Don't: đừng + verb

Đừng before a verb tells someone not to do something: Đừng lo. Don't worry. Putting the person first sounds kinder, and nha at the end softens it further: Chị đừng lo nha (in Hà Nội, nhé).

Đừng is for telling or asking someone not to do something. With mình it means "let's not" (Mình đừng đi nữa), and it turns up in wishes too: Mong mai đừng mưa. I hope it doesn't rain tomorrow. To say what you don't do, use không: "I don't eat meat" is Tôi không ăn thịt.

To say "stop doing it", add nữa (any more) at the end: Đừng khóc nữa. Don't cry any more.

Đừng có is stronger, a warning or a telling-off: Đừng có đụng vô! Don't touch it! (in Hà Nội, Đừng có động vào!). Adding mà makes it sharper still: Đừng có mà quên! Don't you forget!

In Saigon a warning often opens with Thôi or Ê: Thôi, đừng mua nữa. That's enough, don't buy any more. In Hà Nội you'll hear Ấy, đừng …

Đi at the end is the opposite: it urges someone to go ahead. On signs and in rules you'll see cấm or không được instead.