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VIETNAMNATIONAL UNIVERSITY HANOI
INSTITUTE OF VIETNAMESE STUDIES AND DEVELOPMENT SCIENCE




NGUYEN THI SUOI LINH



THE PLACE – NAMES OF DONG ANH



MASTER THESIS ON VIETNAMESE STUDIES
Major: VIETNAMESE STUDIES









HANOI – 2012

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VIETNAMNATIONAL UNIVERSITY HANOI
INSTITUTE OF VIETNAMESE STUDIES AND DEVELOPMENT SCIENCE




NGUYEN THI SUOI LINH



THE PLACE – NAMES OF DONG ANH


MASTER THESIS ON VIETNAMESE STUDIES
Major: Vietnamese study
Code: 60 31 60

Supervisor: Associate Professor Nguyen Thi Viet Thanh





HANOI – 2012


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COMMITMENT
I hereby commit that all information and detail in this investigation is
real, honest, and done by me under guidance from Assoc.Pro.Dr.Nguyen Thi
Viet Thanh. Every references from this thesis is clearly identified.


Author

Nguyen Thi Suoi Linh



















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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

This thesis is a research base on long time of studying in Institute of
Vietnamese studies and development sciences – Vietnam, International University
of Hanoi and self investigation process.
With warmest attitude, author would like to express deepest appreciation to
all instructors, teachers who are currently teaching at institute of Vietnamese
studies, leader of institute, training bureau… for the continuous and unconditional
support during studying process to the author when working with this thesis.
Especially, I would like to show my sincere gratitude to
Assoc.Prof.Dr.Nguyen Thi Viet Thanh for her persistent guidance, valuable time
and direction to us. During her guidance, author also gain much more than before
about her profession planning and serious attitude in study… Once again, thank
you!
Beside, to accomplished this thesis, author would like to thank local
government and people in Dong Anh district to supply many valuable information.
Best regard to all!
Ha noi, 22/10/ 2012

Author














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TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTROUDUCTION…………………………………………………………… 9
1. Reason for choosing the theme 9
2. Purpose of research 10
3. Research tasks 10
4. Object and scope of research 10
5. History of research……………………………………………… ………… 9
6. Research method…………………………………………………….……… 12
7. Contributions of the thesis 14
8. Thesis composition 15
CHATER 1: GENERAL ISSUES OF PLACE-NAME AND THE PLACE-NAMES OF
DONG ANH 16
1.1. General theories of place-name 16
1.1.1. Concept 16
1.1.2. Some features about place-name identification 18
1.1.3. Place-name classification 19
1.2. Overview of research area 22
1.3. Principles of surveying, classifying the place-names of Dong anh 25
1.3.1. Principle of surveying 26
1.3.2. Principles of classifying the place-names of Dong Anh 27
1.4. General picture of the place-names of Dong Anh 29
CHAPTER 2: CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PLACE-NAMES OF DONG
ANH 35
2.1. Characteristic of language origin 35
2.1.1.Place-names with pure Vietnamese origin 35
2.1.2.Group of Sino-Vietnamese origin place-names 36
2.1.3. Group of foreign language origin place-names 37

2.1.5. Group of number place-names 38


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2.1.6. Group of undefined origin place-names 38
2.2. Composition characteristics of place-names of Dong Anh 42
2.1.1. Overview of place-name complex 42
2.2.2. Place-name complex model of Dong Anh 45
2.3. Meaning characteristic of place-names of Dong Anh 65
2.3.1. General 65
2.3.2. Identification methods of place-names of Dong Anh 67
CHAPTER 3: PLACE NAMES IN DONG ANH IN RELATIONSHIP WITH
HISTORY AND CULTURE 80
3.1. Place – name – key for explaining the historical and cultural issues 80
3.2. Historical hallmark in Dong Anh place-names 81
3.2.1. Dong Anh - an ancient land region 81
3.2.2.The place–names of Dong Anh are is evidence of historical ages 85
3.2.3. Process of changing Dong Anh place-names reflecting the step of history 95
3.2.4. Place-names carrying name of person or name of historical event,
historical place-name 97
3.3. Cultural features of Dong Anh place-name 98
3.3.1. Cultural-geological issue 98
3.3.2. Aspects of cultural life presented through place-names 102
CONCLUSION 115
REFERENCES 118
APPENDIX 123









