Names of Vietnam
History
History
-------

[thumb\|right\|222px\|The endonym Vietnam was supposedly coined by 16th century poet [Nguyễn Bỉnh Khiêm](/wiki/Nguy%E1%BB%85n_B%E1%BB%89nh_Khi%C3%AAm "Nguyễn Bỉnh Khiêm").](/wiki/File:Tr%E1%BA%A1ng_Tr%C3%ACnh_Nguy%E1%BB%85n_B%E1%BB%89nh_Khi%C3%AAm_n.jpg "Trạng Trình Nguyễn Bỉnh Khiêm n.jpg")
Throughout the [history of Vietnam](/wiki/History_of_Vietnam "History of Vietnam"), official and unofficial names have been used in reference to the territory of [Vietnam](/wiki/Vietnam "Vietnam"). [Vietnam](/wiki/Vietnam "Vietnam") was called [Văn Lang](/wiki/V%C4%83n_Lang "Văn Lang") during the [Hồng Bàng dynasty](/wiki/H%E1%BB%93ng_B%C3%A0ng_dynasty "Hồng Bàng dynasty"), [Âu Lạc](/wiki/%C3%82u_L%E1%BA%A1c "Âu Lạc") under [Thục dynasty](/wiki/Th%E1%BB%A5c_dynasty "Thục dynasty"), [Nam Việt](/wiki/Nam_Vi%E1%BB%87t "Nam Việt") during the Triệu dynasty, [Vạn Xuân](/wiki/V%E1%BA%A1n_Xu%C3%A2n "Vạn Xuân") during the [Early Lý dynasty](/wiki/Early_L%C3%BD_dynasty "Early Lý dynasty"), [Đại Cồ Việt](/wiki/%C4%90%E1%BA%A1i_C%E1%BB%93_Vi%E1%BB%87t "Đại Cồ Việt") during the [Đinh dynasty](/wiki/%C4%90inh_dynasty "Đinh dynasty") and [Early Lê dynasty](/wiki/Early_L%C3%AA_dynasty "Early Lê dynasty"). Starting in 1054, [Vietnam](/wiki/Vietnam "Vietnam") was called Đại Việt (Great Việt). During the [Hồ dynasty](/wiki/H%E1%BB%93_dynasty "Hồ dynasty"), Vietnam was called Đại Ngu.

Việt Nam ( in [Vietnamese](/wiki/Vietnamese_language "Vietnamese language")) is a variation of [Nam Việt](/wiki/Nam_Vi%E1%BB%87t "Nam Việt") (Southern [Việt](/wiki/Vi%E1%BB%87t "Việt")), a name that can be traced back to the [Triệu dynasty](/wiki/Tri%E1%BB%87u_dynasty "Triệu dynasty") (2nd century BC, also known as Nanyue Kingdom). The word *Việt* originated as a shortened form of [Bách Việt](/wiki/Baiyue "Baiyue"), a word used to refer to a people who lived in what is now southern China in ancient times. The name *Việt Nam*, with the syllables in the modern order, first appears in the 16th century in a poem attributed to [Nguyễn Bỉnh Khiêm](/wiki/Nguy%E1%BB%85n_B%E1%BB%89nh_Khi%C3%AAm "Nguyễn Bỉnh Khiêm"). *Vietnam* was mentioned in [Josiah Conder](/wiki/Josiah_Conder_%28editor_and_author%29 "Josiah Conder (editor and author)")'s 1834 *Dictionary of Geography, Ancient and Modern* as the other name to refer to Annam. *Annam*, which originated as a Chinese name in the seventh century, was the common name of the country during the colonial period. Nationalist writer [Phan Bội Châu](/wiki/Phan_B%E1%BB%99i_Ch%C3%A2u "Phan Bội Châu") revived the name "Vietnam" in the early 20th century. When rival communist and anti\-communist governments were set up in 1945, both immediately adopted this as the country's official name. In English, the two syllables are usually combined into one word, *Vietnam*. However, *Viet Nam* was once common usage and is still used by the [United Nations](/wiki/United_Nations "United Nations") and by the Vietnamese government.

