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Welcome to Hanoi - Vietnam
Located on the banks of the Red River with tranquil Hoan Kiem Lake at its heart, Ha Noi is the capital of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam. Ha Noi was first chosen by King Ly Thai To as the capital of the country and was named Thang Long (Descending Dragon) in 1010. North of the lake are the bustling streets of the Old Quarter, each street named after the trade that used to take place there.
Ha Noi is regarded as the cultural capital of Viet Nam, absorbing traits of the various dynasties that ruled this land. The cultural and historic remains are huge attractions for tourists and locales alike. Sightseeing in Ha Noi is a major attraction for tourists thronging the city in droves. You can catch amazing sights of the ancient buildings rich in history and culture on sightseeing tours in Ha Noi. The serene Hoan Kiem Lake is a major attraction of Ha Noi. Ngoc Son on the banks of the lake is another major attraction of Ha Noi. The Old Quarter with its 36 winding streets is a lively center located at the north of the lake. The remains of Ha Noi Hilton’ or Hoa Lo Prison is a must see on sightseeing tours in Ha Noi. Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh’s House and Museum and the tiny One Pillar Pagoda are huge draws for tourists. Several museums are found scattered across the city. Vietnamese National History Museum, the National Museum of Ethnology, the National Museum of Fine Arts and the Revolution Museum are the most notable museums of Ha Noi. All museums remain closed on Mondays and some remain closed also on Fridays. You should also visit the major attractions of Ha Noi like he Temple of literature, Bach Ma Pagoda, Dong Xuan Market, Lang Pagoda, Lien Phai Pagoda, President Palace Memorial Site, Quan Thanh Pagoda, St. Joseph's Cathedral and Tran Quoc Pagoda, on sightseeing tours of the city.
Hotels in Hanoi
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Prices include all current taxes and charges.
Hanoi Overview
Ha Noi is not only the capital of Viet Nam but also the political and cultural centre of the country. It has been a survivor of countless violent struggles and political intrigues, sustained on patriotism, ideology and the willful independence of its people. It is a city that has experienced an eventful millennium.
While the city is developing a bit of a sprawl, Hanoi's centre can be split into three main areas, all of which are within walking distance of one another.
The Old Quarter remains the most popular, interesting and inexpensive part of Hanoi to stay in. Wedged to the north of Hoan Kiem Lake, the area is characterized by a twisting mess of narrow roads and alleys, lots of attractive old buildings, interesting street scenes and plenty of noise.
The Old Quarter (or Pho Co, literally, old streets) is home to streets named after the goods that were traditionally sold on them. The names usually start with 'hang', which means 'something you sell, and then the thing itself. Some of these names may date back as far as 800 years, when trade guilds formed to market the goods they produced in outlying craft villages. Back then, the street was just lines of makeshift stalls. They were taxed by width of frontage, which explains all those skinny buildings. When they eventually built on the land, they went deep and high, keeping the shop up front. Each guild also poured some profits into the building of temples at which to pray for prosperity, and sometimes you can still find several along one street. The most famous and best to visit is Bach Ma Temple along Hang Buom.
Many of the streets have changed with the time, especially the southern part of the Old Quarter, which has been given over to tourism and its allied businesses. But a surprising number of streets still sell what they were named for centuries ago, and yet more have found new specialties that make them worth seeking out.
While the names of Hanoi's classic streets are colorful, unfortunately, they sometimes change every few blocks -- Bat Dan, Hang Bo, Hang Bac, and Hang Mam are all the same exact street. This makes it tricky to get around, since you can be headed straight to your hotel and not even know it.
To the south of the lake is the French Quarter, home to Central Hanoi's hotels: the Sofitel Metropole and the Hilton Hanoi Opera, as well as the Opera House itself. Here you'll also find Hanoi's ritziest restaurants -- the Club Opera and the Press Club, as the well as the Museum of History and the Museum of the Revolution. It's a good place for a visit even if you're not staying here -- it's much better laid-out, with broad, tree-lined boulevards and, compared to the rest of Hanoi, moderate street traffic. Come evening, the streets are relatively deserted.
The western part of the city is home to the West Lake, the Citadel, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Complex and a bunch of museums. Those visiting the attractions will often find themselves in this part of town, though there are not many hotels. When visiting West Lake, be sure to look out for the lotus-flower farms rimming the lake -- an excellent photo op.
A word is about the traffic. It's not uncommon to see foreigners standing on the curb, frozen in fear, waiting for a break in the onslaught of bikes, cyclos, trucks, vendor carts, and motorbikes (with two tons of bagged cement balancing, unfastened, on the back) ... but the break never comes. The terrifying solution is that you must simply step right into the street. Be sure to look carefully for vehicles moving in the wrong direction first, and give approaching vehicles room to maneuver around you without smashing into something -- or someone. What you'll find is that the traffic simply flows around you as you proceed slowly and steadily forward. Stop, while crossing, if you must, but stand firm and do not back up! That's the surest way to flummox the flow. Stand there like a pylon until the way forward is clear. And, again, keep an eye out for traffic going the wrong way.
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