Hanoi

Hanoi is the capital city of Vietnam. It is the second-largest city in the country and has many important buildings and places. Some well-known sites in Hanoi include the Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Hoàn Kiếm Lake, West Lake, and Ba Vì National Park.

The city has a rich history. It was founded in 1010 by King Lý Thái Tổ of the Lý dynasty, who named it Thăng Long, meaning 'ascending dragon'. Later, in 1428, King Lê Lợi renamed it Đông Kinh, or 'eastern capital'. The city was called Hanoi starting in 1831. Over time, Hanoi has been an important center for government, culture, and trade.

Today, Hanoi is a busy city with many people visiting each year. It has a mix of old and new buildings, including French colonial architecture, modern apartments, and narrow streets filled with homes and shops. The city is also home to many foreign embassies and important universities, making it a key part of Vietnam's present and future.

Names

Hanoi has had many names throughout history. It was once called Long Biên, which means "dragons interweaving," and later Tống Bình, meaning "Song pacification." These names were inspired by the shape of the Red River, which looks like a dragon.

In 866, the city became a citadel named Đại La, earning the nickname La Thành, meaning "La citadel." In 1010, when Lý Thái Tổ made it the capital, it was named Thăng Long. Arab traders from the 9th to 12th century called it Luqin, a name that came from an older term called Longbian.

Environment

Hanoi sometimes has very dirty air, ranking among the cities with the most pollution in the world. In 2018, the amount of tiny dust particles in the air was much higher than what health experts recommend. Rivers and lakes in Hanoi also face pollution, as much of the city’s wastewater goes straight into them without being cleaned first.

Climate

Hanoi has a climate with four clear seasons. Summers from May to September are hot and humid with lots of rain. Fall, from October to November, brings cooler, milder weather. Winters from December to February are cool and dry. Spring from March to April often has some light rain and less sunshine. The city gets about 1,612 millimetres of rain each year, mostly in the summer months. Temperatures usually range from around 16 °C in winter to 29 °C in summer.

History

See also: History of Vietnam

Vestiges of human habitation from the Palaeolithic and Mesolithic ages can be found in Hanoi. Between 1971 and 1972, archaeologists in Ba Vì and Đông Anh discovered pebbles with traces of carving and processing by human hands that are relics of Sơn Vi Culture, dating from 10,000 to 20,000 years ago. During the Holocene transgression, the sea level rose and immersed low-lying areas; geological data show the coastline was inundated and was located near Hanoi. It is believed that the region has been continuously inhabited for the last 4,000 years.

In around third century BC, a fortified citadel, later named Cổ Loa, is constructed in what later is Hanoi, and is the first political center of the Vietnamese civilization pre-Sinitic era, with an outer embankment covering 600 hectares. In 179 BC, the area was annexed by Nanyue.

In 111 BC, the Han dynasty conquered Nanyue and ruled it. In March of 40 AD, Trưng Trắc and Trưng Nhị, daughters of an aristocratic family of Lac ethnicity in Mê Linh district (Hanoi), led the locals to rise up in rebellion against the Han. It began at the Red River Delta, and spread south and north from Jiaozhi, stirring up all three Lạc Việt regions and most of Lingnan, gaining the support of about 65 towns and settlements.

In 1010, Lý Thái Tổ, the first ruler of the Lý dynasty, moved the capital of Đại Việt to the site of the Đại La Citadel. Claiming to have seen a dragon ascending the Red River, he renamed the site Thăng Long (昇龍). Thăng Long remained the capital of Đại Việt until 1397, when it was moved to Thanh Hóa, then known as Tây Đô (西都), the "Western Capital". Thăng Long then became Đông Đô (東都), the "Eastern Capital".

When the Nguyễn dynasty was established in 1802, Gia Long moved the capital to Huế. Thăng Long was no longer the capital, and its chữ Hán was changed.

French Indochina including Hanoi was occupied by the Imperial Japanese Armed Forces in September 1940, after the Japanese invasion of French Indochina. After the fall of the Empire of Vietnam, it became the capital of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRV) when Ho Chi Minh proclaimed the independence of Vietnam on 2 September 1945. The French returned and reoccupied the city in February 1947. After France recognized Vietnam's nominal and partial independence with the Élysée Accords on 14 June 1949, Hanoi became under the control of the State of Vietnam from 1949 to 1954, a unified associated state within the French Union. This state gained full independence with the Matignon Accords on 4 June 1954. In January 1953, Hanoi held the free municipal elections of the State of Vietnam. After eight years of fighting between the French and DRV forces, Hanoi became the capital of North Vietnam when this territory became a sovereign country and Vietnam became divided at 17th parallel on 21 July 1954.

After the Đổi Mới economic policies were approved in 1986, the Communist Party and national and municipal governments hoped to attract international investments for urban development projects in Hanoi. High-rise commercial buildings did not begin to appear until ten years later due to the international investment community being skeptical of the security of their investments in Vietnam. Urban development and rising costs displaced some residential areas in central Hanoi. Following a period of economic stagnation after the 1997 Asian financial crisis, Hanoi resumed its economic growth.

On 29 May 2008, it was decided that Hà Tây Province, Vĩnh Phúc Province's Mê Linh District and four communes in Lương Sơn District, Hòa Bình Province be merged into the metropolitan area of Hanoi from 1 August 2008. Hanoi's total area then increased to 334,470 hectares in 29 subdivisions with the new population being 6,232,940.