### Origin of *Vietnam*

[200px\|thumb\|right\|10th century brick with [Chữ Hán](/wiki/Ch%E1%BB%AF_H%C3%A1n "Chữ Hán") inscription: "Brick to build the great Viet state"](/wiki/File:%C4%90%E1%BA%A1i_Vi%E1%BB%87t_qu%E1%BB%91c_qu%C3%A2n_th%C3%A0nh_chuy%C3%AAn.JPG "Đại Việt quốc quân thành chuyên.JPG")
[200px\|thumb\|right\|Scholar consensus believes that the exonym of Yue, Yueh, and Viet peoples are related to their notorious axes. A bronze ax from Dong Son burial site, Thanh Hoa, North\-central Vietnam, dated 500 BC.](/wiki/File:Dong_Son_axe.JPG "Dong Son axe.JPG")
[200px\|thumb\|right\|Courtesy seal of [Nguyễn lord](/wiki/Nguy%E1%BB%85n_lord "Nguyễn lord"), gift of emperor [Lê Hy Tông](/wiki/L%C3%AA_Hy_T%C3%B4ng "Lê Hy Tông"), dated 1709, inscribed with Chinese characters meaning *Đại Việt quốc Nguyễn chúa vĩnh trấn chi bảo*](/wiki/File:Golden_seal_%C4%90%E1%BA%A1i_Vi%E1%BB%87t_qu%E1%BB%91c_Nguy%E1%BB%85n_ch%C3%BAa_v%C4%A9nh_tr%E1%BA%A5n_chi_b%E1%BA%A3o.jpg "Golden seal Đại Việt quốc Nguyễn chúa vĩnh trấn chi bảo.jpg")
The term "" (Yue) () in [Early Middle Chinese](/wiki/Early_Middle_Chinese "Early Middle Chinese") was first written using the [logograph](/wiki/Logogram "Logogram") "戉" for an axe (a homophone), in [oracle bone](/wiki/Oracle_bone "Oracle bone") and bronze inscriptions of the late [Shang dynasty](/wiki/Shang_dynasty "Shang dynasty") ( BC), and later as "越". At that time it referred to a people or chieftain to the northwest of the Shang.Theobald, Ulrich (2018\) ["Shang Dynasty \- Political History"](http://www.chinaknowledge.de/History/Myth/shang-event.html) in *ChinaKnowledge.de \- An Encyclopaedia on Chinese History, Literature and Art*. quote: "Enemies of the Shang state were called fang 方 "regions", like the Tufang 土方, which roamed the northern region of Shanxi, the [Guifang 鬼方](/wiki/Guifang "Guifang") and Gongfang 𢀛方 in the northwest, the [Qiangfang 羌方](/wiki/Qiang_%28historical_people%29 "Qiang (historical people)"), Suifang 繐方, **Yuefang 戉方**, Xuanfang 亘方 and [Zhoufang 周方](/wiki/Zhou_dynasty "Zhou dynasty") in the west, as well as the [Yifang 夷方](/wiki/Dongyi "Dongyi") and Renfang 人方 in the southeast." In the early 8th century BC, a tribe on the middle [Yangtze](/wiki/Yangtze "Yangtze") were called the [Yangyue](/wiki/Yangyue "Yangyue"), a term later used for peoples further south. Between the 7th and 4th centuries BC Yue/Việt referred to the [State of Yue](/wiki/Yue_%28state%29 "Yue (state)") in the lower Yangtze basin and its people.

From the 3rd century BC the term was used for the non\-Chinese populations of south and southwest China and northern Vietnam, with particular states or groups called [Minyue](/wiki/Minyue "Minyue"), Ouyue (Vietnamese: [Âu Việt](/wiki/%C3%82u_Vi%E1%BB%87t "Âu Việt")), Luoyue (Vietnamese: [Lạc Việt](/wiki/L%E1%BA%A1c_Vi%E1%BB%87t "Lạc Việt")), etc., collectively called the [Baiyue](/wiki/Baiyue "Baiyue") (Bách Việt, ; ). The term Baiyue/Bách Việt first appeared in the book *[Lüshi Chunqiu](/wiki/L%C3%BCshi_Chunqiu "Lüshi Chunqiu")* compiled around 239 BC.*The Annals of Lü Buwei*, translated by John Knoblock and Jeffrey Riegel, Stanford University Press (2000\), p. 510\. . "For the most part, there are no rulers to the south of the Yang and Han Rivers, in the confederation of the Hundred Yue tribes."

