Hanoi

INTRO
Hanoi is not only the capital but also the economic and cultural centre of Vietnam. Here, among the remnants of a colourful past, spreads a unique blend of West and East, which brings the city's special charm and makes it one of those places that you cannot appreciate unless you visit it.

City Profile
City: Hanoi
Country: Vietnam
Area: 921 km2
Population: 3,145,300
Districts: 14
Language: Hanoian
Rating: #1 / 126 at Asian-Cities

LOCATION
Spread along the right bank of the Red River, Hanoi is the political and cultural centre of Vietnam that plays an important role in the country's affairs as its capital. The city's strategic location along the river bank makes in central to the Vietnamese economy. Hanoi continues to develop and modernize both its infrastructural and social matters thus enhancing its contemporary presence in the world.

TIME TO VISIT
Hanoi has a tropical climate that is distinguishable from the climate in other parts of Vietnam. Two separate seasons are typical for these altitudes: winter that begins in November and lasts till March and summer that rules between May and November. The summer months are characterised with heavy rainfalls that sometimes may lead to floods. The annual temperatures vary between 8 and 38 degrees Celsius. Hanoi's geographical region is influenced by South and Northeast monsoons which make the summers hot and humid and the winters cool and dry. The official tourist season in Vietnam is from September till April but Hanoi is most pleasant from February till May and in September to November.

POPULATION
The estimated number of inhabitants in the Vietnamese capital exceeds 3 million people and continues to grow through the years. Most of the city's population has moved from other regions in the country and has settled here, in the country's political and cultural centre, to establish a better living. The native Hanoians have been living in the city for three generations but comprise a fairly small proportion of the current population. The official language is Vietamese language and most of the inhabitants use Hanoi dialect.

DISTRICTS
The city of Hanoi comprises of nine inner and five outer districts. Here are some of the most important ones:

Hoan Kiem, named after the lake of the same name, is the commercial nucleus of the city. The lake area has become the recreational site for both natives and foreigners while the surroundings serve their mundane needs by providing food, shopping and accommodation. The district also homes the Hanoi Opera House, the History Museum and other culturally important places, including theatres, bookshops, etc.
Old Quarter is a must see place if you go to Hanoi. It consists of many winding streets that specialise in certain goods and is the ideal place to experience the local charm and atmosphere.
Ba Dinh is the old French district which houses the famous Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the Botanic Garden, the Presidential Palace, the one Pillar Pagoda as well as the Temple of Literature.
Hai Ba Trung is not so frequently visited district. Lenin Park is one of the few attractions there but the local seafood and typical Hanoian restaurants are the better reasons to visit this part of the city.

SIGHTS & ATTRACTIONS
Hanoi is definitely an amazing place to go sightseeing. The number of attractions is certainly impressive enough, especially if you appreciate history. Representing a combination of Eastern and Western cultures, Hanoi offers several tourist sights that are worth visiting.

The Presidential Palace, housed within the Ho Chi Minh's Relic Area, is a part of the French colonial architecture built between 1900 and 1906 to host the French Governor of Indochina. The building features elements of the Italian Renaissance style and can be viewed from the outside since it is still used for government meetings. The Ho Chi Minh stilt house was built right next to the palace as well as the famous Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum that is located right behind the palace.
Temple of Literature was originally built as a Confucian temple in 1070 and later the National University of Vietnam was established within the temple area to educate Vietnam's mandarin class. The names of the graduate students are carved on stone steles, placed over stone turtles, a tradition, adopted by the current emperor Le Thánh Tông in 1484. Today, the temple is one of the major tourist attractions in Hanoi.
The Old Quarter is said to represent the heartbeat of Hanoi where you can have an authentic experience of the local culture. Each of the small clogged streets specialises in selling a particular good from herbs and clothes to lanterns and that is why every street there is named after the crafts that it concentrates on. Definitely the best place to buy souvenirs and other desirable goods as well as to visit the most awesome looking cathedral in the city- St. Joseph cathedral located within a short distance of the Quarter.
Hanoi Opera House is situated in the French Quarters of Hanoi and is a part of the French colonial architecture along with the History and Geographic Museums that feature neo-baroque style. Built in 1911 it is a marvellous and elegant looking construction that is one of the must see sights in Hanoi. It has recently been renovated and as such it still hosts various performances every week.
Hoan Kiem Lake is a beautiful park district that is the main leisure spot for the locals. It is situated on a walking distance from the Old Quarter. It is famous for the red bridge and the 18th century temple within its territory. The name of the lake means "returned sword" and it comes from a local legend about a magical sword given to the Emperor to drive the Chinese away. One day, while he was out fishing in the lake, a giant turtle took it away from him and returned it to the gods. As a praise of the legend, a Tortoise Tower emerges from a central island in the lake.
One Pillar Pagoda is a standing-on-one-leg structure that was built out of wood to reflect a lotus flower rising out of the water. The idea came after the Emperor hallucinated and saw a goddess sitting on a lotus leaf and promised him that he would have a son, which did happen. Today, even though the pagoda was destroyed by the French in 1954 and was renovated later with concrete, this once magnificent structure belongs to the top attractions of the city and many people still come here to pray for a son. The pillar can be visited for free.