Public outcry in opposition to the redevelopment of culturally significant areas in Hanoi persuaded the national government to implement a low-rise policy surrounding Hoàn Kiếm Lake. The Ba Đình District is also protected from commercial redevelopment.

Demographics

Hanoi has grown a lot over the years. In the 1940s, it had about 132,000 people. By 1999, the population had grown to over 2.6 million. After an expansion in 2008, the population reached about 6.2 million. As of 2019, Hanoi had more than 8 million people.

The city is home to many different ethnic groups, with the Viet (Kinh) making up most of the population. The Old Quarter has many family-owned shops, and life there has changed quickly in recent years.

Economy

Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are expected to grow very fast in terms of money made by the city from 2008 to 2025. In 2013, Hanoi helped make 12.6% of all the money Vietnam made, and it also helped sell 7.5% of all the things Vietnam sold to other countries. The city made about US$21.48 billion in 2013.

Many jobs in Hanoi are at places owned by the government. Some jobs are at smaller businesses, and the number of these jobs is growing. The city is also changing, with new roads and better ways for people to travel. You can find many famous fast-food places like McDonald's, Lotteria, Pizza Hut, KFC, Popeyes, Domino's Pizza, and Jolibee in Hanoi. The city is also part of an important trade route that has been used for many years.

Development

Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, has grown and changed over many years. In 1924, a plan for the city was created by Ernest Hebrard, and some parts of it were built. Later, in the 1980s, new plans were made with help from the Soviet Union, but these were never used because they did not fit well with the city's layout.

Today, Hanoi has special plans to guide its growth. One plan from 1992 aimed to build new homes and a busy center in an area called Nghĩa Đô, expand places where people live and work in the Gia Lâm District, and connect Hanoi to nearby areas like Hà Đông and the Thanh Trì District. Another plan from 1998 focused on managing the city's growing population and protecting its historic center. It also included ideas for new transportation systems, airport improvements, and cultural projects.

In the 1980s, projects supported by the United Nations Development Programme and the Vietnamese government helped improve roads, water, and schools in rural areas around Hanoi. These projects used local materials and skills, with money and help from both the government and local communities.

Landmarks

Hanoi has many important cultural and historic sites. After the French took control in 1888, they changed the city's architecture to match their style, adding to Hanoi's rich history. The city has more cultural places than any other city in Vietnam and has over 1,000 years of history, with many parts preserved.

Old Quarter

Main article: Old Quarter

The Old Quarter, close to Hoàn Kiếm Lake, keeps most of its original streets and buildings from long ago. At the start of the 20th century, Hanoi had "36 streets," a citadel, and newer French buildings south of the lake, now part of Hoàn Kiếm district. Each street was known for a special kind of trade, like silk or jewelry, and many street names still remind us of these old jobs. The mix of French and Chinese styles can be seen in the old houses, with French columns and symbols from Confucian, Taoist, and Buddhist traditions.

Imperial sites

Imperial sites are mainly in Ba Đình District and Đống Đa District. They stand next to French colonial buildings. Important old buildings include the Temple of Literature, where Vietnam's oldest university started in 1010, the One Pillar Pagoda built in 1049 following a king's dream, and the Flag Tower of Hanoi. In 2004, part of the 900-year-old Hanoi Citadel was found near Ba Đình Square.

Colonial sites

Hanoi was the capital of French Indochina from 1902 to 1945. French-style buildings are still seen today, like tree-lined streets and grand homes and government buildings. Some structures mix French and Vietnamese styles, such as the National Museum of Vietnamese History, the Vietnam National Museum of Fine Arts, and the old Indochina Medical College. Urban planning during this time was influenced by leaders like Paul Doumer.

Tourism

Hanoi is the most visited city in Vietnam, attracting many visitors from around the world. It is often called the "Paris of the East" because of its French-style buildings and history.

The city has many famous places to see, such as the Hanoi Opera House, the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi hotel, and St. Joseph's Cathedral. The Vietnam Museum of Ethnology shows the culture and history of different ethnic groups in Vietnam. Hanoi has been recognized as one of the world’s top travel destinations in recent years.

Education

After the Communist Party of Vietnam took control of Hanoi in 1954, new universities were built, including the Hanoi University of Science and Technology. The University of Languages and International Studies is known for being one of the best places to study languages in southeast Asia. Other important schools include the Hanoi School for Public Health, Hanoi School of Agriculture, Electric Power University, and the University of Transport and Communications. Many scientists in Vietnam live and work in Hanoi.

People in Hanoi tend to have more education than those living outside the city. About one-third of workers in the city finished secondary school, compared to fewer in the suburbs. Also, many more people in Hanoi finished college or other advanced studies than in the areas around the city.

Transportation

Sports

Hanoi has many places where people can play and watch sports, such as Mỹ Đình National Stadium, Quần Ngựa Sports Palace, and Hàng Đẫy Stadium. In 2009, Hanoi hosted the third Asian Indoor Games.

Hanoi was planned to host a big car race called the Formula 1 Vietnamese Grand Prix in 2020, but this had to be delayed and later cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

UNESCO recognition

On 16 July 1999, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization gave Hanoi a special title called "City for Peace." This happened because Hanoi showed great efforts in many important areas. The city worked to include everyone and support talking between different groups. It also took good care of its environment, promoted its culture, and focused on education, especially teaching good citizenship.