Below is a list of Vietnamese exonyms for various places around the world:
History Historical exonyms include place names of bordering countries, namely Thailand, Laos, China, and Cambodia.
During the expansion of Vietnam (Nam tiến) some place names have become Vietnamized. Consequently, as control of different places and regions has shifted among China, Vietnam, and other Southeast Asian countries, the Vietnamese names for places can sometimes differ from the names residents of aforementioned places use, although nowadays it has become more common for the Vietnamese names of places to simply be Vietnamese transcriptions of the local placenames.
Many non-Vietnamese places may have more than one Vietnamese name, as shown below.
Sino-Vietnamese exonyms Before modernity, sources of names of foreign places in Vietnam came from documents that were mostly written in Classical Chinese. So many exonyms derive directly from Chinese pronunciations (see: Chinese exonyms). This in turn got transliterated into the Vietnamese, sinoxenic pronunciations of the Chinese characters (also called Sino-Vietnamese pronunciation). For example, Scotland is rendered as 蘇格蘭 in Chinese. This is pronounced as Sū-gé-lán in Mandarin Chinese, a somewhat faithful transcription of the original name. However, as applied to all Chinese characters, 蘇格蘭 can be transliterated into Vietnamese as Tô Cách Lan, which strays a bit further from the native English and Scots name. A major issue using Chinese characters to transcribe words is the fact that Chinese characters can be pronounced drastically differently among all the spoken languages and dialects that use them, which include Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese among several others, the majority of which have dramatically different phonologies and phonemes from each other. By the nature of the writing system itself, Chinese characters tend to preserve a word's syllable count, morphemes, and meanings more reliably than they do as an accurate representation of the word's pronunciation, considering that the Chinese character system itself primarily represents logograms (though some have elements of phonetic information) as opposed to phonemes of the language. The use of Sino-Vietnamese exonyms has become archaic during recent times, and only some countries, such as France, the US, Russia, Australia, India and most European countries, retain the Sino-Vietnamese pronunciations. Even so, many of the aforementioned countries also have exonyms more accurate to the native pronunciations of their respective endonyms. Currently, the countries still called by their Sino-Vietnamese names are: China, Egypt, India, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Russia, Thailand, Turkey, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK, England, the US and Australia. London and Pyongyang are the only two cities in Europe and Korea known by the Sino-Vietnamese name.
Exonyms from other languages In modern times, Vietnamese has relied less on Sino-Vietnamese-derived exonyms and it has become more common for Vietnamese exonyms to more accurately transcribe the endonym according to its native language. Thus, place names outside of East Asia can often be respelled in a way that Vietnamese can pronounce it using a transcription method called Vietnamization. For example, although Scotland can be called by its Sino-Vietnamese exonym, Tô Cách Lan, spellings such as Xcốt-len and Scôtlen are also acceptable. This method has more general patterns than steadfast rules, depending on the writer. For example, the name "Saddam Hussein" can be spelled as Sađam Hutxen, Sátđam Hutxen, or Saddam Hudsein. This is similar to native to how English speakers spelled their own names in various and inconsistent ways before English spelling became fossilized. For example, William Shakespeare spelled his own surname at least 3 different ways.
However, it has recently become more common for the English exonym or the romanization of the endonym to be written without any changes to spelling, though Vietnamese readers may still pronounce the name using a Vietnamese accent. In some cases, the name may retain an unchanged spelling, but a footnote may appear regarding how to pronounce the name in Vietnamese. For example, in the Harry Potter series of novels, the spelling of names for characters "Marge" and "Filch" remains unchanged, but footnotes exist to help Vietnamese speakers pronounce their names, which are written as "Mạc" and "Fít" respectively.