According to Ye Wenxian (1990\), apud Wan (2013\), the ethnonym of the Yuefang in northwestern China is not associated with that of the Baiyue in southeastern China.Wan, Xiang (2013\) ["A Reevaluation of Early Chinese Script: The Case of Yuè 戉 and Its Cultural Connotations: Speech at The First Annual Conference of Society for the Study of Early China"](https://www.academia.edu/3206564/A_Reevaluation_of_Early_Chinese_Script_The_Case_of_Yu%C3%A8_%E6%88%89_and_Its_Cultural_Connotations) Slide 36 of 70

In 207 BC, former [Qin dynasty](/wiki/Qin_dynasty "Qin dynasty") general [Zhao Tuo](/wiki/Zhao_Tuo "Zhao Tuo")/Triệu Đà founded the kingdom of [Nanyue](/wiki/Nanyue "Nanyue")/Nam Việt () with its capital at Panyu (modern [Guangzhou](/wiki/Guangzhou "Guangzhou")). This kingdom was "southern" in the sense that it was located south of other Baiyue kingdoms such as [Minyue](/wiki/Minyue "Minyue") and Ouyue, located in modern [Fujian](/wiki/Fujian "Fujian") and [Zhejiang](/wiki/Zhejiang "Zhejiang"). Several later Vietnamese dynasties followed this nomenclature even after these more northern peoples were absorbed into China.

In 968, the Vietnamese leader [Đinh Bộ Lĩnh](/wiki/%C4%90inh_B%E1%BB%99_L%C4%A9nh "Đinh Bộ Lĩnh") established the independent kingdom of [Đại Cồ Việt](/wiki/%C4%90%E1%BA%A1i_C%E1%BB%93_Vi%E1%BB%87t "Đại Cồ Việt") (大瞿越) (possibly meaning "Great [Gautama](/wiki/Gautama_Buddha "Gautama Buddha")'s Viet", as Gautama's [Chữ Hán](/wiki/Ch%E1%BB%AF_H%C3%A1n "Chữ Hán") transcription **瞿**曇 is pronounced ***Cồ** Đàm* in [Sino\-Vietnamese](/wiki/Sino-Xenic_pronunciations "Sino-Xenic pronunciations"));Trần, Trọng Dương. (2009\) "Investigation on 'Đại Cồ Việt' (Việt nation \- Buddhist nation)" originally published in *Hán Nôm*, 2 (93\) p. 53–75\. [online version](http://www.hannom.org.vn/detail.asp?param=1618&Catid=174) (in Vietnamese)Pozner P.V. (1994\) *История Вьетнама эпохи древности и раннего средневековья до Х века н.э.* Издательство Наука, Москва. p. 98, cited in [Polyakov, A.B.](https://js.vnu.edu.vn/SSH/search/authors/view?firstName=Polyakov&middleName=Alexey&lastName=Borisovich&affiliation=&country=RU) (2016\) "On the Existence of the Dai Co Viet State in Vietnam in the 10th \- the Beginning of 11th Centuries" *[Vietnam National University, Hanoi](/wiki/Vietnam_National_University%2C_Hanoi "Vietnam National University, Hanoi")'s Journal of Science* Vol 32\. Issue 1S. p. 53 (in Vietnamese) however, 瞿's homophone *cồ*, 𡚝 in [Chữ Nôm](/wiki/Ch%E1%BB%AF_N%C3%B4m "Chữ Nôm") script, (means "great") over the former Jinghai state. In 1054, Emperor [Lý Thánh Tông](/wiki/L%C3%BD_Th%C3%A1nh_T%C3%B4ng "Lý Thánh Tông") shortened the country's name to [Đại Việt](/wiki/%C4%90%E1%BA%A1i_Vi%E1%BB%87t "Đại Việt") ("Great Viet"). However, the names [Giao Chỉ](/wiki/Giao_Ch%E1%BB%89 "Giao Chỉ") and [An Nam](/wiki/Annan_%28Tang_protectorate%29 "Annan (Tang protectorate)") were still the widely known names that foreigners used to refer the state of Đại Việt during medieval and early modern periods,. For examples, *Caugigu* ([Italian](/wiki/Italian_language "Italian language")); *Kafjih\-Guh* ([Arabic](/wiki/Arabic "Arabic"): كوة ك); *Koci* ([Malay](/wiki/Malay_language "Malay language")); *Cauchy* (Portuguese); *Cochinchina* (English); *Annam* (Dutch, Portuguese, Spanish and French). In 1787, US politician [Thomas Jefferson](/wiki/Thomas_Jefferson "Thomas Jefferson") referred to Vietnam as *Cochinchina* for the purpose of trading for rice.