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THE ABBREVIATED NOTATION
TTĐA: Đông Anh Town
BH: Bắc Hồng
DT: Dục Tú
CL: Cổ Loa
ĐM: Đại Mạch
ĐH: Đông Hội
HB: Hải Bối
KC: Kim Chung
KN: Kim Nỗ
LH: Liên Hà
ML: Mai Lâm
NH: Nam Hồng

NK: Nguyên Khê
UN: Uy nỗ
TX: Tầm Xá
TD: Tiên Dương
TL: Thụy Lâm
V Hà: Vân Hà
V Nội: Vân Nội
V Ngọc: Vĩnh Ngọc
V Hùng: Việt Hùng
VL: Võng La

XC: Xuân Canh
XN: Xuân Nộn
















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LIST OF TABLES
Table 1.1. Result of place-name classification according to the
administrative – non-administrative and natural– non-natural criteria
Table 1.2. Summary table of system of natural place-names of Dong Anh
district
Table 2.1: Classification result of place-names of Dong Anh according to the
language origin criteria
Table 2.2. Statistics of quantity of elements in the place-name complex
composition of Dong Anh – group of non-administrative place-names
Table 2.3. Statistic result of quantity of syllables in the common component

composition of group of non-administrative place-names of Dong Anh
Table 2.4. Survey result of place-names of Dong Anh according to the
structure type

















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INTROUDUCTION
1. Reason for choosing the theme
1.1. According to the common way of understanding, the place-name is the name
of natural topography, construction works, administrative units, territories, object of
concern of many fields of science such as history, geography, ethnology, cultural
studies
1.2. Learning about the place-name is the topic segment that is concerned by many
researchers, not only linguists. The place-name is not only the name of a specific object
but also the historical, cultural sediments, factors belonging to the lifestyle, customs and

habits of each region, smaller it is each district, each commune, even each hamlet, each
village. The formation, development, existence or change and loss in which a place-
name often attaches to a cultural reason or certain historical event. Therefore, the
research on place-name not only has linguistic significance but also brings about
abundant data sources with reliable scientific foundation to many other branches of
science.
1.3. Dong Anh is a suburb district in the northeast of Hanoi city. The whole
district has an area, including 1 townlet and 23 communes. The inhabitants here are
relatively homogeneous about the ethnic component. It may be said that, the villages
and communes in Dong Anh are quite typical for the traditional village and commune
model of the Vietnamese in the Northern part about the organizational structure,
production mode, social institution as well as many other aspects of the material and
spiritual cultural life, including language. This is also the ancient land region with age-
old history, famous with Co Loa relic area and related cultural micro-systems. The
general research of Dong Anh place-name will bring about the scientific values of
language, history, culture in the locality in particular and of Hanoi in general.
1.4. With desire to learn about relatively completely and systematically the place-
names in Dong Anh district according to the interdisciplinary research method to show
their characteristics, formation model, development, transformation law as well as
crystallized historical, cultural values after each name of village, commune, pagoda,


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mountain and river, road, market …we have chosen the theme “The place – names of
Dong Anh” for our doctorial thesis.
2. Purpose of research
- Research the pace-name in Dong Anh in the aspects: composition characteristics,
identification method, semantic characteristics, original characteristics and
transformation of place-name.
- Clarify the relationship between place-name and related fields such as: history,

geography, ethnicity, culture, popular legend
- Through the relationship between place-name and related non-language factors,
the thesis aims to discover, affirm the historical and cultural values on Dong Anh land.
3. Research tasks
The thesis performs the following tasks:
- Study the theoretical issues of place-name related to the research process.
- Countryside, survey the reality of place-name system in Dong Anh.
- Statistics, describe and analyze the data to draw the comments on composition,
identification method, language origin and meaning of factors that constitute Dong Anh
place-name.
- From the place-name linguistic data source, decode the issues of geography,
history, culture.
4. Object and scope of research
4.1. Object of research
- The object of research of the thesis is the natural and human, administrative and
non-administrative place-names in Dong Anh district, including the names that are in
use at present or existed in the past.
4.2. Scope of study
- The scope of research of the thesis is the place-name in the whole district,
including 23 communes and 1 townlet. However, because the number of place-names is
too large, we only research over 1288 place-names collected by the thesis.
5. History of research issue


