What to See




Hanoi, on the banks of theRed River, is a city of gardens and parks and old streets named for the types of shops on the (Basket Street, Silk Street, etc.) In some ways it still resembles a provincal French town. This capital city of Vietnam is an enchanting place to visit.

Hanoi sits on the banks of the Red River, about 60 miles from the river's mouth.

If one were looking for history, Hanoi could provide it. The city's old quarter give visitors a lot of insight into the past on a spot where human habitation dates back over 2000 years. Within the old quarter, street names reflect the types of businesses which are housed on the street - Basket Street, Silk Street, Jewelry Street, etc.

The old city comes alive early, with activity starting around 5:30 in the monring and business often beginning as early as 6am. It comtinues until 9 at night or laters. Many of the buildings double as both store fronts and homes. The buildings are usually narrow and long, with residential areas toward the rear and commerial areas in the front. One travel writer goes so far as to say this regarding the old quarter: If you only have time to do one thing in Hanoi, we recommend that you take the time to walk through Hanoi’s Old Quarter...

The city became the capital of a Vietnamese kingdom in 1010 AD. At the time it was know as Thang Long (the name was changed to "Hanoi" in 1831). Eventually, Hanoi lost its status as the seat of government; Hue was the Vietnamese capital with the French arrived. In 1883 the French conquored Hanoi and soon made it the capital of the protectorate of Tonkin - one of three French colonial division of modern Vietnam.

As Asian cities go, Hanoi compares quite well aesthetically. With 3 million residents, Hanoi is smaller than the mega-metropolis cities like Bangkok (pop. 7 mil.), Jakarta (9 mil.), Shanghai (14 mil.), Seoul (11 mil.) and Ho Chi Minh City (6 mil.). Smaller, for Hanoi, translates into less congested and quieter. It is, for example, still possible to ride a bicycle on the streets of Hanoi without being run over.

The city is sometimes said to remind visitors of a provincal French town. It would probably be more accurate to say that Hanoi provides a unique mix of French and Asian flavors in its architecture and landscaping. Much of today's Hanoi was built during the French occupation.

Hanoi is also greener than most Asian cities. Hoan Kiem (Sword Lake), in the center of the city, is thought of by city residents as the city's garden spot. Ngoc Son Temple rests on the small island in the middle of the Hoan Kiem. The lake is home to giant turtles, and legends about the turtles abound.

The mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh, built from 1973 to 1975 in a style similar to that of the Lenin Mausoleum in Moscow, is another attraction in the city. In Ba Dinh Square, "Uncle Ho" proclaimed Vietnam's independence on September 2, 1945. Now his body rests in the square.

Hanoi also has over 600 pagodas, including the One Pillar Pagoda, which dates back to the 11th century - though the present pagoda is not the original building.