"Sấm Trạng Trình" (The Prophecies of Principal Graduate Trình), which are attributed to Vietnamese official and poet Nguyễn Bỉnh Khiêm (1491–1585\), reversed the traditional order of the syllables and put the name in its modern form "Việt Nam" as in  "Vietnam's founding ancestor lays its basis"Nguyễn Bỉnh Khiêm (attributed), *Sấm Trạng Trình* ["1939 Mai Lĩnh version"](https://vi.wikisource.org/wiki/S%E1%BA%A5m_Tr%E1%BA%A1ng_Tr%C3%ACnh), line 7 or  "Vietnam's founding ancestor builds it up".Nguyễn Bỉnh Khiêm (attributed), *Sấm Trạng Trình* ["1930 Sở Cuồng version"](https://sucsongmoi.com.vn/nha-tho-nguyen-binh-khiem-va-ban-quoc-ngu-so-cuong-sam-ky/), line 7 At this time, the country was divided between the [Trịnh lords](/wiki/Tr%E1%BB%8Bnh_lords "Trịnh lords") of [Đông Kinh](/wiki/Hanoi%23Hanoi_under_Independent_Vietnam "Hanoi#Hanoi under Independent Vietnam") and the [Nguyễn lords](/wiki/Nguy%E1%BB%85n_lords "Nguyễn lords") of [Thừa Thiên](/wiki/Hu%E1%BA%BF%23History "Huế#History"). By combining several existing names, Nam Việt, Annam (Pacified South), [Đại Việt](/wiki/%C4%90%E1%BA%A1i_Vi%E1%BB%87t "Đại Việt") (Great Việt), and "Nam quốc" (southern nation), the oracles' author\[s] created a new name that referred to an aspirational unified state. The word "Nam" no longer implies Southern Việt, but rather that Vietnam is "the South" in contrast to China, "the North". This sentiment had already been in the poem "[Nam quốc sơn hà](/wiki/Nam_qu%E1%BB%91c_s%C6%A1n_h%C3%A0 "Nam quốc sơn hà")" (1077\)'s first line: 南國山河南帝居  "The Southern country's mountains and rivers the Southern Emperor inhabits".Vuving, A.L. "The References of Vietnamese States and the Mechanisms of World Formation" *ASIEN*, 79\. p. 65\. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110718200818/http://www.asienkunde.de/content/zeitschrift_asien/archiv/pdf/Vuving79.pdf) from the [original](http://www.asienkunde.de/content/zeitschrift_asien/archiv/pdf/Vuving79.pdf) Researcher Nguyễn Phúc Giác Hải found the word 越南 "Việt Nam" on 12 steles carved in the 16th and 17th centuries, including one at Bảo Lâm Pagoda, Haiphong (1558\).Thành Lân, "[Ai đặt quốc hiệu Việt Nam đầu tiên?](http://viet.vietnamembassy.us/tintuc/story.php?d=20030314121732) ", *Báo Đại đoàn kết*, March 14, 2003\. Lord [Nguyễn Phúc Chu](/wiki/Nguy%E1%BB%85n_Ph%C3%BAc_Chu "Nguyễn Phúc Chu") (1675–1725\), when describing [Hải Vân Pass](/wiki/H%E1%BA%A3i_V%C3%A2n_Pass "Hải Vân Pass") (then called *Ải Lĩnh*, lit. "Mountain\-Pass's [Saddle\-Point](/wiki/Saddle_point "Saddle point")"), apparently used "Việt Nam" as a national name in his poem's first line , which was translated as  "This mountain's pass is the most dangerous in Vietnam".Nguyễn Phúc Chu, "Ải lĩnh xuân vân" (Spring Clouds on the Mountain Pass's Saddle\-Point). cited in *Đại Nam Nhất Thống Chí* 2nd Edition (2006\). Translated by Phạm Trọng Điềm. Rectified by Đào Duy Anh. Huế: Thuận Hóa Publishing House. p. 154\-155\. Việt Nam was used as an official national name by Emperor [Gia Long](/wiki/Gia_Long "Gia Long") in 1804–1813\. The Vietnamese asked permission from the Qing dynasty to change the name of their country. Originally, Gia Long had wanted the name Nam Việt and asked for his country to be recognized as such, but the [Jiaqing Emperor](/wiki/Jiaqing_Emperor "Jiaqing Emperor") refused since the ancient state of the same name had ruled territory that was part of the [Qing dynasty](/wiki/Qing_dynasty "Qing dynasty"). The [Jiaqing Emperor](/wiki/Jiaqing_Emperor "Jiaqing Emperor") refused Gia Long's request to change his country's name to Nam Việt, and changed the name instead to Việt Nam in 1804\. Gia Long's [Đại Nam thực lục](/wiki/%C4%90%E1%BA%A1i_Nam_th%E1%BB%B1c_l%E1%BB%A5c "Đại Nam thực lục") contains the diplomatic correspondence over the naming.

