Hanoi Travel Guide

Hanoi's history dates back almost a thousand years to the founding of the city by Emperor Ly Thai To. In 1010 he renamed the area Thang Long - 'Soaring Dragon'. Hanoi is a city rich in tradition and legend, the most famous of which is the Arthurian tale of Hoan Kiem Lake. Legend has it that in the 15th century Emperor Le Thai To vanquished the invading Chinese with the help of a magical sword. Whilst rowing on the lake an enormous turtle seized the sword from his grasp. The Emperor took this to mean that peace had returned and the sword had been given back to its guardian spirit. In honor of the event he renamed the lake 'Ho Hoan Kiem' - Lake of the Restored Sword.

The city's main period of growth stems from the arrival of the French in 1888. Within a short time Hanoi was transformed into an elegant city with broad tree-lined boulevards, avenues and parks, making it one of the greenest cities in Asia. Fortunately many of the old boulevards and residences have survived and are used to house Foreign Embassies and Government institutions.

Hanoi,a city of lakes shaded boulevards and verdant public parks where jeans-clad young lovers stroll beside their venerable elders practicing elegant, slow-motion shadow boxing. Hanoi's prosperous shop owners exemplify Vietnam's new economic reforms while traditional ways along the merchant guild streets in the Old Quarter live on as a reminder of the city's rich cultural heritage.

Hanoi, capital of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (SRV), is different things to different people. Most foreigners on a short visit find Hanoi to be slow paced, pleasant and even charming. Physically, it's a more attractive city than Ho Chi Minh City there is less traffic, noise and pollution with more trees and open spaces. Some have called it the Paris of the Orient - which 'Parisians could consider either an insult or a compliment. Hanoi's centre is an architectural museum piece, its blocks of ochre buildings retaining the air of a provincial French town of the 1930s. The people of Hanoi are known for being reserved and at the same time traditionally hospitable

The first beneficiaries of the city's recent economic resurgence have been the shop and restaurant owners. No longer is a shopping trip in Hanoi limited to a large state owned department store specializing in empty shelves. Colour and liveliness has returned to the streets - unfortunately, so has the traffic, Buildings are being repaired and foreign companies are now investing in everything from joint-venture hotels to banks and telecommunications. Hanoi, and the rest of the north, has great potential to develop export-oriented manufacturing industries - a potential now only beginning to be realized.

Today Hanoi is a bustling capital city of nearly 4 million people. Its focal point is Hoan Kiem Lake and the Old Quarter, immediately to its north.

Here are some of the capital's main attractions:

Old Quarter
This bustling area of 36 narrow streets is home to literally thousands of small businesses and shopkeepers. Originally each of the streets names' related to the products being sold there.

Ho Chi Minh Complex
Completed in 1975 the complex contains Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum, his former stilt-house residence, the Presidential Palace and the Ho Chi Minh Museum.

Temple of Literature
This is the site of Vietnam's first university dating back to 1070. One of its main features is the stone stele mounted on the backs of turtles inscribed with the names of the university s graduates.

Museum of Ethnology
A must for anyone intending to visit either Mai Chau or Sapa. This museum is widely acknowledged as the best in the country and has an extensive display dedicated to Vietnam's 54 ethnic minority peoples.

Quan Thanh temple
The temple as seen today is a little over one century old. It was renovated again in 1998. Renovation mainly consisted of repainting and repairs of the roof over the statue of Tran vu

Water Puppet Theatre
This is a uniquely Vietnamese creation with its origins dating back nearly a thousand years. Originally these plays would have taken place on lakes and ponds during the monsoon season, depicting daily life as well as numerous tales and legends.

Bat trang Ceramic village
Bat Trang, an ancient traditional craft village well-known for ceramic items, lies on the left bank of the Red River

HIGH WAY 4 RESTAURANTS

Hanoi Press Club

President Ho Chi Minh mausoleum & house on stilts

Temple of Literature

Ho Chi Minh Museum Hanoi

Hoan Kiem Lake

President Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum

Tho Khoi Village Festival - Hanoi Capital

Thuong Cat Swimming Festival - Hanoi Capital

Thuong Phuc Village Festival - Hanoi Capital

Thuy Khue Temple Festival - Hanoi Capital

Thuy Linh Village Festival - Hanoi Capital

To Village Festival - Hanoi Capital

Trai Racing Festival in Vinh Tuy - Hanoi Capital

Trai racing Festival in Vong La Village - Hanoi Capital

Tam Huyen Pagoda Festival - Hanoi Capital

Trieu Khuc Village Festival - Hanoi Capital

Ta Thanh Oai Village Festival - Hanoi Capital

Tay Ho Temple Festival - Hanoi Capital

Thanh Am Village Festival - Hanoi Capital

• Hanoi city guide
• Halong bay guide
• Ninh Binh travel guide
• Hai Phong city guide
• Lao Cai travel guide
• Dien Bien Phu travel guide

• Vinh city guide
• Quang Binh travel guide
• Quang Tri travel guide
• Hue travel guide
• Hoi An travel guide
• Da Nang city guide

• Phan Thiet travel guide
• Nha Trang city guide
• Dalat city guide
• Ho Chi Minh city guide
• Can Tho travel guide
• Vung tau travel guide

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