vậy₃ is used to shift the conversation to a new stage. It helps the speaker close one part of the talk and smoothly move to the next action, topic, or closing.
With vậy₃, the speaker is managing the flow of conversation rather than adding new content.
[1] – Vậy₃ mình bắt đầu nhé. Alright then, let’s start.
→ vậy₃ signals that talking is done and action begins.
[2] – Vậy₃ chuyện đó để sau nói. Alright, let’s talk about that later.
→ The speaker closes the current topic and redirects.
[3] – Vậy₃ tôi về trước nhé. Alright then, I’ll head off first.
→ vậy₃ marks a polite exit.
[4] – Vậy₃ giờ mình làm gì tiếp? So, what do we do next?
→ vậy₃ organizes the flow after a pause or confusion.
vậy₃ vs vậy₁
– vậy₁: logical conclusion – vậy₃: conversational transition
[5a] – Trời mưa. Vậy₁ ở nhà. It’s raining. So stay home.
[5b] – Vậy₃ mình ở nhà nhé. Alright then, let’s stay home.
vậy₃ vs thôi
– vậy₃: moving forward – thôi: stopping or giving up
[6a] – Vậy₃ mình tiếp tục nhé. Alright, let’s continue.
[6b] – Thôi, mình dừng lại nhé. Alright, let’s stop.
vậy₃ vs à
– vậy₃: planned transition – à: sudden realization or reaction
[7a] – Vậy₃ bắt đầu họp nhé. Alright, let’s start the meeting.
[7b] – À, quên mất. Oh, I forgot.
• vậy₃ usually appears at the beginning of a sentence.
• It is very common in spoken Vietnamese, especially in group settings.
• vậy₃ does not add meaning to the content; it organizes interaction.
• Intonation is calm and controlled.
• In formal writing, vậy₃ is often omitted.
• Vậy₃ + action
– Vậy₃ mình đi ăn nhé. Alright then, let’s go eat.
• Often combined with softeners:
– vậy₃ … nhé – vậy₃ … thôi
• Common in meetings, plans, and everyday conversation.
vậy₃ is the quiet stage manager of Vietnamese conversation.