In his account about the meeting with Vietnamese officials in Hue on January 17, 1832, [Edmund Roberts](/wiki/Edmund_Roberts_%28diplomat%29 "Edmund Roberts (diplomat)"), American embassy in Vietnam, wrote : 
 
"Trung Quốc" 中國, (literally "Middle Country" or "Central Country"), was also used as a name for Vietnam by Gia Long in 1805\. [Minh Mang](/wiki/Minh_Mang "Minh Mang") used the name "Trung Quốc" 中國 to call Vietnam. Vietnamese Nguyen Emperor [Minh Mạng](/wiki/Minh_M%E1%BA%A1ng "Minh Mạng") sinicized ethnic minorities such as Cambodians, claimed the legacy of Confucianism and China's Han dynasty for Vietnam, and used the term Han people 漢人 to refer to the Vietnamese. Minh Mang declared that "We must hope that their barbarian habits will be subconsciously dissipated, and that they will daily become more infected by Han \[Sino\-Vietnamese] customs." This policies were directed at the Khmer and hill tribes. The Nguyen lord Nguyen Phuc Chu had referred to Vietnamese as "Han people" in 1712 when differentiating between Vietnamese and Chams; meanwhile, ethnic Chinese were referred to as [Thanh](/wiki/Qing_dynasty "Qing dynasty") nhân 清人 or [Đường](/wiki/Tang_dynasty "Tang dynasty") nhân 唐人.Choi Byung Wook (2004\). *Southern Vietnam Under the Reign of Minh Mạng (1820\-1841\): Central Policies and Local Response*. SEAP Publications. pp. 137–

The use of "Vietnam" was revived in modern times by nationalists including [Phan Bội Châu](/wiki/Phan_B%E1%BB%99i_Ch%C3%A2u "Phan Bội Châu"), whose book *[Việt Nam vong quốc sử](/wiki/Vi%E1%BB%87t_Nam_vong_qu%E1%BB%91c_s%E1%BB%AD "Việt Nam vong quốc sử")* (History of the Loss of Vietnam) was published in 1906\. Chau also founded the [Việt Nam Quang Phục Hội](/wiki/Vi%E1%BB%87t_Nam_Quang_Ph%E1%BB%A5c_H%E1%BB%99i "Việt Nam Quang Phục Hội") (Vietnam Restoration League) in 1912\. However, the general public continued to use Annam and the name "Vietnam" remained virtually unknown until the [Yên Bái mutiny](/wiki/Y%C3%AAn_B%C3%A1i_mutiny "Yên Bái mutiny") of 1930, organized by the [Việt Nam Quốc Dân Đảng](/wiki/Vi%E1%BB%87t_Nam_Qu%E1%BB%91c_D%C3%A2n_%C4%90%E1%BA%A3ng "Việt Nam Quốc Dân Đảng") (Vietnamese Nationalist Party). By the early 1940s, the use of "Việt Nam" was widespread. It appeared in the name of [Ho Chi Minh](/wiki/Ho_Chi_Minh "Ho Chi Minh")'s Việt Nam Độc lập Đồng minh Hội ([Viet Minh](/wiki/Viet_Minh "Viet Minh")), founded 1941, and was even used by the governor of [French Indochina](/wiki/French_Indochina "French Indochina") in 1942\. The name "Vietnam" has been official since 1945\. It was adopted in June by [Bảo Đại](/wiki/B%E1%BA%A3o_%C4%90%E1%BA%A1i "Bảo Đại")'s imperial government in Huế, and in September by Ho's rival communist government in Hanoi.