AIRPORT
As the capital and political centre of Vietnam, Hanoi is served by one International airport, which makes it easily reachable from different continents.

Noi Bai International Airport is located in the Soc Son District at approximately 40km north of Hanoi. The easiest way to reach the central part of the city is by taking taxi from the airport that is usually metred but you can also agree on a price in advance. There is a line of taxis just outside the terminal that advertise a downtown trip for $10. There is also a shuttle bus operated by Vietnam Airlines that costs 2 dollars.

LOCAL TRANSPORTATION
Hanoi offers several possibilities of travelling around the city.

Public buses are the cheapest way of going around the city and are very well organised. Prices: 2,500 dong.
Taxis are metred and relatively cheap means of transport usually costing around 10-20 Vietnamese dongs. However, some taxi drivers have "special" meters and may try to rip you off. To avoid that, take the white taxi cars, negotiate a price before you get in the cab or ask the hotel receptionist to call a taxi for you.
Cyclos are typical vehicles in Hanoi that look like bicycles with a frontal two-person seat where the passengers sit while the driver is paddling behind them. You can hire a cyclo for as long as you like since they are everywhere around the city for about 30K dong an hour. Make sure to firmly state how much you are willing to pay and don't negotiate with the driver.
Motor Bike Taxi is another way of transportation in Hanoi. Basically, you ask the natives who ride the motorbikes to give you a ride for 6000 dongs. The name of the "service" is SE HOMME. Another option is to rent one motorbike yourself. Price: 7-8 dollars per day.
Bicycle Rental is a popular and cheap means of transportation in Hanoi. Price: 2 dollars per day.

HISTORY
The settlement history of Hanoi began 3000 years ago. Through all this time Hanoi had its name changed several times, all of which with Chinese origin. In 1010 the first ruler of the Ly Dynasty moved the capital of Vietnam to a Dai La Citadel, then the name of Hanoi, and claiming he had seen a dragon going down the Red River he renamed the city to Thang Long, meaning Ascending Dragon. After that the city had been renamed several times, first by the Chineses who invaded Vietnam in 1408 and then by the ruler of the Le Dynasty who liberated the country from the Chinese. Finally, in 1831 during the period of the Nguyen Dynasty, the city was called Ha Noi, which translated means Between Rivers or River Interior. The following years beginning with 1873 Hanoi was occupied by the French and was even the capital of Indochina. The region was also invaded by the Japanese and occupied by them for 5 years until the Vietnamese government took control of it. Hanoi was at first the capital of North Vietnam and then in 1976, when the North and South part reunited, the city became the countries capital.

CITY LINKS

Vietnam News, A Daily Newspaper in English: http://vietnamnews.vnanet.vn/
Interesting Places in Hanoi: http://www.vietnamstay.com/attraction/hanoi/
Useful Tips: http://wikitravel.org/en/Hanoi

UNIVERSITY LINKS

Hanoi Medical College, the oldest university in Thailand: http://www.hmu.edu.vn/hmue/index.asp
Vietnam National University: http://www.vnu.edu.vn/en/contents/index.php?ID=325
École Supérieure des Beaux-Arts de L'Indochine ( Hanoi University of Fine Arts ): http://www.culturalprofiles.org.uk/viet_Nam/Units/1575.html
Hanoi University of Technology, the first agricultural university in Thailand: www.hut.edu.vn