Hanoi Capital, Vietnam
Area:
921 sq. kmAdministrative divisions:
-
Districts: Hoan Kiem, Ba Dinh, Dong Da, Hai Ba Trung,Geography
Hanoi is located in the Red River Delta, in the
center of North Vietnam. It is encompassed by Thai Nguyen Province to the north,
Vinhphuc and Hatay to the west and south, Bacgiang, Bacninh and Hungyen
provinces to the east and south-east. Hanoi means “the hinterland between the
rivers” (Ha: river, Noi: interior). Hanoi’s territory is washed by the Red River
(the portion of the Red River embracing Hanoi is approximately 40km long) and
its tributaries, but there are some other rivers flowing through the capital,
including Duong, Cau, Ca Lo, Day, Nhue, Tich, To Lich and Kim Nguu.
Hanoi is situated in a tropical
monsoon zone with two main seasons. During the dry season, which lasts from
October to April, it is cold and there is very little rainfall, except from
January to March, when the weather is still cold but there is some light rain.
The wet season, from May to September, is hot with heavy rains and storms. The
average annual temperature is 23.2ºC (73.7ºF) and the average annual rainfall is
1,800mm. The average temperature in winter is 17.2ºC (62.9ºF), but can go down
to 8ºC (46.4ºF). The average temperature in summer is 29.2ºC (84.6ºF, but can
reach up to 39ºC (102.2ºF).
History:
Hanoi is a sacred land of Vietnam. In the 3rd
century BC, Co Loa (actually belonging to Dong Anh District) was chosen as the
capital of the Au Lac Nation of Thuc An Duong Vuong (the King Thuc). Hanoi later
became the core of the resistance movements against the Northern invasions.
Located in the middle of the Red River Delta, the town has gradually expanded to
become a very populations and rich residential center. At different periods,
Hanoi had been selected as the chief city of Vietnam under the Northern
domination.In the autumn of Canh Tuat lunar years (1010), Ly Thai To, the
founder of the Ly Dynasty, decided to transfer the capital from Hoa Lu to Dai
La, and so he rebaptized it Thang Long (Soaring Dragon). The year 1010 then
became an historical date for Hanoi and for the whole country in general.For
about a thousand years, the capital was called Thang Long, then changing to Dong
Do, Dong Kinh, and finally to Hanoi, in 1831. This sacred piece of land
thereafter continued to be the theatre of many fateful events.
Tourism:
Throughout the thousand years of its eventful history, marked by destruction, wars and natural calamities, Hanoi still preserves many ancient architectural works including the Old Quarter and over 600 pagodas and temples. Famous sites include the One Pillar Pagoda (built in 1049), the Temple of Literature (built in 1070), Hanoi Citadel, Hanoi Opera House, President Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum...
Hanoi also characteristically contains
18 beautiful lakes such as Hoan Kiem Lake, West Lake, and Truc Bach Lake...,
which are the lungs of the city, with their surrounding gardens and trees
providing a vital source of energy.
Many traditional handicrafts are also practiced in Hanoi including bronze
molding, silver carving, lacquer, and embroidery. Hanoi has many famous
traditional professional handicraft villages such as Bat Trang pottery village,
Ngu Xa bronze casting village, Yen Thai glossy silk...
By road: Hanoi is 93km
from Ninhbinh, 102km from Haiphong, 153km from Thanhhoa, 151km from Halong,
474km from Dien Bien Phu, 658km from Hue, 763km from Danang, and 1,710km from Ho
Chi Minh City.
By air: Noi Bai International Airport, over 35km from the city center, is
one of the biggest airports of the country with various international and
domestic routes. There are domestic flights from Hanoi to Danang, Dien Bien, Ho
Chi Minh City, Hue, Nhatrang and international flights to many countries in over
the world.
By train: Hanoi Railway Station is Vietnam's main railway station. It is
the starting point of five railway lines leading to almost every province in
Vietnam.
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Source: Vietnam Administration of Tourism |