### Other names

[thumb\|right\|222px\|*Đại Nam nhất thống toàn đồ* (大南ー統全圖 "Comprehensive Map of United Đại Nam") by [Nguyễn dynasty](/wiki/Nguy%E1%BB%85n_dynasty "Nguyễn dynasty") in 1838\.](/wiki/File:Map_of_Vietnam_1834-1838.jpg "Map of Vietnam 1834-1838.jpg")

| Time | Name | Polity |

| 2879 – 2524 BC | Xích Quỷ | [Hồng Bàng dynasty](/wiki/H%E1%BB%93ng_B%C3%A0ng_dynasty "Hồng Bàng dynasty") – [Kinh Dương Vương](/wiki/Kinh_D%C6%B0%C6%A1ng_V%C6%B0%C6%A1ng "Kinh Dương Vương") |
| 2524 – 258 BC | Văn Lang, | [Hồng Bàng dynasty](/wiki/H%E1%BB%93ng_B%C3%A0ng_dynasty "Hồng Bàng dynasty") – [Hùng king](/wiki/H%C3%B9ng_king "Hùng king") |
| 257 – 207 BC | Âu Lạc,  | Thục dynasty – [An Dương Vương](/wiki/An_D%C6%B0%C6%A1ng_V%C6%B0%C6%A1ng "An Dương Vương") |
| 204 BC – 111 BC | Nam Việt \[quốc] | [Triệu dynasty](/wiki/Tri%E1%BB%87u_dynasty "Triệu dynasty") |
| 111 BC \- 9381407 \- 1427 | Giao Chỉ \[quận], ,  | [Chinese domination](/wiki/Vietnam_under_Chinese_rule "Vietnam under Chinese rule") |
| 203 – 544602 – 607 | Giao châu | [Chinese domination](/wiki/Vietnam_under_Chinese_rule "Vietnam under Chinese rule") |
| 544–602 | Vạn Xuân \[quốc] | [Anterior Lý dynasty](/wiki/Anterior_L%C3%BD_dynasty "Anterior Lý dynasty") |
| 679 – 757766 – 866 | [Annam](/wiki/Annan_%28Tang_protectorate%29 "Annan (Tang protectorate)") \[phủ] | [Chinese domination](/wiki/Vietnam_under_Chinese_rule "Vietnam under Chinese rule") |
| 757–766 | [Trấn Nam](/wiki/Annan_%28Tang_protectorate%29 "Annan (Tang protectorate)") \[phủ] | [Chinese domination](/wiki/Vietnam_under_Chinese_rule "Vietnam under Chinese rule") |
| 866–968 | [Tĩnh Hải](/wiki/T%C4%A9nh_H%E1%BA%A3i_qu%C3%A2n "Tĩnh Hải quân") \[quân] | [Chinese domination](/wiki/Vietnam_under_Chinese_rule "Vietnam under Chinese rule")[Ngô dynasty](/wiki/Ng%C3%B4_dynasty "Ngô dynasty")[Anarchy of the 12 Warlords](/wiki/Anarchy_of_the_12_Warlords "Anarchy of the 12 Warlords") |
| 968–1054 | Đại Cồ\-việt \[quốc] | [Đinh dynasty](/wiki/%C4%90inh_dynasty "Đinh dynasty")[Early Lê dynasty](/wiki/Early_L%C3%AA_dynasty "Early Lê dynasty")[Lý dynasty](/wiki/L%C3%BD_dynasty "Lý dynasty") |
| 1054 – 14001428 – 1804 | Đại Việt \[quốc] | [Lý dynasty](/wiki/L%C3%BD_dynasty "Lý dynasty")[Trần dynasty](/wiki/Tr%E1%BA%A7n_dynasty "Trần dynasty")[Hồ dynasty](/wiki/H%E1%BB%93_dynasty "Hồ dynasty")[Lê dynasty](/wiki/L%C3%AA_dynasty "Lê dynasty")[Mạc dynasty](/wiki/M%E1%BA%A1c_dynasty "Mạc dynasty")[Tây Sơn dynasty](/wiki/T%C3%A2y_S%C6%A1n_dynasty "Tây Sơn dynasty")[Nguyễn dynasty](/wiki/Nguy%E1%BB%85n_dynasty "Nguyễn dynasty") |
| 1400–1407 | Đại Ngu \[quốc] | [Hồ dynasty](/wiki/H%E1%BB%93_dynasty "Hồ dynasty") |
| 1804–1839 | Việt Nam \[quốc] | [Nguyễn dynasty](/wiki/Nguy%E1%BB%85n_dynasty "Nguyễn dynasty") |
| 1839–1945 | Đại Nam \[quốc] | [Nguyễn dynasty](/wiki/Nguy%E1%BB%85n_dynasty "Nguyễn dynasty") |

