Vietnamese Siri goes live on iPhone, supports ride-hailing, money transfer

After more than a month of beta testing, the official iOS 18.4 update introducing Vietnamese language support is now available for supported iPhones, starting with the iPhone SE (2nd generation) and iPhone 11.

It is also available in iPadOS 18.4 and macOS 15.4, both released Tuesday. Users can check for the update at Settings > General > Software Update. With the latest update, Siri can process Vietnamese voice commands to perform tasks such as booking rides via Be and transferring money through the Momo payment app.

In tests conducted by VnExpress, Siri successfully booked a ride to a saved address via Be and transferred money through Momo using voice commands. However, the commands must follow proper grammar as Siri does not yet support casual or conversational phrasing.

Siri on an iPhone. Photo from Unsplash

Apple is expected to expand app compatibility and improve flexibility through future updates.

Vietnamese support arrives 14 years after Siri was first launched globally. Beyond smartphones, Siri also enables hands-free control of HomeKit smart devices and in-car systems.

Features related to Apple Intelligence are not yet available in Vietnamese. Apple said Vietnamese support for Apple Intelligence would be rolled out later this year, along with other languages including Chinese, Indian and Singaporean English.

Users can select from four Vietnamese voice options. Siri is activated using the standard "Hey Siri" command, followed by five sample phrases to train the assistant to recognize the user’s voice.

Once set up, users can perform tasks hands-free in Vietnamese such as making calls, sending messages, checking the weather, and managing schedules.