How many hànzì are used as syllabaries ?

[Michaelyus]

FWIW, Vietnamese names usually have a basis in Chinese, so they are not transliterated, but just translated more-or-less by cognate, sometimes reordered. The capital of 越南 for example is 河内, with the largest city being 胡志明市. However, the former name of the largest city is generally known as 西贡, which entered Standard (Mandarin) Chinese via either Cantonese or Teochew (Sāigung or Sai-kòng); many etymologies are proposed.  though during the official rule of the Vietnamese court over the area it had the official name Gia Định 嘉定 rather than Sài Gòn.

 

Also, as the majority of modern translations of non-Sinosphere languages come through English into Mandarin, my personal hunch suggests an interaction of stress in English carried over into tone in Mandarin

[boctulus]

Michaelyus: I've supposed something like you commented but I'm concern about new names for cities in Vietnam or whatever new place, etc.