In Vietnam’s major tourist hubs, including the Ha Long Bay and Sa Pa, you will find plenty of people who speak English. Those working and operating hotels and tours will have decent English-language skills. English is primarily spoken by younger generations, with grandparents tending to speak French because of France’s colonial history in the country. In more far-flung destinations, such as the hill villages of the north, you may find locals speak nothing but Vietnamese, which is where a guide really comes in handy!