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As a real science subject, Vietnamese toponymy was formed and developed for a
short time (about in the middle of the 20
th
century). In the world, the toponymy has a
longer history attaching with the name of the first toponymists such as J.J. Eghi,

J.W.Nagl at the end of the 19th century … However, the notes of geographical, historical
place-name in both Orient and in the West appeared from very soon.
- In China, at the beginning of Eastern Han Dynasty, Ban Co documented
more than 4,000 place-names. By the time Northern Wei, Lich Dao Nguyen wrote
“Thuy kinh chu so”, in which noted more than three thousand place-names.
- At the end of the 19th century, in the West, the toponymy subject was officially
appeared. In 1872, J.J. Eghi (Switzerland) wrote Toponymy and in 1903, J.W.Nagl
(Austrian) also made the work Toponymy. In the 20th century, flourished the researches on
place-name attaching to the great names from many countries. J.Gillénon (1854 - 1926)
wrote Atlat French language, research the place-name in the direction of geography
development. A.Dauzat wrote Origin and development of place-name propose the
geographical methods to study the chronology of the place-names.
Leading and reaching many achievements in building theoretical system is the Soviet
toponymists with some typical works such as E.M.Murzaev with The tendencies of
researching place-names, I.U.A.Kapenko Discussing contemporary place-names,
A.V.Nhikonov with General of place-names (1965); G.P.Xmolixkaja and M.V. Gorbanhexki
with Moscow place-names etc The person who is considered to have most contributions to
the toponymy research science is A.V. Supenranxkaja with 2 great works named Principles of
toponymy and What is toponymyịa. In which, including the work What is toponymy has great
value in the development of toponymy branch.
b. Situation of place-name research in Vietnam
The chronicle works, history of literature, geography books appearing a lot of
centuries ago may be considered as the first toponymy works in our country. We may
tell the name of typical works in this genre such as: Vietnamese historical summary,
Vietnam Records of the Historian (Ngo Si Lien), General history summary of Vietnam,


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An Nam miscellaneous literary works, Geography book (Nguyen Trai), Lich trieu hien
chuong loai chi (Phan Huy Chu)….

From the middle of the 20th century, some works researched place-names in the angle
of language or place-name approach in interdisciplinary science type, bring the Toponymy
of Vietnam into a real science subject. Starting from the years of 70th decade – previous
century, the issues of place-name research and theory of toponymy were taken true interest.
We may quote the typical works as follows:
- “Relation of ancient language in Southeast Asia through some names of river”
(1967) by Hoang Thi Chau.
- “Changes in administrative geography in the French domination period” (1972)
by Vu Van Tinh
- “Method of applying toponymy in research of geography, ancient history of
Vietnam” (1984) by Dinh Van Nhat
- “Test discussion about Vietnam place-names” (1976) by Tran Thanh Tam
The research of modern toponymy must mention to Le Trung Hoa, author of the
successful research work on place-names of Ho Chi Minh city and a series of other
valuable researches around the field of Toponymy. In addition, it is necessary to
mention to the contribution of Nguyen Kien Truong with MA thesis in Survey place-
names in Hai Phong city; Tu Thu Mai with thesis “Research place-names in Quang
Tri”; Tran Van Dung researched “Place-names in Dac Lac”; Phan Xuan Dam with
thesis “Survey place-names in Nghe An” and many thesises, themes of place-names in
other localities.
c. Issue of place-name research in Hanoi and Dong Anh district
- In the important historical documentations such as, Vietnam Records of the
Historian (Ngo Si Lien), General history summary of Vietnam, An Nam miscellaneous
literary works, Geography book (Nguyen Trai), place-names of Co Loa, Uy No, Duc
Tu, Kim Hoa, Dong Do… are mentioned attaching to the important historical events
and as a unit directly under Dong Ngan district, in consideration of administrative
aspect.