**2b. Official since 1945: "Việt Nam"**
* [Đế quốc Việt Nam](/wiki/Empire_of_Vietnam "Empire of Vietnam") (帝國越南, Empire of Vietnam) : 11 March – 25 August 1945\.
* [Việt Nam Dân chủ Cộng hòa](/wiki/Vi%E1%BB%87t_Nam_D%C3%A2n_ch%E1%BB%A7_C%E1%BB%99ng_h%C3%B2a "Việt Nam Dân chủ Cộng hòa") (越南民主共和, Democratic Republic of Vietnam) : 2 September 1945 – 18 February 1947, 10 October 1954 – 2 July 1976\.
* [Quốc gia Việt Nam](/wiki/State_of_Vietnam "State of Vietnam") (國家越南, State of Vietnam) : 27 May 1948 – 26 October 1955\.
* [Việt Nam Cộng hòa](/wiki/Republic_of_Vietnam "Republic of Vietnam") (越南共和, Republic of Vietnam) : 26 October 1955 – 30 April 1975\.
* [Cộng hòa Xã hội chủ nghĩa Việt Nam](/wiki/Socialist_Republic_of_Vietnam "Socialist Republic of Vietnam") (共和社會主義越南, Socialist Republic of Vietnam) : 2 July 1976 to now.

