Rất vui được gặp... — Ending a first meeting naturally

What you will learn

This lesson helps you close a first conversation. You will learn Rất vui được gặp..., several goodbye expressions, and the difference between a textbook phrase and what people may actually say in a casual situation.

1. Rất vui được gặp...

Rất vui được gặp bạn. means “Nice to meet you.”

As usual, the final relationship word can change:

• Rất vui được gặp anh.
• Rất vui được gặp chị.
• Rất vui được gặp em.

2. Breaking down the phrase

• rất — very
• vui — happy/glad
• được — here contributes to the idea of having the opportunity/experience to meet
• gặp — meet

Do not try to translate được with one fixed English word. It appears in many other Vietnamese structures later.

3. A natural response

You can reply:

• Tôi cũng vậy. — Me too / likewise.
• Em cũng vậy.
• Anh cũng vậy.

The pronoun again depends on the relationship.

4. Tạm biệt

Tạm biệt means goodbye. It is correct and useful, but in casual everyday conversation people also use many other endings.

5. Hẹn gặp lại

Hẹn gặp lại. — See you again.

This is a useful neutral expression when you expect or hope to meet again.

6. Everyday endings

You may also hear:

• Mai gặp nhé. — See you tomorrow.
• Gặp lại sau nhé. — See you later.
• Về nhé. — I’m heading off / goodbye, in a suitable context.
• Em về nhé. — I’m going now, said as em.
• Cháu về ạ. — A respectful younger-person departure expression.

Vietnamese often closes an interaction by referring to the actual action of leaving, rather than using one universal goodbye word.

7. A short conversation

Nam: Rất vui được gặp chị.

Linda: Chị cũng vậy.

Nam: Em phải đi rồi.

Linda: Ừ, hẹn gặp lại em nhé.

Nam: Dạ, em chào chị.

8. Em chào chị can also close a conversation

The verb chào is not limited to the beginning of a meeting. Depending on context, Em chào chị or Cháu chào cô ạ may also function as a respectful farewell.

This is another example of why Vietnamese cannot always be learned through one-to-one English phrases.

9. Useful vocabulary

• rất vui — very glad
• được gặp — get to meet / meet
• cũng vậy — likewise / me too
• tạm biệt — goodbye
• hẹn gặp lại — see you again
• sau — later/after
• mai — tomorrow
• về — return/go home/leave toward home, depending on context
• phải đi — have to go

10. Vietnam in real life

With older people or in family-like relationships, a younger speaker may explicitly announce departure and greet again: Cháu về ạ, Con đi nhé, or another relationship-appropriate phrase.

Goodbyes therefore also reveal social relationships, just like greetings.

11. Common beginner mistake

Do not assume that every conversation must end with Tạm biệt. It is correct Vietnamese, but context may make Hẹn gặp lại, mai gặp nhé, or a relationship-based departure expression sound more natural.

Try it

1. Say “Nice to meet you” to someone you address as chị.
2. Reply with “Me too” as em.
3. Say “See you again.”
4. Imagine leaving an older relative’s home and choose a respectful departure phrase.

Quick recap

Rất vui được gặp... is useful for first meetings. Tạm biệt and hẹn gặp lại are useful endings, but everyday Vietnamese often closes conversations through relationship words and the action of leaving.