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- Dong Anh village community was mentioned in the famous books “Name of
Vietnam village community in the 19
th
century”, “Thang Long – Hanoi competition-
examinations villages”
- The history of formation, transformation of the administrative place-names and
name of Dong Anh village community was also introduced in the books “Dong Khanh
geography book” (complied at Dong Khanh reign -1886), “Bac Ninh geography book”
by Do Trong Vi, “Bac Ninh tinh chi” by Trinh Nhu Tau, “Kinh Bac administrative
geography” by Nguyen Van Huyen, “Vietnamese country through the dynasties” by
Dao Duy Anh and recently the meticulous research work on change process of place-
names and administrative border of districts, communes of Bac Ninh province through
the historical periods of author Nguyen Quang Khai.
- During the thesis implementation, the implementer approached to many typical
research works attaching to land and people of Dong Anh, in which, the place-names in
this land are considered as the historical evidence or itself is the object of research:
Book “On the land of historical Co Loa” by late Professor Tran Quoc Vuong, Dong
Anh with 1000 years of Thang Long – Hanoi published by the District Party
Committee– People’s Council – People’s Committee of Dong Anh district, Prof.Dr. Bui
Xuan Dinh chief editor, Co Loa monography Nguyen Quang Ngoc and Assoc.Prof.Dr.
Vu Van Quan
- The research on Dong Anh place-names can not but mention to the work
Meaning and origin issue of Co Loa place-name discussed by many researchers in the
works and articles: “Vietnamese country over dynasties” (Dao Duy Anh), “On the land
of historical Co Loa” (Tran Quoc Vuong), “ Co Loa geography book” (Nguyen Quang
Ngoc, Vu Van Quan), “Study about the origin and meaning of Co Loa place-name”
(Tran Tri Doi, Nguyen Thi Hong Hanh)…
- The place-name in Dong Anh also contributes to proving the presence,
prosperity and decadence of Royal Dynasty Li on Hoa Lam mother’s village of King Li
Cong Uan. The development of scientists such as Assoc.Prof.Dr. Trinh Binh Dy,

Asso.Prof.Dsc. Tran Ba Chi, Prof.Dr. Nguyen Quang Ngoc, Assoc.Prof.Dr. Lam Thi


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Mi Dung on the sources of bibliographies, archeological documentations and place-
names contribute to clarifying such significant historical secrets.
In addition to the above-mentioned research works, the place-name in Dong Anh
is also mentioned in the folk legends, local researches and a lot of articles, thesis,
themes about Co Loa Festival, Den Sai Festival, Choosing Son-in-law Festival, Duong
Yen village, singing Ca tru in Lo Khe, Puppetry Lo Khe, puppetry Dao Thuc… In such
researches, Dong Anh place-names xists with all its vitalities and souls, when being
associated with legend, customs, festivals …
However, most preceding researches only took interest in Loa Thanh, Mai Lam
and neighboring cultural regions, in which, the place-name is only told name as
historical evidences that are rarely considered as direct object of research. The picture
of Dong Anh place-names with 23 wide communes and townlet is only described
generally and most are acknowledged in the angle of administrative unit. The research
on Dong Anh place-names n the interdisciplinary direction, attach special importance to
the characteristics of language – history – culture is the direction chosen by us with
desire to discover and affirm more specific characteristics of this land, seeing from the
angle of place-name system
6. Research method: Generally apply the methods of collection, fieldwork,
description method, interdisciplinary research method of language – history – culture,
analytical method, summary, generalization.
7. Contributions of the thesis
Implementing this theme, we desire to achieve the research results with scientific
and practical values, including the basic contributions:
- Point out and prove the characteristics and development law of place-name
language according to the particular research methods of linguistics.
- Put forth a accurate, scientific and full system of place-names in Dong Anh in

the organic close relation with local history and culture.
- Being an important research segment in the scientific project about overview of
natural, historical, cultural, social characteristics of Dong Anh district implemented by


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Dong Anh district People’s Committee in coordination with the Institute of Vietnamese
studies and Development science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.
8. Thesis composition
In addition to Introduction and Conclusion, the thesis includes 3 chapters:
Chapter 1: General issues of place-name and the place-names of Dông Anh
Chapter 2: Characteristics of the place- names of Dong Anh
Chapter 3: The place – names of Dong Anh in the relationship with history and
culture
























