>>87628569The correct pronunciation is "Veet-nuh-meeze."
"Nam" is the word for South in Classical Chinese. "Viet" refers to "people from the South," originally from Yuyue, but used to refer to non-Chinese people in Southern China/Northern Vietnam by the 3rd century BC, who were collectively called "Baiyue" (Hundred southern peoples). "Yue" is read as "Yuht" in Classical Chinese and Cantonese, for the etymological connection to "Viet."
The term originates in regards to China's status with the region, as it was a vassal state of the varying Chinese empires for much of its history, where it was literally called "Annam," which means "Pacified South" after the Ming (and later Qing) supported the Mac takeover from the Le, who were the final ruling dynasty of a state called "Dai Viet," which means "Great Southern State."
For reference, nearly all of East Asian history is derived from relation to China, with the only real exceptions being Siberia (excluding the Trans-Amur region), Japan (because they made their national identity "we aren't Chinese" in the 1600s) and India (because of the Himalayas and Bengal jungle making it hard for Chinese soldiers to reach the subcontinent proper).
