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Hanoi, Vietnam’s sublime 1,000-year-old capital, is located at the heart of the northern Red River Delta. Spacious parks, round about 600 temples, pagodas, colourful markets, magnificent edifices from French colonialism as well as modern skyscrapers, sparkling nightlife and gourmet restaurants make this city a fascinating cocktail of old and new. Despite the gradual infiltration of western-style food and fashions, Hanoi has retained its appealing sense of the “old world”. It is a surprisingly modest and charming place fast becoming one of the most inviting and popular cities in Asia.
Economic boom has fully hit the city and residents appear cheerful and optimistic. In the morning streets fill up with cars, mopeds and bicycles weaving among pedestrians while cyclo drivers - three-wheeled bicycles taxis - clamour for attention, elders perform the slow movements of tai chi and natives are having the traditional cup of pho on the sidewalks.
Climate
Hanoi has a humid tropical climate, and follows different seasons: Summer lasts from approx. May to September and tends to be very hot with plenty of rain, while the winter months from November/December to March are rather cold and relatively dry. Spring and autumn show a mild climate and relatively little rain.
Languages
The official language is Vietnamese. Other languages spoken include Chinese, Khmer, Cham and tribal languages. English is becoming more and more common especially among the younger generation, and part of the elder generation still speaks French.
Touristic attractions
Old Hanoi
The heart of the old quarter beats in the handicraft district north of the serene Hoan Kiem Lake. It emerged in the 11th century after Emperor Ly Thai To transferred the capital’s location to Thang Long. Around the emperors palace a ring of 36 villages formed up, each with a different type of business. Remaining from this time are the “36 alleys”, named after the prevailing business guild.
Ngoc Son Temple
The temple located in the northern Hoan Kiem lake is accessible by crossing the beautiful The-Huc-Bridge, the “bridge of the rising sun”.
Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and Museum
The last rest of the great revolutionary appears defiant, built of red and black marble blocks of stones in 1973-75. On the square in front of the Mausoleum Ho Chi Minh announced Vietnam’s independence on 2nd September 1945.
One Pillar Pagoda - Chua Mot Cot
According to the legend the childless emperor Ly Thai To had a dream about the goddess Quan Am showing him a little boy. Shortly after a male offspring was born. Out of his great gratitude the emperor prompted to built a shrine in the form of a lotus flower placed on top of a stone pillar.
Hanoi Opera House
The Hanoi Opera House was erected by French colonists between 1901 and 1911 as a small-scale replica of the Palais Garnier, the older of Paris's two opera houses.
Temple of Literature
Although several such temples can be found throughout Vietnam, the most prominent and famous is that situated in Hanoi, which also functioned as Vietnam's first university.
Water Puppets Theatre
The Art of water puppetry was invented by rice farmers amusing themselves during the hard work of the rice harvest and has been cultivated for over ten centuries. Performances take place every day in the afternoon and early evening.
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