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CHAPTER 1: GENERAL ISSUES OF PLACE-NAME AND
THE PLACE –NAMES OF DONG ANH
1.1. General theories of place-name
1.1.1. Concept
The naming is a language operation to determine, call, reflect and localize the
things, phenomenon. The result of naming is the appearance of name words with the
different forms: human name (name of people), ethnic name (name of ethnic people),
place-name (name of geographical objects)…
The place-name term has origin from an ancient Greek Toponima hay Topoma,
Vietnamese meaning “place name”, “name of geographical place”. The place-name not
only brings meaning “land name” as pure way of understanding if only translate the
topographical meaning. The place-name includes the name of all geographical objects
belonging to nature (mound, hill, river, stream …), residence units (village, hamlet,
province, city …), construction works existing on a defined geographic space (temple,
pagoda, factory, market, street …).
The set of place-names forms a layer of special terms in the vocabulary system
of one language. The place-name is governed by the general language laws (such as
rule of pronunciation), bringing the characteristics of a specific language (rules of
grammar, spelling…), at the same time, there are the particular rules in its immanent
structure (rule of place-name composition, method of identification).
The place-name is the familiar concept, but around this concept, there are still a
lot of ways of understanding that are not completely identical with each other.

In the famous toponymy research work named What is place-name?, author
A.V. Superanxkaja determined the place-name: “All geographical names, sometimes
there are other names: list, originating from Latin nomenclature (write name)” and
“such geographical places, targets are the natural or artificial objects with the location,
determination on the earth’s surface, from the largest objects (continents and oceans) to
the smallest objects (houses, tree gardens standing separately) have name”. On the other
hand, the author thinks that: “The people in all countries from the old time recorded the


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surrounding objects owning to the place-name words, marked the geographical names
by words. Therefore, the place-name is close to the special name of other sciences:
name studies (different way of calling name of the people), zoology (name of animals).
[Cited under 42.p.11]. With such theories, we may understand the place-name concept
according to the conception of A.V. Superanxkaja as “name of different geographical
objects, topography on the earth’s surface. The place-name marks the geographical
names by words. The place-name is close to the name of people, name of animal”
[42.p.11].
The Vietnamese scholars, typically Dao Duy Anh, Hoang Phe when compiling
the Vietnamese dictionary, they also give their way of understanding about place-name:
“The place-name is the name of land regions”[1], “name of land, name of locality” [49].
This is the simple, brief ways of definition, not embrace fully the connotation of place-
name concept.
Originating from the angle of language, Le Trung Hoa, Nguyen Kien Truong,
Nguyen Van Au one after another presented the conception of place-name in their
research works. Le Trung Hoa who has many years of enthusiasm, groping in the area
Vietnamese toponymy quoted the concept: “The place-name is the fixed terms or
expressions, used as name of natural topography, construction works, administrative
units, territories.” [33. p.21]. Nguyen Kien Truong determined: “The place-name is
the specific name denoting the natural geographical and human objects with the

position determined on the earth’s surface” [63, p. 16]. Author Nguyen Van Au
thought that: “The place-name is the name of land including: name of river, mountain,
village… or the name of localities, ethnic groups” [6, p. 5]
We do not completely agree with the conception of Nguyen Van Au because
according to our opinion, his way of definition is both deficient and redundant. When
listing the types of place-name, he did not indicate a very important part that the
construction works have the definite position on the ground such as temple, pagoda,
house Vice versa, the name of ethnic groups is given by Nguyen Van Au equivalently
to the name of locality whereas it must be clearly the type of ethnic name.


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The definition of Le Trung Hoa, Nguyen Kien Truong is accepted by many people
because it brings the generality, connotation and expresses the clear concept denotation.
Acquire and summarize these two concepts, we put forth our way of understanding about
the place-name as follows: : “The place-name is the fixed terms or expressions, used as
name of natural topography, construction works, administrative units, territories with
the definite position on the earth’s surface”.
1.1.2. Some features about place-name identification
The good hold of place-name concept is a basic tool to identify the place-
name, distinguish it with phenomenon, things or types of other languages. During
the identification and collection of place-name of Đông Anh, we base on the
following contentions:
First, in the application language, the place-name concept will be
interpreted under two meanings:
- First meaning: the place-name is a vocabulary unit, denoting the
name of geographical object. (For example: đầm Vân Trì)
- Second meaning: the place-name is the identified geographical object
(For example: phrase “địa danh đầm Vân Trì” is interpreted as a lagoon named Van
Tri existed in the fact)

The research object of the theme is the place-names of Đông Anh
interpreted under the second meaning.
Second, the place-name must be the geographical units with actual existence
in a certain territory scope. The man-made works that only exist on the legal papers
are not considered as place-name.
Third, the place-name must be the name that is defined, recognized and used
by a community. In fact, a lot of geographical objects have no name. When it is
necessary to call name and distinguish, each person identifies according to their own
way. Those products are individual, only have value for one or very few people and
are not also considered as place-name.