**3\. Non\-official**
* **Việt Thường** (越常, 越嘗, 越裳國, 越裳氏):漢語大詞典編輯委員會，漢語大詞典編纂處，漢語大詞典，第九卷，p. 1115，上海辭書出版社，1992\. Initially, the name of a people and/or nation to the south of [Jiaozhi](/wiki/Jiaozhi "Jiaozhi").*[Esteemed Documents](/wiki/Shujing "Shujing")* Great Narratives Vol. 2 [Section "Great Admonitions"](https://zh.wikisource.org/wiki/%E5%B0%9A%E6%9B%B8%E5%A4%A7%E5%82%B3/%E5%8D%B72#%E5%A4%A7%E8%AA%A5). quote: "交阯之南，有越裳國。"[Đại Việt sử ký toàn thư](/wiki/%C4%90%E1%BA%A1i_Vi%E1%BB%87t_s%E1%BB%AD_k%C3%BD_to%C3%A0n_th%C6%B0 "Đại Việt sử ký toàn thư") claimed that this was [Vietnamese](/wiki/Kinh_people "Kinh people")'s endonym when first presenting gifts to [King Cheng of Zhou](/wiki/King_Cheng_of_Zhou "King Cheng of Zhou")*Đại Việt Sử Ký Toàn Thư* Outer Annals, Vol. 1, Annal of the Hồng Bàng clan [Section "Hùng king"](https://zh.wikisource.org/wiki/%E5%A4%A7%E8%B6%8A%E5%8F%B2%E8%A8%98%E5%85%A8%E6%9B%B8/%E5%A4%96%E7%B4%80%E5%8D%B7%E4%B9%8B%E4%B8%80#%E9%9B%84%E7%8E%8B) "quote: "周成王時，我越始騁于周〈未詳第幾世〉，稱越裳氏，獻白雉。" translation: "During the time of King Cheng of Zhou, we Viets first ventured to the Zhou \[realm] (it's still unclear during which generation \[of the Hùng kings]); \[our] appellation \[was] Việt Thường clan; \[we] offered white pheasants.""
* **Lĩnh Ngoại** (嶺外) : lit. "Beyond the Ranges" (i.e. [Nanling Mountains](/wiki/Nanling_Mountains "Nanling Mountains")). Used interchangeably with **[Lĩnh Nam](/wiki/Lingnan "Lingnan")** (嶺南; [pinyin](/wiki/Pinyin "Pinyin"): Lǐngnán; lit. "South of the Ranges").[Nan Mountains](https://www.britannica.com/place/Nan-Mountains-southern-China) in [Encyclopædia Britannica](/wiki/Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica "Encyclopædia Britannica") Included [Guangdong](/wiki/Guangdong "Guangdong"), [Guangxi](/wiki/Guangxi "Guangxi"), [Hainan](/wiki/Hainan "Hainan"), [Hong Kong](/wiki/Hong_Kong "Hong Kong"), and [Macau](/wiki/Macau "Macau"), as well as modern northern [Vietnam](/wiki/Vietnam "Vietnam").
* **Giao Chỉ quận** (交趾郡): Chinese name for [Đại Cồ Việt](/wiki/%C4%90%E1%BA%A1i_C%E1%BB%93_Vi%E1%BB%87t "Đại Cồ Việt") \& [Đại Việt](/wiki/%C4%90%E1%BA%A1i_Vi%E1%BB%87t "Đại Việt")
* **An Nam quốc** (安南國): Chinese name for [Đại Việt](/wiki/%C4%90%E1%BA%A1i_Vi%E1%BB%87t "Đại Việt"). The basis for various foreign exonyms for Vietnam.
* **Nam Việt quốc** (南越國) : Proposed by [Nguyễn](/wiki/Nguy%E1%BB%85n_dynasty "Nguyễn dynasty") emperor [Gia Long](/wiki/Gia_Long "Gia Long") but rejected by [Qing](/wiki/Qing_dynasty "Qing dynasty") [Emperor Jiaqing](/wiki/Emperor_Jiaqing "Emperor Jiaqing").
* **Đại Nam đế quốc** (大南帝國) (1839 – 1945\) : Diplomatic name.
* **Empire d'Annam** : French exonoym.One example of its use is in [Jean\-Louis Taberd](/wiki/Jean-Louis_Taberd "Jean-Louis Taberd")'s 1829 [map](https://virtual-saigon.net/Maps/Collection?ID=1539) of Vietnam, then under [Minh Mạng](/wiki/Minh_M%E1%BA%A1ng "Minh Mạng")'s rule
* **Union indochinoise** (1887–1945\), **Fédération indochinoise** (1947–1953\) or **Liên bang Đông Dương** (東洋聯邦).
* **Đại Hùng đế quốc** (大雄帝國, 30 August 1917 – 11 January 1918\) : Only during the [Thái Nguyên uprising](/wiki/Th%C3%A1i_Nguy%C3%AAn_uprising "Thái Nguyên uprising").["Sergeant Cấn's Rallying Call during Thái Nguyên soldiers' revolt"](http://www.archives.org.vn/gioi-thieu-tai-lieu-nghiep-vu/loi-hieu-trieu-cua-doi-can-trong-cuoc-khoi-nghia-cua-binh-si-thai-nguyen.htm), National Archive Centre N1\. Translated from French by Đinh Hữu Phượng (in Vietnamese)
* **Việt Nam dân quốc** (越南民國, 1929? – 1930\) : Only during the [Yên Bái mutiny](/wiki/Y%C3%AAn_B%C3%A1i_mutiny "Yên Bái mutiny").Stein Tonnesson, Hans Antlov, *[Asian Forms of the Nation](https://books.google.com/books?id=3vC14MWi3g4C)*, Routledge, 1996, pp. 117\.
File:Đế\-quốc Việt\-Nam tuyên\-bố độc\-lập, 1945\.jpg\|''Telegram Dailynews'' has reported the "\[\[Empire of Vietnam]] declared independence", 11 March 1945\.
File:Tem in dưới thời Đế quốc Việt Nam.jpeg\|Stamps of the \[\[Empire of Vietnam]].
File:Cảnh chuẩn bị bầu cử Quốc hội khóa I tại ngõ Phất Lộc năm 1946\.jpg\|Preparing of the \[\[1946 North Vietnamese legislative election\|National Assembly elections]], Phất Lộc lane, \[\[Hanoi]] 1946\.
File:20 Đồng \- South Vietnam (1960\) FAO 01\.jpg\|Coin of the \[\[Republic of Vietnam]] in 1960\.
File:Stamps Confucius, 1961 issue Vietnam.jpg\|Stamps of the \[\[Republic of Vietnam]] in 1961\.
File:COA Vietnamese Embassy Prague 5542\.JPG\|\[\[Vietnam]]ese \[\[Embassy]] in \[\[Prague]] on 25 April 2012\.

#### Notes


What was on the stamps of the Republic of Vietnam?