There are a few country names borrowed from French and Russian as Vietnam's history is closely linked to France and Russia. Countries whose names borrow from French are: Morocco, Cyprus, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Czech. And the countries whose names borrowed from Russian are Georgia and Lithuania. Vienna (Viên in Vietnamese) is the only city whose name in Vietnamese is borrowed from French. Hong Kong and Macau names are borrowed from English by direct transliteration into Hồng Kông and Ma Cao instead of Hương Cảng and Áo Môn in Sino-Vietnamese pronunciation.
Other cases The names of Cambodia and Laos are directly transcribed from Khmer and Lao into Vietnamese as Campuchia and Lào. The names of Phnom Penh, Vientiane and Bangkok are directly transcribed from Khmer , Lao and Thai into Vietnamese as Phnôm Pênh, Viêng Chăn and Băng Cốc. Ivory Coast is translated into Vietnamese as Bờ Biển Ngà, and at times it is transcribed from French as Cốt Đivoa.
Afghanistan A Phú Hãn, Áp-ga-ni-xtanEnglish nameVietnamese nameEndonymNotesNameLanguageKabulKa-bunKābol (کابل)PersianKābəl (کابل)Pashto
Albania An-ba-niEnglish nameVietnamese nameEndonymNotesNameLanguageTiranaTi-ra-naTiranëAlbanian
Algeria An-giê-riEnglish nameVietnamese nameEndonymNotesNameLanguageAlgiersthủ đô nước An-giê-riAl-Jazāʾir (الجزائر)Standard Arabic
Argentina Á Căn Đình, Ác-hen-ti-naEnglish nameVietnamese nameEndonymNotesNameLanguageBuenos AiresLương Phong, Bu-ê-nốt Ai-rếtBuenos AiresSpanish
Australia Úc Đại Lợi, ÚcEnglish nameVietnamese nameEndonymNotesNameLanguageMelbourneMiêu Bình, Mai Bình, Men-bơnMelbourneEnglishSydneyTất Ni, Xích-niSydneyEnglish
Austria Áo Địa Lợi, ÁoEnglish nameVietnamese nameEndonymNotesNameLanguageViennaViên WienGerman
Bahrain Ba-ranh
Bangladesh Băng-la-đétEnglish nameVietnamese nameEndonymNotesNameLanguageDhakaĐắc-caDhaka (ঢাকা)Bengali
Belarus Bê-la-rút, Bạch NgaEnglish nameVietnamese nameEndonymNotesNameLanguageMinskMin-xcơMinsk (Мінск)Belarusian
Belgium Bỉ Lợi Thời, Biên Xích,Phạm Phú Thứ, p 190 BỉEnglish nameVietnamese nameEndonymNotesNameLanguageBrusselsBức San, Brúc-xenBrusselDutchBruxellesFrench
Brazil Ba Tây, Bi Lê Diên Lô,Phạm Phú Thứ. p 198 Bra-xinEnglish nameVietnamese nameEndonymNotesNameLanguageBrasiliaBa Tây thành, Bra-xi-li-aBrasiliaPortugueseRio de JaneiroRi-ô đề Gia-nây-rôRio de JaneiroPortugueseSão PauloThánh Phao LồSão PauloPortuguese