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Fourth, it is necessary to distinguish the place-name with predicate
accompanying with term denoting type. The place-name must be the fixed units, can
not insert or cut. The predicate has form and function that approximates to some
place-names but has loose, unfixed structure:
For example: “Cánh đồng Trường cấp 3” (ĐH) is a place-name. The
Individual component Trường cấp 3 is a fixed language unit, used by the whole
community. We can not insert into “Cánh đồng gần Trường cấp 3”.
1.1.3. Place-name classification
In most fields of science, the classification of research object is an extremely
basic operation to place each specific object individual in the certain groups, subgroups.
This operation has many significations. First, it helps the researcher to acknowledge the
problem both generally and specifically because a research object not only exists as an
unspecific, immutable phenomenon, thing, but it is multiform with lively manifestations
in the fact. Second, the classification of objects allows us to recognize the relation
between the groups, subgroups in the research object. Through that, the scientific
conclusions will be clear right from the classification step. When classifying the place-
name of an area into the different forms such as mountain name, water name,

administrative place-name, construction works and find the predominant groups of
objects …we can generalize to some extent the characteristics of topography,
landscape, or economic, social level of that area.
Normally, when classifying the research object, the people will acknowledge
from many different angles. In each angle, the research object reveals the specific
characteristics. If the classification of place-name according to the criteria based on the
nature of object itself (such as natural place-name and artificial place-name), gives us
the conclusions about the topographical landscape picture and socio-economic
development level, the way of classification of place-name according to etymology
origin (pure Vietnamese, Sino-Vietnamese place-name, ethnic minority language,
foreign language…) will reveal many historical hallmarks such as inhabitant origin,
cultural exchange, trespass process of area and region…


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The place-name is the name of the geographical objects, they exist in many forms
and numberless different types. Such types are incessantly generated more according to the
development process of the society. Therefore, the classification of place-name becomes
complicated, right as the comment of author Nguyen Van Loan in the doctorial thesis in the
place-names of Ha Tinh: “With a set of numberless place-names with a lot of place-name
types existing in the fact, it becomes a challenge in the classification “arrangement” of
place-names to each part, type. The complexity also originates from the subjective cause
that is the different concepts, directions of approach of the researchers on place-name.
Thus, can not have any way of classification “arrangement” for all place-names but not
“omit” or “arrange coincidentally” [42. p.12].
The toponymists in the world proposed several trends of classification as
follows:
In the work Place-names of Moscow, the authors G.P.Xmolixkaja and M.V.
Gorbanhexki divided the place-name types: 1. Name of residential points (direction
name); 2. Water name; 3. Mountain name; 4. City name (name of objects in the city).

Author A.V.Superanxkaja divided the place-name into 8 types: 1. Direction name; 2.
Water name; 3. Mountain name; 4. City name; 5. Road name; 6. Park name; 7.
Religion name; 8. Where less inhabitant. A. Dauzat divided the specific place-names
into 4 parts: 1. Basic general issues of Pre-Indian - European language; 2. Pre-Latin
nouns about water in water name studies; 3. Goloa - Roman etymologies; 4. Goloa-
Roman toponymy of Auvergne and Velay. And Ch.Rostaing considered the issues in
the place-name such as: 1. Pre-Indian - European foundations; 2. Pre-Xetich layers; 3.
Goloa layer; 4. Goloa - Roman scopes; 5. Roman formations; 6. Contributions of
Giecmanh language; 7. Forms of feudal times; 8. Nouns with religious origin; 9.
Present forms; 10. Place-names and street name; 11. Name of rivers and mountains.
[Cited under document 42.p.12]
It may be found that, the way of place-name classification of foreign authors
has the difference from little to much, reflects clearly the difference of each
conception about place-name, each scientific view point, each consideration aspect,
and even expresses the personal cultural hallmark of the researcher.


