This disclosure describes residual coding techniques that use vector quantization coding, which relies on template matching. However, rather than transmit vector quantization codebook indexes (or codewords) that may have no meaning to standard compliant CODECs, the techniques described herein map the residual templates to pre-computed compressed residual blocks that are compliant with a video standard. The standard compliant compressed residual blocks can then be transmitted to another device, which complies with the standard. The techniques can exploit the advantages associated with vector quantization coding, such as the ability to perform more parallel processing, while still maintaining compliance with a video coding standard.