Hanoi

Hanoi is the capital city of Vietnam. It is the second-largest city in the country and has many important buildings and places. Some well-known sites in Hanoi include the Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Hoàn Kiếm Lake, West Lake, and Ba Vì National Park.

The city has a rich history. It was founded in 1010 by King Lý Thái Tổ of the Lý dynasty. Later, in 1428, King Lê Lợi renamed it. The city was called Hanoi starting in 1831. Over time, Hanoi has been an important center for government, culture, and trade.

Today, Hanoi is a busy city with many people visiting each year. It has a mix of old and new buildings, including French colonial architecture, modern apartments, and narrow streets filled with homes and shops. The city is also home to many foreign embassies and important universities.

Names

Hanoi has had many names throughout history. It was once called Long Biên, which means "dragons interweaving." Later, it was called Tống Bình, meaning "Song pacification." These names came from the shape of the Red River, which looks like a dragon.

In 866, the city became a citadel named Đại La, earning the nickname La Thành, meaning "La citadel." In 1010, when Lý Thái Tổ made it the capital, it was named Thăng Long. Arab traders from the 9th to 12th century called it Luqin, a name that came from an older term called Longbian.

Environment

Hanoi sometimes has dirty air, which can be a problem for health. Rivers and lakes in the city also face pollution because not all wastewater is cleaned before it goes in.

Climate

Hanoi has four clear seasons. Summers from May to September are hot and humid with lots of rain. Fall, from October to November, brings cooler weather. Winters from December to February are cool and dry. Spring from March to April often has light rain. The city gets about 1,612 millimetres of rain each year, mostly in the summer. Temperatures usually range from around 16 °C in winter to 29 °C in summer.

History

See also: History of Vietnam

Hanoi has signs of people living there from very old times. Between 1971 and 1972, people found stones with marks made by humans from 10,000 to 20,000 years ago. The sea level rose and covered some low areas near Hanoi a long time ago. It is thought that people have lived in the area for about 4,000 years.

Around the third century BC, a strong wall called Cổ Loa was built in what is now Hanoi. It was the first important place for the Vietnamese people before they used Chinese writing. In 111 BC, a Chinese group took control of the area.

In 1010, Lý Thái Tổ made Hanoi the capital of Đại Việt. He called the city Thăng Long after seeing what he thought was a dragon in the river. Thăng Long was the capital until 1397, when it moved to another city. Then it became known as Đông Đô.

Later, the capital moved to Huế. During World War II, Japanese invasion of French Indochina led to Japanese control of Hanoi. After the war, Hanoi became the capital of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam when Ho Chi Minh announced Vietnam's independence. The French took the city again but later left.

After Vietnam was divided in 1954, Hanoi became the capital of North Vietnam. In 1986, new economic rules helped Hanoi grow, though it took time. In 2008, some nearby areas were added to Hanoi, making it larger.

Some important places in Hanoi, like Hoàn Kiếm Lake and the Ba Đình District, are protected to keep their history and culture.

Demographics

Hanoi has grown a lot over the years. In the 1940s, it had about 132,000 people. By 1999, the population had grown to over 2.6 million. After an expansion in 2008, the population reached about 6.2 million. As of 2019, Hanoi had more than 8 million people.

The city is home to many different ethnic groups, with the Viet (Kinh) making up most of the population. The Old Quarter has many family-owned shops, and life there has changed quickly in recent years.

Economy

Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are growing quickly. In 2013, Hanoi made 12.6% of all the money Vietnam made, and it sold 7.5% of all the things Vietnam sold to other countries. The city made about US$21.48 billion in 2013.

Many jobs in Hanoi are at places owned by the government. There are also jobs at smaller businesses, and these are increasing. The city is changing with new roads and better travel ways. You can find famous fast-food places like McDonald's, Lotteria, Pizza Hut, KFC, Popeyes, Domino's Pizza, and Jolibee in Hanoi. The city is also on an important trade route that has been used for many years.

