Hanoi is located in the Red River Delta, in the center of North Vietnam, home to about 4 million people.
In the fall of 1010, King Ly Thai To (Ly Cong Uan) moved the capital from Hoa Lu to Dai La.On the way, the king saw a vision of a golden dragon ascending from the Red river ( Song Hong). The King decided to change Dai La to Thang Long (Ascending Dragon). Thang Long remained the capital city until the end of the Tran dynasty when in 1397, the capital city was moved to Thanh Hoa -Tay Do (Western Capital) and Thang Long became Dong Do (Eastern Capital). Vietnam was invaded by China in 1407, and the city was renamed Dong Quan. In 1428, after ten years of fighting, Le Loi liberated Vietnam and renamed the city Dong Kinh. In 1527, the city was renamed Thang Long. In 1802 when King Gia Long (Nguyen Dynasty) moved the capital city to Hue, the name Thang Long remained but, Long no longer means dragon, Long in this case means prosperity. Ha Noi, was the name given to the city by King Minh Mang in 1831. Ha means river and Noi means within - Ha Noi means within the river.Nowadays, Ha Noi is center of politics, economy, culture of the whole country.
The tropical monsoon climate is divided into the rainy and dry seasons.The moats distinctive characteristic of Hanoi’s climate is the fluctuations between the cold and hot seasons. Hanoi has four distinct seasons. Winters can actually be quite chilly; although snow is foreign to Hanoi residents. Summers are hot and rainy. Probably the best time to visit is spring and fall.
Highlights
Less vibrant and more reserved than others capitals, Hanoi is a great place to explore on foot. Walking tour is nice chose when you want to go shopping in the Old Quarter where you should buy some find arts, silk and silver jewelry…along the narrow streets. Most Vietnamese and Westerners are familiar with the phrase Ha Noi ba muoi sau Pho Phuong or Ha Noi 36 districts. Long ago, as artisans moved to the capital city to do business, they gathered together in an area as a way to share resources. As a result, many of the streets are named after the crafts that were sold on that street. Pho Hang Bun (Vermicelli), Pho Hang Ma (paper product), Pho Hang Bac (Jewelry) are a few of the streets carrying the name of the products sold on the street.
Visitors can explore the Old Quarter by the walking tour or Cyclo tour. Cyclo is a traffic interesting and not expensive.
If Ho Chi Minh City is defined by hustle and bustle and people on the move, Hanoi’s trademark is green parks and tranquil lakes. Hanoi has long been considered as the city of romantic lakes. Currently there are 18 lakes with water surface areas totaling more than 2,200 hectares. Those beautiful lakes which have come down into Vietnam’s history of prose and verse literature include Ho Hoan Kiem (Sabre Restored Lake), Ho Tay (West Lake), Ho Truc Bach (White Bamboo Lake), Thien Quang Lake, Ho Bay Mau (Bay Mau Lake), Ho Thu Le (Thu Le Lake), and Ho Giang Vo (Martial Art Training Lake). These lakes are considered the giant lungs of the city which is covered with parks and shade trees grown along main boulevards to make the city more close to nature.
Hoan Kiem Lake (Lake of the Restored Sword) is situated at center of Hoan Kiem district, the most interesting district of city. The lake was once called Luc Thuy or Green Water because the water was green year round. In the fifteenth century, the lake named Hoan Kiem. According to the legend local, while fighting against the Chinese, King Le Thai To has in his possession a very valuable sword. After 10 years of continuous struggle, the King finally defeated the Chinese and reclaimed Vietnam’s independence. One day, while sailing on lake Luc Thuy, a large turtle appeared. The king drew his sword and pointed at the creature. The turtle immediately grab hold of the sword with its mouth and submerged. The king mourned the lost of such valuable sword, demanded that the lake be emptied and dredged. Both the turtle and the sword were not found. The king realizing that the gods must have lent him the sword to drive back the enemy, but now that Vietnam is free, the sword must be returned. King Le Thai To named the lake Ho Hoan Kiem or Lake of the Returned Sword. On the southwest end of the lake is Thap Rua. It was rumored that king Le Thanh Tong used to fish here. On the north end of the lake there is Ngoc Son shrine and The Huc bridge.
Hanoi still preserves many ancient architectural works including over 600 pagodas (One Pillar Pagoda, Tran Quoc pagoda, Quan Su pagoda…)
Van Mieu (Temple of Literature): Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam is a famous historical and cultural relic consisting of the Temple of Literature and Vietnam’s first university. The temple of Literature was built in 1070 in honor of Confucius, his followers and Chu Van An, a moral figure in Vietnamese education.
