Both … and, at the same time: vừa … vừa

Put vừa before each of two words and you get "both … and": Quán này vừa rẻ vừa ngon. This place is both cheap and good. The two are qualities of the same person or thing, and usually both are good or both are bad: vừa mệt vừa đói, tired and hungry. For a good point against a bad one, use nhưng: rẻ nhưng xa.

With two actions, it means "at the same time" or "while": Em vừa ăn vừa coi phim. I eat while watching a film. Đừng vừa chạy xe vừa nhắn tin. Don't text while you're riding (in Hà Nội, đi xe).

The person comes first, and each vừa goes right before its word. The parts can be longer: vừa đi làm vừa học tiếng Anh, working and studying English at the same time.

For two people or things, use cả … lẫn: cả phở lẫn bún bò. To pile a second point on the first, "and what's more", use đã … lại còn. And a single vừa before a verb means "just": Em vừa ăn xong. I've just eaten.