This document provides examples of asking for and giving directions in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. It includes sample dialogs asking for locations of places like the ATM, art gallery, and city hall. It also discusses one-way streets, street signs, and different ways to describe spatial relationships like locations being across from or at the corner of other places. The document aims to demonstrate how to effectively communicate directions in both asking for and providing information to get someone from one place to another in the city.

1. ASKING FOR & GIVING
DIRECTIONS
In HCMC, Vietnam

2. Discussion Questions

3. Have you ever gotten lost?
(was it in the street? In a building? a new city?)
What were you looking for?

4. Which photo best represents how you feel
when you get lost?
A
B
C
D

5. What’s usually your order of operations when you get
lost? (rank the following)
___Call someone for directions
___Use Google Maps on your phone
___Ask a nearby person for help
___ Give up & do something else
___Try to find your own way

6. “When I have to go somewhere I’ve never been before,
I usually…”
a) Find out the exact directions before I go.
b) Go to the general area, then look around (for signs)
when I get there.
c) Take a taxi
d) Find the correct street, then call someone for specific
directions.
e) Other

7. Which area of HCMC do you know best? Which areas
are you unfamiliar with?

8. Read the sentences and talk about the
differences between them based on tense

9. A) I’m lost.
B) I got lost.
C) I get lost.
D) I’m getting lost.

10. A) I’m lost.
The action is finished, but I’m still lost.
A)I got lost.
Action finished in the past, I’m no longer lost.
A) I get lost.
Present simple, therefore – it’s a general statement.
A) I’m getting lost.
I’m in the process of getting lost; getting confused; could be lost, but not sure.

11. a) I would have helped you if I knew you were lost.
b) I would help you if I knew you were lost.

12. a) I would have helped you if I knew you were lost.
You were lost (in the past); You didn’t ask me to help. But, if you had – I would have
helped you.
b) I would help you if I knew you were lost.
If you ever get lost, you can ask me to help – because I will help you.

13. a) I have looked for the address for a long time.
b) I looked for the address for a long time.

14. a) I have looked for the address for a long time.
I have been looking (in the past), and I’m still looking for the address.
b) I looked for the address for a long time.
In the past, I looked for the address – but now I’m doing something different. (either I
found the address or I gave up.

15. a) What were you doing when you missed the street?
b) What did you do when you missed the street?

16. a) What were you doing when you missed the street?
What action was happening before you missed the street?
b) What did you do when you missed the street?
What action did you take (your reaction) when you missed the street?

17. Direction Descriptions

18. If you’re ever lost and need to ask for directions, there are a few different
ways to ask someone.
How many different ways can you ask someone where an ATM is?
1) Can __________________________?
2) Where ________________________?
3) What _________________________?
4) Do ___________________________?
5) Which_________________________?

19. If you’re ever lost and need to ask for directions, there are a few different
ways to ask someone.
How many different ways can you ask someone where an ATM is?
1) Can you tell me where an ATM is?
you tell me where there’s an ATM?
2) Where is the nearest ATM?
is an ATM?
3) What is the best way to get to an ATM?
4) Do you know where an ATM is?
5) Which way is the ATM?

20. To get to the HCMC Zoo, you should go s________ o_______
Le Duan Street, u________ you c_____ to Nguyen Binh Khiem.
You will easily find the zoo.

21. To get to the HCMC Zoo, you should go straight on
Le Duan Street, until you come to Nguyen Binh Khiem
You will see the zoo out front.

22. What building or business is O_________ (across
from) Notre Dame Cathedral?

23. What building or business is Opposite (across
from) Notre Dame Cathedral?
The HSBC building / Coffee Bean

24. To get to the bank, you’ll go straight – past two
T_________L_______s, and then turn left.

25. To get to the bank, you’ll go straight – past two
Traffic Lights, and then turn left.
*Can also say “stop light”

26. “How can I get from District 8 to District 1?”
“It’s easy. You can take Vo Van Kiet and go a________ the
Saigon river.”

27. “How can I get from District 8 to District 1?”
“It’s easy. You can take Vo Van Kiet and go along the
Saigon river.”

28. a) “Excuse me, can you tell me where the art gallery is?
b) “You just passed it. You should t_____ a______ and go b___
2 blocks.”

29. a) “Excuse me, can you tell me where the art gallery is?
b) “You just passed it. You should Turn Around and go back
2 blocks.”
* Blocks = streets

30. What does this street sign mean?

31. No u-turns

32. What can you tell me about this street?
(hint: Nguyen Dinh Chieu, Ly Tu Trong, Le Thanh Ton are also like this.)

33. What can you tell me about this street?
(hint: Nguyen Dinh Chieu, Ly Tu Trong, Le Thanh Ton are also like this.)
They’re one-way streets

34. Example:
“Please turn left here.”
“Sorry sir, but that’s a one-way street. We must
go up one more street.”

35. What is the couple doing?

36. They’re crossing the street
Example: “To get to Galaxy Cinema, turn right and go down the alley, then
cross the street. You’ll see the cinema.

37. A) “I’m at your apartment; which building do you live in?”
B) “I live in Block A. From the entrance, go straight. You’ll see
Block A O______ the Right.

38. A) “I’m at your apartment; which building do you live in?”
B) “I live in Block A. From the entrance, go straight. You’ll see
Block A On the Right.

39. A: “Where’s city hall?”
B: “It’s a___ the e____ o____ Nguyen Hue street.

40. A: “Where’s city hall?”
B: “It’s at the end of Nguyen Hue street.

41. Vincom 2 sits D_______________ from Vincom 1

42. Vincom 2 sits Diagonal from Vincom 1
Diagonally

43. The Hotel Continental is located a___ the c_____ of Le Loi & Dong Khoi

44. The Hotel Continental is located at the corner of Le Loi & Dong Khoi

45. What if someone asked you directions and you
didn’t know the way / don’t know how to explain
it in words?
What can you say to them?

46. - I’m sorry, I’m not from here.
- I’m afraid I can’t help you.
- Sorry I don’t know my way around here.
You can offer another solution
- You could ask a taxi driver.
- You should ask someone in a hotel/front desk.
- Follow me. I’ll show you the way.(if it’s near)
- Do you want me to draw you a map?