Development

Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, has grown and changed over many years. In 1924, a plan for the city was created by Ernest Hebrard, and some parts of it were built. Later, in the 1980s, new plans were made with help from the Soviet Union, but these were never used because they did not fit well with the city's layout.

Today, Hanoi has special plans to guide its growth. One plan from 1992 aimed to build new homes and a busy center in an area called Nghĩa Đô, expand places where people live and work in the Gia Lâm District, and connect Hanoi to nearby areas like Hà Đông and the Thanh Trì District. Another plan from 1998 focused on managing the city's growing population and protecting its historic center. It also included ideas for new transportation systems, airport improvements, and cultural projects.

In the 1980s, projects supported by the United Nations Development Programme and the Vietnamese government helped improve roads, water, and schools in rural areas around Hanoi. These projects used local materials and skills, with money and help from both the government and local communities.

Landmarks

Hanoi has many important cultural and historic sites. After the French took control in 1888, they changed the city's architecture, adding to Hanoi's rich history. The city has more cultural places than any other city in Vietnam and has over 1,000 years of history, with many parts preserved.

Old Quarter

Main article: Old Quarter

The Old Quarter, close to Hoàn Kiếm Lake, keeps most of its original streets and buildings. At the start of the 20th century, Hanoi had special streets and a citadel. Each street was known for a special kind of trade, like silk or jewelry. The mix of French and Chinese styles can be seen in the old houses.

Imperial sites

Imperial sites are mainly in Ba Đình District and Đống Đa District. Important old buildings include the Temple of Literature, where Vietnam's oldest university started, the One Pillar Pagoda, and the Flag Tower of Hanoi. In 2004, part of the old Hanoi Citadel was found near Ba Đình Square.

Colonial sites

Hanoi was the capital of French Indochina from 1902 to 1945. French-style buildings are still seen today, like tree-lined streets and grand homes. Some structures mix French and Vietnamese styles, such as the National Museum of Vietnamese History, the Vietnam National Museum of Fine Arts, and the old Indochina Medical College.

Tourism

Hanoi is the most visited city in Vietnam, with many visitors from around the world. It is sometimes called the "Paris of the East" because of its French-style buildings and history.

The city has many famous places to see, such as the Hanoi Opera House, the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi hotel, and St. Joseph's Cathedral. The Vietnam Museum of Ethnology shows the culture and history of different groups of people in Vietnam. Hanoi has become one of the world’s top travel destinations.

Education

After the Communist Party of Vietnam took control of Hanoi in 1954, new universities were built. One of these is the Hanoi University of Science and Technology. The University of Languages and International Studies is a top place to study languages in southeast Asia. Other important schools in Hanoi include the Hanoi School for Public Health, Hanoi School of Agriculture, Electric Power University, and the University of Transport and Communications. Many scientists in Vietnam live and work in Hanoi.

People in Hanoi often have more education than those living outside the city. About one-third of workers in the city finished secondary school, which is more than in the suburbs. Also, many more people in Hanoi finished college or advanced studies than in the areas around the city.

Transportation

See also: Buses in Hanoi

Hanoi has many streets and roads to help people travel. The city has special train routes to places like Ho Chi Minh City and Hai Phong. These train trips can take a long time.

Many people in Hanoi ride motorbikes. This has caused traffic problems, so the city plans to use fewer motorbikes in the future. There are also special "hug bikes" for quick rides, and two metro lines to help people travel faster.

Sports

Hanoi has many places where people can play and watch sports, such as Mỹ Đình National Stadium, Quần Ngựa Sports Palace, and Hàng Đẫy Stadium. In 2009, Hanoi hosted the third Asian Indoor Games.

Hanoi planned to host a big car race called the Formula 1 Vietnamese Grand Prix in 2020, but this had to be delayed and later cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

UNESCO recognition

On 16 July 1999, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization named Hanoi a "City for Peace." This happened because Hanoi worked hard to help everyone feel included and to support talking between different groups. The city also took care of its environment, shared its culture, and focused on teaching good citizenship.

Twin towns – sister cities

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Vietnam

Hanoi is twinned with many cities across the world. These partnerships help different cultures learn from each other and support one another.