Haiphong
/ˈhaɪˌfɒŋ/noun
A major port city in northern Vietnam, officially called Hải Phòng.
Did you know?The name comes from the Sino-Vietnamese compound 海防, a term historically associated with defending the coast and controlling strategic waterways.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Chinese
Chinese
海防
“Coastal or maritime defense”
Middle Chinese
Middle Chinese
海防
“Defense of the sea or coastline”
19th Century
Vietnamese
Hải Phòng
“Sea defense; a name reflecting the port’s strategic coastal role”
1888
Vietnamese
Hải Phòng
“Established as a municipality under French colonial administration”
20th Century
English
Haiphong
“The anglicized form used for the northern Vietnamese port city”
Modern English
English
Haiphong
“A major industrial and commercial port in Vietnam”