Hanoi Attractions

Hanoi City is a sacred land of Vietnam. 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 (Soaring Dragon), 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. 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 Old Quarter ... Hanoi also characteristically contains 18 beautiful lakes.

Hanoi City A city of lakes shaded boulevards and verdant public parks where jeans-clad young lovers stroll beside their venerable elders practising 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 Hanoi 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 more reserved and at the same time more traditionally hospitable - than their southern compatriots.