Bulgaria Bun-ga-riEnglish nameVietnamese nameEndonymNotesNameLanguageSofiaXô-phi-aSofija (София)Bulgarian
Cambodia (Cao Miên, Cam Bốt, Campuchia)EnglishVietnameseEndonymNotesNameLanguageAngkorĐế Thiên Đế ThíchÂngkôr (អង្គរ)KhmerBanteay MeasSài MạtBântéay Méas (បន្ទាយមាស)KhmerBattambangBát Tầm BônBăt Dâmbâng (បាត់ដំបង)KhmerBavetTruông CátBavĭt (បាវិត)KhmerBokorTà LơnBok Koŭ (បូកគោ)KhmerDamrei MountainsTượng SơnPhnum Dâmri (ភ្នំដំរី)KhmerKampotCần BộtKâmpôt (កំពត)KhmerKepBạch MãKêb (កែប)KhmerKiri VongLinh QuỳnhKĭrivóng (គិរីវង់)KhmerKoh TangHòn ThăngKaôh Tang (កោះតាង)KhmerKoh WaiHòn Trọc, Hòn VâyKaôh Puluvey (កោះពូលូវៃ)KhmerKompong ChhnangXà NăngKâmpóng Chhnăng (កំពង់ឆ្នាំង)KhmerKratiéCần ChéKrâchéh (ក្រចេះ)KhmerLavek/LongvekLa BíchLvêk (ល្វែក)Lôngvêk (លង្វែក)KhmerNeak LoeungHối Lương,Lê Hương. Chợ trời biên giới Việt Nam-Cao Miên. Glendale, CA: Đại Nam, ?. p 99. Cầu Nam'nâk Lœăng (អ្នកលឿង)KhmerPeam ChorBiên ChúcPéam Chôr (ពាមជរ)KhmerPhnom PenhNam Vang, Nam Vinh, Kim Biên, Phnôm PênhPhnum Pénh (ភ្នំពេញ)KhmerPursatPhú TúcPoŭthĭsăt (ពោធិ៍សាត់)KhmerSiem ReapXiêm RiệpSiĕm Réab (សៀមរាប)KhmerSihanoukvilleKâm Póng Sao, Hương Úc, Vũng ThơmKrŏng Preăh Seihânŭ (ក្រុងព្រះសីហនុ)Kâmpóng Saôm (កំពង់សោម)KhmerSvay RiengTuy Lạp, Xoài RiêngSvay Riĕng (ស្វាយរៀង)KhmerTonlé SapĐồng Lê, Biển HồTônlé Sab (ទន្លេសាប)Khmer
Canada Gia Nã ĐạiEnglish nameVietnamese nameEndonymNotesNameLanguageBritish ColumbiaColumbia Thuộc AnhBritish ColumbiaEnglishMontreal Mông Triệu, Ngự SơnMontréal FrenchOttawaỐc Đa Hoa, Ốt-ta-goaOttawaEnglishQuebec Quế BíchQuébecFrenchToronto Tô LuânTorontoEnglishVancouverVăn CầuVancouverEnglish
China Trung Hoa, Trung QuốcEnglish nameVietnamese nameEndonymNotesNameLanguageBeijingBắc Kinh Běijīng (北京)MandarinChangchunTrường XuânChángchūn (长春)MandarinChangshaTrường SaChángshā (长沙)MandarinChengduThành ĐôChéngdū (成都)MandarinChongqingTrùng Khánh Chóngqìng (重庆)MandarinFujianPhúc KiếnFújiàn (福建)MandarinHok-kiànHokkienGuangzhouQuảng Châu Guǎngzhōu (广州)MandarinGuilinQuế LâmGuìlín (桂林)MandarinHainanHải NamHǎinán (海南)MandarinHarbinCáp Nhĩ TânHā'ĕrbīn (哈尔滨)MandarinHohhotHô Hòa Hạo Đặc, Hồi Hột Hūhéhàotè (呼和浩特)MandarinKökeqota (ᠬᠥᠬᠡᠬᠣᠲᠠ)Mongolian scriptHong KongHương Cảng, Hồng Kông Xiānggǎng (香港)MandarinHēunggóng CantoneseHong KongEnglishInner MongoliaNội Mông (Cổ)Nèi Měnggǔ (内蒙古)MandarinÖbür Monggol (ᠥᠪᠥᠷ ᠮᠣᠩᠭᠣᠯ)Mongolian scriptLhasaLạp TátLāsà (拉萨)MandarinMacauÁo Môn, Ma Cao Àomén(澳門)MandarinŌumún CantoneseMacauPortugueseNanjingNam