[hoian]

I think tieng viet is easier to learn than Thai because they don't use taugeh. In my early years, when I didn't know how to speak even basic tv I can still make out words like nha hang = restaurant, ve sinh = toilet etc.

Guys will be more motivated to learn the pick-up lines first and progress from there eg
Ten em la gi? - What is your name?
So phone/dien thoai cua em la gi? - what is your phone no?
Em que o dau? - Where are u from (hometown)?
... and so on.

In Saigon, a lot of words are borrowed from Chinese so that's even easier.
eg xiu mai (siew mai), xa xiu (char siew), xi yau (soya sauce), kho qua (bittergourd)...