Vietnam Destinations
  Sample Tours
 |
Destinations >> Red River Delta :> Red River Delta - Hanoi :> Hanoi through its long history Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam. From 1010 until 1802, it was the political centre of an independent Vietnam with a few brief interruptions. It was eclipsed by Hue during the Nguyen Dynasty as the capital of Vietnam, but served as the capital of French Indochina from 1887 to 1954. From 1954 to 1976, after the victory of Viet Minh over France in the battle of Dien Bien Phu, it became the capital of North Vietnam. Throughout its long history, Hanoi has had many names. During the Chinese domination, it was known as Tong Binh and later Long Do. In 866, it was turned into a citadel and was named Dai La. In 1010, the King Ly Thai To renamed it Thang Long after his dream of a dragon ascending the Red River. Thang Long means ascending dragon. In 1397, it is renamed Dong Do (Eastern Capital) when the capital was moved to Thanh Hoa, also know as Tay Do (Western Capital). In 1408, Vietnam was invaded by Chinese troops from the Minh Dynasty and Dong Do was renamed Dong Quan (Eastern Gateway) by the Chinese. In 1428, Vietnam was liberated from Chinese rule by Le Loi, the founder of the Le Dynasty and Dong Quan was renamed Dong Kinh (Eastern Capital). During the Tay Son Dysnasty, it was named Bac Thanh (Northern Citadel). In 1802, when Nguyen Dynasty was established and then moved the capital down to present day Hue, it was renamed Thang Long. In 1831, the Nguyen Dynasty renamed it Hanoi meaning “Between Rivers”. Hanoi was occupied by the French in 1873 and passed to them ten years later. It became the capital of French Indochina after 1887. The city was occupied by the Japanese in 1940, and liberated in 1945. From 1946 to 1954, it was the scene of heavy fighting between the French and Viet Minh forces. At that point, the city became the capital of an independent North Vietnam. After the Vietnam War, Hanoi became the capital of Vietnam when North and South Vietnam were reunited in 1976. :> Hanoi today Shaking off the past, these days Hanoi is booming yet still retains a charismatic allure. Tree-lined streets, cool cafes and dirt-cheap pavement beer stalls fill with tourists and locals alike. Hanoi today is a sprawling, horizontal city of 3.5 millions of residents. Hanoi is riven by the Red River and speckled with soothing lakes. Most buildings top out at five or six stories; highrises are still rare. A good number of gracious French buildings from the colonial era have survived wartime bombing and the wrecker’s ball, which is only now beginning to do its work. The streets are alive with shops stacked to the ceiling with consumer electronics and clothing. Sidewalks bustle with freelance capitalists: vendors hawking snacks, postcards, decorated hand fans, CDs, and books. Unlike, say, London, where the most interesting forms of life flourish indoors, life in Hanoi is lived outside. Most Hanoi residents lack air conditioning; to escape their stifling homes, they pour outdoors. The sidewalks and parks are where locals and visitors alike shop, socialize and maybe grab a bite to eat. Hanoi is the only major city in south-east Asia that you can actually walk around even the traffic is getting to be a bit of nightmare. To cross the street on foot, you must push on at a steady pace, making eye contact with approaching drivers if possible, and always move forward. The drivers expect you to go straight ahead, and calculate their paths accordingly. Food in Hanoi is a delicious fusion of south-east Asian and Chinese influences with Vietnam’s own tasty little twists, there is something here for all tastes. The Old Quarter, near Hoan Kiem Lake, has the original street layout and architecture of old Hanoi. The Old Quarter consists of 36 streets. In the past, each street comprised of merchants and households specialized in a particular trade, such as silk traders, jewelery, etc. The street names nowadays still reflect these specializations, although few of them remain exclusively in their original commerce. You’ll find in the Old Quarter local cuisine specialties as well as clubs and bars. The night market is held in Hang Ngang, Hang Dao and Hang Duong street, in the heart of the district on every Friday, Saturday and Sunday with a variety of clothing, souvenirs and food. Hanoi today still remains many building in French colonial architecture: the tree-lined boulevards, the Grand Opera House, the State Bank of Vietnam (formerly the Bank of Indochina), the Presidential Palace (formerly Place of the Governor-General of French Indochina), the cathedral St-Joseph, Hanoi University (formerly University of Indochina), historic hotel Sofitel Metropole. Some others prominent places are: The Temple of Literature (Van Mieu), site of the oldest university in Vietnam; One Pillar Pagoda (Chua Mot Cot); Flag Tower of Ha Noi (Cot Co Hanoi); the Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem lake. Hanoi is also home to a number of museums; including the Vietnamese National History Museum, the National Museum of Ethnology, the National Museum of Fine Arts and the Revolution Museum. Hanoi has two seasons. The rainy season is slightly hotter from May through October and the rest of the year is drier and a bit cooler.
|
|
Useful Information | Responsibe Travel | About us | Booking Conditions | Contact Details | Complaints Procedure | Link Exchange | Site Map | Enquiry | FAQ's © 2008 - LittleVietnamTours.com.vn. All Rights Reserved. |