Vietnamese Animals — Wildlife, Pets and the Zodiac
Animal vocabulary in Vietnamese is worth learning for several reasons: Vietnam has extraordinary biodiversity, the Vietnamese zodiac uses 12 animals (with one key difference from the Chinese system), and many Vietnamese expressions and proverbs reference animals. The Vietnamese word for animal is động vật (dong vaht).
Common Animals
chóchohdog — one of the most common pets in Vietnam
mèomeh-ohcat
gàgahchicken — the most important livestock animal in Vietnam
vịtvitduck
lợn / heolon / heh-ohpig — lợn (Northern), heo (Southern)
bòbohcow / beef
trâutrowwater buffalo — the iconic Vietnamese farming animal
ngựanguahorse
voivoyelephant — found in Central Highlands; cultural symbol
rắnransnake
cágahfish — crucial to Vietnamese cuisine and culture
tômtohmshrimp / prawn
cuaguacrab
hổhohtiger — national symbol, appears in myths and proverbs
rồngrongdragon — the most powerful symbol in Vietnamese mythology
The Vietnamese Zodiac — 12 Animals
The Vietnamese zodiac follows a 12-year cycle, with one crucial difference from the Chinese system: where China uses the Rabbit, Vietnam uses the Cat (mèo). This is a point of national pride and leads to much good-natured teasing between Vietnamese and Chinese zodiac enthusiasts.
ChuộtjwotRat — cunning, resourceful
TrâutrowBuffalo — diligent, dependable
HổhohTiger — brave, powerful
Mèomeh-ohCat — elegant, creative (Vietnam's unique zodiac animal)
RồngrongDragon — lucky, ambitious
RắnranSnake — wise, intuitive
NgựanguaHorse — energetic, freedom-loving
DêyehGoat — gentle, artistic
KhỉkheeMonkey — clever, mischievous
GàgahRooster — punctual, observant
ChóchohDog — loyal, honest
LợnlonPig — generous, diligent
🇻🇳 Con giáp — your zodiac sign
"Bạn tuổi con gì?" (What is your zodiac animal?) is a common conversation opener in Vietnam. Knowing your Vietnamese zodiac sign and being able to ask others is a genuine cultural connection point — especially at Tết when zodiac significance is everywhere.