Kinh Nánjīng (南京)MandarinSanyaTam ÁSānyà (三亚)MandarinShanghaiThượng Hải Shànghǎi (上海)MandarinShenzhenThâm QuyếnShēnzhèn (深圳)MandarinSichuanTứ Xuyên Sìchuān (四川)MandarinÜrümqiU-rum-xi, Urumsi, Ô Lỗ Mộc TềWūlǔmùqí (乌鲁木齐)MandarinÜrümchi (ئۈرۈمچی)UyghurWuhanVũ Hán Wǔhàn (武汉)MandarinXiamenHạ MônXiàmén (厦门)MandarinXi'anTây AnXī'ān (西安)MandarinYangtze RiverTrường GiangCháng Jiāng (长江)MandarinZhengzhouTrịnh ChâuZhèngzhōu (郑州)Mandarin
Cyprus Đảo SípEnglish nameVietnamese nameEndonymNotesNameLanguageNicosiaNi-cô-xi-aLefkosía (Λευκωσία)GreekLefkoşaTurkish
Czech Republic Tiệp Khắc, SécEnglish nameVietnamese nameEndonymNotesNameLanguagePragueThiệp Khẩu, Pra-haPrahaCzech
Denmark Đan MạchEnglish nameVietnamese nameEndonymNotesNameLanguageCopenhagenCô-pen-ha-ghen, Cô-pen-ha-genKøbenhavnDanishGreenlandGrin-len, Thanh Đảo GrønlandDanishNuukNu-úcGodthåbDanish
Egypt Ai Cập, Y Diệp, Ê-díp-tôEnglish nameVietnamese nameEndonymNotesNameLanguageAlexandriaA-lếch-xan-đri-aal-Iskandarīyya (الإسكندرية)Standard ArabicRakoti (Ⲣⲁⲕⲟϯ)CopticCairoKê Thànhal-Qāhirah (القاهرة)Standard ArabicMaṣr (مَصر)Egyptian ArabicMaṣr is the same name as the Arabic name for the country. As Cairo is the country's primate city, the endonym can sometimes be used to identify the city as well.Port Saidthành phố Cảng (Port) SaidBor Sa3yīd(بورسعيد)Egyptian Arabic
Eritrea Ê-ri-tơ-rê-a
Estonia E-xtô-ni-aEnglish nameVietnamese nameEndonymNotesNameLanguageTallinnTa-linTalinEstonian
Ethiopia Ê-thi-óp, Ê-thi-ô-bi, Ê-ti-ô-pi-aEnglish nameVietnamese nameEndonymNotesNameLanguageAddis AbabaA-đi A-ba-baአዲስ አበባ (Addis Abeba)Amharic
Finland Phần LanEnglish nameVietnamese nameEndonymNotesNameLanguageHelsinkiHiệu Sinh KìHelsinkiFinnish
France Pháp Lan Tây, Pháp, Phú Lãng SaEnglish nameVietnamese nameEndonymNotesNameLanguageLyonLi-ôngLyonFrenchMarseilleMa-xaiPhạm Phú Thứ. p 336.MarseilleFrenchNice Niết-xaPhạm Phú Thứ. p 252.NiceFrenchNew CaledoniaTân Thế GiớiNouvelle CalédonieFrenchParisBa Lê, Pha Lí, Pa-riParisFrenchSèteXét-taPhạm Phú Thứ. p 251.SèteFrenchToulonThu-longToulonFrench
Georgia Gruzia, Gru-di-a, Giê-oóc-gi-aEnglish nameVietnamese nameEndonymNotesNameLanguageTbilisiTbi-li-xiTbilisi (თბილისი)Georgian
Germany Đức, An-lê-mânPhạm Phú Thứ. p 190English nameVietnamese nameEndonymNotesNameLanguageBerlinBá Linh, Béc-linBerlinGermanCologneCôn, Cô-lô-nhơKöln / KoelnGermanHamburgHàm PhủHamburgGermanHanoverAn-nô-viPhạm Phú Thứ. P 190HannoverGerman
Greece