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In Vietnam, Tran Thanh Tam is one of the first persons to provide the place-name
classification system. He is also one of the few authors who divide the place-name under
the identification method [52]. Accordingly, the place-name is arranged into the
following types:
- Naming according to characteristic
- Naming according to space and time
- Naming according to religion and belief
- Naming according to morphology, soil quality, climate
- Naming according to occupation, specialty, economic organization
- Naming according to activities of the human.
Nguyen Van Au divided the place-name into 2 kinds: Natural place-name and
socio-economic place-name with 7 types: Water name, Forest name, Mountain name,

village and commune, district and town, province, city, nation and 12 forms: river and
stream, lake and lagoon, hill and mountain, island, forest, moor - cleared area, village -
commune, district - district, town, province, city, nation [6]. This classification method
is specific, easy for statistics, however, it is too detailed, so lose the generality.
In the book “Principles and methods of place-name research” [36], Le Trung Hoa
based on the identification object criteria and language origin for place-name
classification:
+ In the consideration under object, the place-name is divided into 2 types: Natural
and non-natural. The place-name denoting the man-made geographical object includes 3
types: place-name denoting construction works, place-name denoting administrative
units; and place-name denoting territories without clear boundary. In each type, the
author has the smaller separations. For example, in the article: “Place-name, historical
and cultural steles of the country” [35], he divided the construction works in the
country into 4 groups in the scopes of life activities:


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- Residence activities: house, apartment building, hostel,…
- Economic activities: field, market, furnace, street, farm,…
- Traffic activities: station (vehicle, ferry), bridge, road, store…
- Spiritual activities: pagoda, temple and communal house, church,…
The natural place-name is also divided into 3 types: mountain name, water name
and small land area.
+ Based on the etymology origin, the author divided the place-names of Ho Chi
Minh city into 2 large groups: pure Vietnamese place-name and non-pure Vietnamese
place-name (Sino-Vietnamese origin, Khome origin, French origin…).
This method of division is quite reasonable and scientific because the author based
on the origin to classify the place-name. Having the same point of view with Le Trung
Hoa, many researchers such as Nguyen Kien Truong, Tu Thu Mai, Phan Thanh Dam,
Nguyen Van Loan…took two natural and non-natural criteria to divide the place-name

into 2 major types. However, in the smaller subtypes, each author chooses for them a
different method of division, depending on the research purpose and area characteristic.
With the research characteristic of the interdisciplinary method, we use many
criteria to classify the place-names of Đông Anh. On the basis of acquiring the result of
the former researchers, we propose our own method of classification, it is the place-
name classification under criteria: administrative and non-administrative. The specific
result of classification will be presented by us in section 1.3 of this thesis.
1.2. Overview of research area
Đông Anh is a suburb district, located in the Northern gateway of the capital.
The whole district has a natural area of 18,230 ha, the second largest of Hanoi after Soc
Son. In the past, Đông Anh land area has ever chosen as capital city twice (times of An
Duong Vuong and Ngo Quyen), where the Li dynasty built Royal step-over place and
Royal park, the Party and Uncle Ho chose as Resistance safety zone. Today, Đông Anh


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is still a main point of the expanded core urban area in the general planning of Hanoi
capital. Đông Anh is also the age-old cultured region with the competition-
examinations villages, famous trade villages. The reason Đông Anh holds in it the
special historical and cultural mission is simply that partially due to “clement weather
and favorable terrain”, means that the advantages of natural conditions. The information
of natural, social characteristics we generalize below is quoted from two sources of
documentation including official electronic newspaper of Dong Anh district and book
Đông Anh with 1000 years of Thang Long Hanoi taken responsibility for publishing by
the district party Committee, People’s Committee, People’s Council of Đông Anh
district.
1.2.1. Natural characteristic
Dong Anh district is located in the Northeast of Hanoi capital. The system of
Red River and Duong river is the administrative boundary of the district with the inner
city. The administrative border of Đông Anh district is as follows:

