technical texts, ensuring that the content is both linguistically accurate and technically precise. In fields such as legal, medical, scientific, and engineering, SMEs help verify the correct use of industry-specific terminology, adherence to regulatory or technical standards, and the contextual relevance of the translated material. By incorporating SME review into the translation process, we ensure that your final product is not only fluent and culturally appropriate but also technically sound and ready for professional use in both Vietnamese- and English-speaking markets.
Transcreation
Our Vietnamese Transcreation Service goes beyond simple translation by creatively adapting your content to resonate with Vietnamese-speaking audiences. At Green Crescent, we ensure that your brand’s messages, campaigns, and communications maintain their original intent, emotional impact, and tone, while aligning with the cultural and linguistic nuances of the target market. Whether it’s marketing, branding, or advertising, we reimagine your content to feel authentic and compelling in Vietnamese, helping your brand connect meaningfully and effectively with Vietnamese-speaking audiences.
MTPE-Full (Machine Translation Post-Editing - Full)
MTPE-Full (Machine Translation Post-Editing - Full) refers to the comprehensive post-editing of a machine-translated text between Vietnamese and English, ensuring the final product meets the highest standards of linguistic quality. In this process, once the machine generates the translation, a skilled human editor thoroughly reviews the entire content, ensuring that it is not only accurate in meaning but also flows naturally and fluently in the target language. This detailed editing process includes correcting grammar, syntax, and terminology, adapting the text for the intended audience, and ensuring it adheres to any stylistic preferences or regulatory requirements. MTPE-Full is suitable for business-critical texts where precision and quality are paramount.
MTPE-Light (Machine Translation Post-Editing - Light)
MTPE-Light (Machine Translation Post-Editing - Light) is a more streamlined version of post-editing, designed for situations where speed and cost-efficiency are prioritized over linguistic perfection. In this process, the human editor focuses primarily on fixing major errors and ensuring that the overall meaning of the machine-translated text is clear and understandable in the target language (Vietnamese or English). While MTPE-Light may not deliver a translation that is fully polished or ready for publication, it provides an efficient and cost-effective solution for internal documents, reports, and communications where basic comprehension is sufficient.
Additional Language Services and Options for Vietnamese
Certified Translation
Green Crescent provides certified translations of a wide range of legal documents, including birth, marriage, and death certificates, diplomas, school transcripts, passports, and much more, in both Vietnamese and English. Our certified translations are recognized for their accuracy and compliance with legal standards, making them suitable for official use. You can receive hard copies of our standard certificate of translation mailed directly to your home or business.
Rush Service
If you require expedited service, Green Crescent can usually accommodate such requests. However, please note that rushing translations often comes with trade-offs, which may affect both price and consistency. Please consult with a project manager for more details.
Discounts
Volume discounts are available for large projects, long-term clients, and for non-profits, charities, NGOs, and government organizations.
Minimum Fee
There is a minimum project fee of $75.00 USD per language, which can be reduced or waived for regular clients.
Additional Language Services
In addition to translation, Green Crescent offers a range of other Vietnamese language services, including interpretation, transcription, website design and development, and desktop publishing.
About the Vietnamese Language
Vietnamese is spoken by over 90 million people, primarily in Vietnam, where it is the official language. It is also widely spoken in Vietnamese communities across the globe, particularly in the United States, France, and Australia. As a member of the Austroasiatic language family, Vietnamese has a unique linguistic structure and vocabulary that reflects its rich cultural and historical identity.
Vietnam: The Cultural Context and Linguistic Features
Vietnamese is a tonal language with six distinct tones, where the pitch or intonation used can change the meaning of a word. This tonal system is a major consideration when translating from English to Vietnamese. For example, the word "ma" can mean "ghost," "but," or "rice seedling," depending on the tone used. The language is written in the Latin alphabet with additional diacritical marks to indicate tones, which significantly impacts both spoken and written Vietnamese.
Historically, Vietnamese has absorbed influences from Chinese due to over a millennium of Chinese rule. This is evident in many borrowed words, especially in areas related to governance, philosophy, and religion. Later, French colonial rule brought another wave of loanwords, particularly in the fields of law, technology, and education. Understanding these layers of influence is crucial for accurate and culturally relevant translations.
Beyond its linguistic characteristics, Vietnamese is deeply intertwined with the country’s rich cultural heritage, from traditional poetry and folk music to contemporary literature and cinema. The language reflects the complex history and identity of Vietnam, making it an essential part of the country's cultural expression.
The Writing System: A Blend of Tradition and Modernity
Vietnamese is written using the Latin-based script called "Quốc Ngữ," introduced during the French colonial period. This script replaced earlier forms that used Chinese characters (Chữ Nôm), making Vietnamese more accessible for mass literacy:
Quốc Ngữ:
The Vietnamese alphabet consists of 29 letters, with diacritics that indicate tone and pronunciation. This script allows for clear and consistent representation of the language's complex sounds and tones.
Chữ Nôm:
Historically, Vietnamese used Chữ Nôm, which borrowed Chinese characters to represent Vietnamese words. Although no longer widely used, understanding the historical significance of Chữ Nôm can be important for translating classical texts or cultural references.
Vietnamese: Standard Dialect and Regional Variations
The standard dialect of Vietnamese is based on the northern Hanoi dialect, which is widely used in government, media, and education. However, there are significant regional variations in Vietnamese, including the central and southern dialects, each with distinct pronunciation, vocabulary, and tone usage. For example, the word for "rice" is pronounced differently in the north ("gạo") and the south ("lúa"). These regional differences are important to consider when translating content intended for specific audiences in Vietnam.
Key Linguistic Differences Between Vietnamese and English for Translation
When translating between Vietnamese and English, several linguistic factors must be considered to ensure accurate and effective communication. Below are some critical differences:
Sentence Structure:
Vietnamese follows a Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) structure, similar to English. However, the use of classifiers before nouns, such as "con" for animals or "cái" for objects, adds complexity. For example, "the dog" in English becomes "con chó" in Vietnamese, with "con" acting as a classifier.
Tonal Sensitivity:
The tonal nature of Vietnamese requires careful consideration, as incorrect tone usage can lead to misunderstandings. This makes proofreading and voiceover work particularly challenging when translating into Vietnamese.
Contextual Nuances:
Vietnamese often relies heavily on context for meaning, with implied subjects or objects that may need to be clarified in English. For instance, "ăn" can simply mean "eat," but without context, the subject (who is eating) is unclear. This requires translators to make decisions based on the cultural context.
Loanwords and Code-Switching:
Vietnamese has incorporated many loanwords from English, French, and Chinese. Understanding how these terms are adapted and used in everyday language is crucial for accurate translation. For example, "computer" is often translated as "máy tính" in formal contexts, but "computer" may be used directly in conversational Vietnamese.
By understanding and adapting to these linguistic differences, Green Crescent ensures that our Vietnamese translation services are both accurate and culturally relevant. Whether you require general translations or more specialized content, our team of professional translators is dedicated to helping you effectively reach your Vietnamese-speaking audience with precision and clarity.
An Insight into Vietnamese Expression and Thought
This passage is from Dumb Luck (Số đỏ) by Vũ Trọng Phụng, first published in 1936. It is a seminal work in 20th-century Vietnamese literature, known for its sharp social satire that critiques Westernization and the absurdities of colonial society.
- Vietnamese: "Tiền là tiên là phật, là sức bật của lò xo, là thước đo của lòng người, là tiếng cười của tuổi trẻ."
- English Translation: "Money is a deity, a springboard for success, a measure of one’s heart, and the laughter of youth."