Compare Vanguard international funds

These are Vanguard's three broad international index funds. Any of the three is a good core international holding, and all are eligible for the foreign tax credit, should have very low capital gains, and are thus suitable for taxable accounts. You might also add Vanguard Emerging Markets Index Fund if you hold Developed Markets Index (or a non-Vanguard international fund) which has no emerging markets.

Small Cap Additions to Funds
According to Vanguard, "When U.S. markets open on December 21, 2015, all share classes of Vanguard Developed Markets Index Fund, including its ETF (VEA), will begin tracking a new FTSE transition index. By tracking this new index, the fund will gradually build exposure to small-capitalization and Canadian equities. Two of the funds, Vanguard European Stock Index Fund and Vanguard Pacific Stock Index Fund, began tracking all-cap equity indexes on October 1. Vanguard Emerging Markets Stock Index Fund, moved to a transition index that includes exposure to small-cap equities and China A-Shares on November 2."

On June 02, 2015, Vanguard that four international equity index funds and ETFs will broaden their diversification by adding small-capitalization stocks to their investment portfolios. The funds are the Vanguard Emerging Markets Stock Index Fund (VWO and VEMAX), Vanguard Developed Markets Index Fund (VEA and VTMGX), Vanguard European Stock Index Fund (VGK and VEUSX), and Vanguard Pacific Stock Index Fund (VPL and VPADX). According to Vanguard: "The affected funds and ETFs are expected to begin the transition to more broadly diversified FTSE all-capitalization benchmarks in the third or fourth quarter of 2015. Under the new benchmarks, small-cap stocks will account for approximately 9% to 11% of each fund. Adding small-cap exposure will bring the funds closer to global market-cap weightings and offer diversification benefits to investors."

2010
On September 24th, 2010, Vanguard announced a change in the index tracked by the Total International fund to the MSCI All Country World ex USA Investable Market Index, and introduced five additional share classes with lower expense ratios for larger holdings. The index change and introduction of admiral shares was completed in December 2010.

The change in index means that Total International has regional coverage similar to FTSE All-World Ex-US, but with an added mixture of small-capitalization stocks not present in FTSE All-World Ex-US.