The countries of Southeast Asia share a deeply intricate history, shaped by centuries of migrations, conquests, and cultural exchanges. This rich history has left its mark on the region’s languages, cultures, and toponyms. However, linguistics has yet to fully unravel the mysteries behind many of these names—particularly the origins of cities whose names have evolved over centuries.
Some of the Vietnamese toponyms, like those of Nha Trang and Phú Quốc, hold clues to ancient migrations and cultural connections, often remaining unexplained or misunderstood. In this article, I aim to delve into the etymology of these two famous cities, offering my perspective on their linguistic and historical significance.
As an expat who has lived in Southeast Asia for seven years and with a deep passion for ancient history, I have grown curious about the origins of these city names. Although I am neither an expert nor a fluent speaker of these languages, my interest has driven me to explore some of these etymologies, as at the moment, there is not much information available out there.
Nha Trang: ‘Reed River’ or ‘Elephant Tusk’?
The city of Nha Trang, known for its beautiful beaches, has a name that traces back to ancient times. The official etymology suggests that “Nha Trang” derives from the Cham term Ea Trang, which means “reed river” (Ea for “water” or “river,” and Trang for “reeds”). This makes sense, given the Cham people’s historical presence in the region, and their influence on the area’s early linguistic landscape.
However, I found this explanation less compelling when I discovered two waterfalls in Thailand named “Nga Chang”—pronounced strikingly similar to Nha Trang. In Thai, the etymology is clear. Nga Chang (งาช้าง) means “elephant tusk,” with Nga referring to “tusk” or “ivory” and Chang meaning “elephant.”
This raised a fascinating possibility: could there be an older, shared connection between Nha Trang and Nga Changs of Thailand? Yes, the spelling is different, but this shouldn’t come as a surprise, given that even the alphabets between these languages are distinct. The phonetic similarity is surely there.
In Thailand, elephants are highly revered, often symbolizing strength and royalty. Many waterfalls across the country are named after elephants, perhaps becuase a white water stream can resemble elephant’s tusk or perhaps becase those were the places where elephants used to gather.
Whatever the case, the assosications between waterfalls and elphants are numerous in Thailand. Here are some other examples:
“Ah lel chang” – “elephant cub”
“Hua chang” – “elephant’s head”
“Huai chang” – “elephant creek”
“Chang tok” – “elephant falls”
“Thap chang” – “elephant camp”
Moreover, in the northern mountains of Ha Giang, Vietnam, where ethnic minority communities reside, there is a waterfall known as Ngã Tư thôn Lùng Chang.
And that is not all. There is another waterfall in Vietnam called Chin Chang. In Cambodia, some 800 kilometers apart, there is a corresponding waterfall known as Chhin Chang. The meaning of both names is unclear, yet it is evident that they share same linguistic roots.
However, considering that the Vietnamese word for elephant is “con voi” and “dam rang” in the Cham language, it appears that these “Chang” toponyms predate both cultures. This suggests that they may date back to ancient times when, for some reason, waterfalls were associated with elephants.
Similar traditions of naming waterfalls after elephants exist even in the other neighbouring countries, although they are far less popular than in Thailand.
One of the most famous waterfalls in China named after elephants is the Detian Waterfall in Guangxi Province, which features a section called Xiangshuibao (象水堡), or “Elephant Waterfall.” This name comes from a large, elephant-shaped rock formation near the waterfall.
Another prominent example is the Elephant Trunk Hill (象鼻山, Xiàngbíshān) in Guilin, which is located on the Li River. While not a waterfall itself, there is a small cascade that flows through the trunk-shaped arch formed by the hill, which resembles an elephant drinking from the river.
In Laos, the Tad Xieng Liab Waterfall (also spelled Tad Xiang Liab or Tad Xieng Liap) is named after elephants. The word “Xieng” or “Xiang” in this case refers to elephants, and the waterfall is located in the Champasak Province of southern Laos.
In Southeast Asian mythology, elephants are often connected rain, waterfalls and rivers. In Lao and Cambodian myths, elephants are believed to have shaped the land through their movements, creating water sources as they roamed, while Thai legends feature the divine elephant Erawan, associated with rain and water. At the same time, it is near the waterfalls that the wild elephants were usually found in the jungle.
Nha Trang is a city located in a place where a river meets the ocean. Was there a time when people observed the white water cascading down the slopes and named it “Nga Chang” — meaning “elephant tusk”?
Could Nha Trang’s true origin lie in an ancient, forgotten association with elephants? It’s a tantalizing possibility that remains unexplored in current studies.
Phú Quốc and Fukuoka – the Land of Abundance
Phú Quốc, a popular destination for Asian tourists, attracts visitors with its beautiful beaches, rich history, and laid-back charm. However, there’s a curious trend where travelers often mix it up with Fukuoka, Japan. Whether it’s due to spell check or just a simple typo, but online reviews of Phú Quốc are frequently filled with mentions of “Fukuoka.”
Indeed, these two names are pronounced in a similar way, which made me wonder if there’s more to the confusion than just a spell check error.
So what is in the name?
The Sino-Vietnamese word phú 富 (used only in compounds) means wealthy; abundant.
The word quốc 國, means: land, country, kingdom, nation.
Hence, the compound name Phú Quốc is quite straightforward to translate: it means something like “wealthy land” or “a place of abundance.” Interestingly, I couldn’t find this translation anywhere and had to figure it out on my own.
Now, returning to the original question: is the toponym Phú Quốc in Vietnam related to Fukuoka, Japan? It seems that this is plausable, if not quite likely.
The connection to the name Fukuoka is hard to dismiss, especially since both Phú and Quốc in Vietnamese correspond to the same Old Chinese characters (富 and 國) used in Japanese. Once again, what we see is just a different spelling, based on the local adaptation of the ancient Chinese characters!
This raises a fascinating question: could there be an ancient maritime connection between these two distant places, or is this just a result of a shared linguistic legacy?
Both Vietnam and Japan were historically part of trade routes stretching across Asia, which may have influenced the exchange of culture and language. If so, the shared meanings behind these toponyms could hint at interactions so old that their significance has been forgotten over time.
