Chỉ cần có lều là chúng ta có thể cắm trại.

This pattern means something like as long as ... , then ... or all you need is ... for ... to happen.

So Chỉ cần có lều là chúng ta có thể cắm trại means that having a tent is enough for us to go camping. It expresses a condition that is sufficient.

Có often means to have or there is/are.

In có lều, it can be understood as have a tent or there being a tent. In this sentence, English usually renders it as if we have a tent or as long as there is a tent available.

That is a very common learner question. Here, là is not really the normal to be verb.

In the structure chỉ cần X là Y, là works more like a linker between the condition and the result. It is close to then in meaning, even though Vietnamese does not always translate it directly.

So:

• X = có lều
• Y = chúng ta có thể cắm trại

Because chúng ta means we, including the listener.

By contrast, chúng tôi means we, but not including the listener.

So this sentence is talking about you and I / all of us together being able to go camping.

Có thể means can, be able to, or it is possible to.

In this sentence, it shows possibility or ability:

• chúng ta có thể cắm trại = we can go camping

It makes the sentence sound natural and complete.

It is a fixed verb phrase meaning to camp or to go camping.

Literally:

• cắm = to stick in / set up
• trại = camp

But together, cắm trại simply means to camp.

Vietnamese does not use articles like a, an, and the the way English does.

So lều by itself can mean:

• a tent
• the tent
• tents

The exact meaning depends on context. Here, có lều naturally means have a tent.

Yes. You could say:

Chỉ cần có một cái lều là chúng ta có thể cắm trại.

That means more explicitly we just need one tent or a tent.

The original version without một cái is more general and often more natural in everyday speech.

Yes, in some contexts you may hear:

Chỉ cần có lều, chúng ta có thể cắm trại.

That is still understandable and natural. But là is very common in this pattern and helps clearly separate the condition from the result.

By itself, it does not mark tense clearly.

Vietnamese verbs do not change form the way English verbs do. So this sentence could mean:

• a general truth
• a present possibility
• a future plan

The time is understood from context or from extra time words.

Not always in an absolute, logical sense.

Usually it means a tent is enough for the purpose being discussed or as long as we have a tent, we can go ahead and camp.

So it expresses practical sufficiency, not necessarily a complete list of everything needed in real life.

Yes. Có can be either:

• have
• there is / there are

So có lều is slightly flexible. In this sentence, English usually interprets it as if we have a tent, because that fits the overall meaning best.