+ The North is contiguous to Sóc Sơn district, Hà Nội
+ The East, Northeast is contiguous to Bắc Ninh province
+ The East is contiguous to Gia Lâm district
+ The South is contiguous to the Red River
+ The West is contiguous to Vĩnh Phúc province
In general, Đông Anh has a high terrain from the North down and the West to,
create two clear terrain forms: The high land area intermingles with mounds and hills in
the West and North, the low and hallow area in the South and Southeast. Looking at the
system of natural place-names, we shall find very clear this characteristic. The above
terrain obstructs to some extent the agricultural cultivation process but it is the very


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favorable condition for building the military bases in the past. On the ground of this
terrain, the cultural landscapes are gradually formed and located.
The whole district has 33.3 km of river way (Hồng river, Đuống river, Cà Lồ
river) and 20 km of river within the district. These are the life-line roads in the feudal
times and up to now they have still held the important role. In addition, in the territory
of Dong Anh, there are so many small rivers that are affluent of the Red River, Duong
river such as Ngu Huyen Khe, Ha Bac river, Thiep river… Following the two riversides
are the wet rice agricultural culture bands attaching to the ancient villages, in which, a
lot of place-names retain the river factors with name: Hà Khê, Hà Lỗ, xóm Đầm, Cổ
Giang…
For road traffic, Đông Anh is located on two roads starting from Thăng Long
capital city to the Northeastern provinces, to Kim Anh cross-road today divided into
two branches to Thái Nguyên, Bắc Kạn and to Việt Trì, Tuyên Quang.
In the district area, there are two railway routes running through: Hà nội – Thái
Nguyên routes and Hà Nội – Yên Bái route. Noi Bai International airport is connected
to inner Hanoi by the National road 3 and Thăng Long Nội Bài Highway, the section
running through Đông Anh district is 7.5 km long. It may be found that, Đông Anh

district has great advantage of traffic. This is the favorable condition for the exchange
between Hà Nội with the Northeastern provinces and it is the international exchange
gateway of the country. This is also the premise for promoting the economic, cultural
and social development of the district.
1.2.2. Economic - cultural - social characteristics
The material position made Đông Ngàn land area soon reclaimed and settled by
the Ancient Vietnamese inhabitants, they established the hamlets and villages and built
Au Lac capital city. During its history, Đông Anh is considered as the Northern
gateway of Thăng Long – Hà Nội formerly and today.


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The natural condition creates both advantages and difficulties in the agricultural
production in Dong Anh. In general, it is located in the middle of the Red River Delta,
in a dense network of rivers and streams, therefore, Đông Anh has a potential for
agricultural development, especially in the fat riverside areas such as Tầm Xá, Võng
La, Vân Nội…
Đông Anh is also famous for a lot of traditional handicrafts such as textile in
Thụy Lôi, wood carve in Liên Hà, Vân Hà, making soya curb in Võng La, making
vermicelli in Mạch Tràng… The goods are bought and sold densely in the countryside
market and on the station and on boat.
The greatest part of Đông Anh inhabitants has the Chinese-transcribed
Vietnamese name, lives in the villages and hamlets, in which many ancient villages
were formed from the times of King Hung. Through the layer upon layer of
generations, Đông Anh people “created a culture base, on the economic basis of water
field agriculture and organizational structure of villages and communes. Đông Anh
culture has a specific characteristic of two Xứ Bắc and xứ Đoàii” [40. p.39]. The
village culture is shown through the system of unique festivals such as Cổ Loa festival,
Sái Temple festival, Đường Yên son-in-law choosing festival…and a lot of customs
and habits attaching the personal sentiment with the village and hamlet community.

In the villages and communes of Đông Anh reserve many special folk
performance activities, typically festival song in Lỗ Khê and water puppet in Thuỵ Lôi.
This land is also rich in traditional fondness for learning, where originating the great
names such Le Tuan Mau, Nguyen Thuc, Nguyen Tu Gian, Ngo Tat To, Nguyen Huy
Tuong, Nguyen Phu Trong… Those talented persons made great contributions to the
national construction and defence. And many among them were written name on the
name of streets, schools, hamlets and lanes… it is a way of reporting merits of the next
generation at the same time educating the younger generation of Đông Anh to follow
the native tradition.
1.3. Principles of surveying, classifying the place-names of Dong anh