Hanoi is a city of contrasts, in which native Asian traditions have been mixed with European influence, especially noticeable in architecture: the streets of the city are decorated not only with Buddhist temples and pagodas, but also with buildings in the French style. The capital of Vietnam was founded more than a thousand years ago, today it is the cultural and political center of the country, and in terms of industrial development, Hanoi holds the second place in the state.
Geographical location of Hanoi
The outlines of Vietnam are very bizarre: the country stretches along the coast of the South China Sea in a long strip resembling a tadpole with a tail. Its "head" is located in the northern part of the Indochina peninsula, approximately in its middle and the capital is located. The name "Hanoi" translates as "a city surrounded by a river." It is located on the banks of the Red River, or Hongha as the Vietnamese call it.
Hanoi is famous for its vast territory, in 2008 the surrounding districts and provinces were annexed to the city, and now its area is about three and a half thousand kilometers - this is an impressive number in comparison with the small area of Vietnam. Hanoi is located at a distance from the South China Sea, a few hours drive to the coast.
The capital of Vietnam is located in an area of subequatorial climate: it is not surprising that it is very hot almost all year round, and only rains from April to November save local residents. And in winter, sea winds bring salvation, and during the dry season there is a rather low temperature for the subequatorial belt - about 18 ° C.
Hanoi history
More than a thousand years ago, the city of Hoala served as the capital of the Daikoviet empire, which became modern Vietnam. One of the emperors decided to build a new city for his residence, called Thanglong. For several hundred centuries, it served as the capital of the state under this name. In 1831, another emperor renamed it Hanoi.
From the beginning of colonization to the middle of the 20th century, Vietnam belonged to France, and Hanoi served as the capital of French Indochina. Freeing themselves from European control, the Vietnamese formed a new state, and the "city surrounded by a river" quickly became one of the major industrial centers.
Modern Hanoi
Hanoi is not the most popular Asian city among foreign tourists, but for those interested in Vietnamese culture and history, it has a lot to discover. Most of the capital's attractions are religious and historical buildings: temples, architectural ensembles, pagodas. The Vietnamese have preserved both the French heritage and natural attractions: lakes, parks.
Today, about six and a half million people live in Hanoi: most of them are Vieta, the rest are Chinese and Myong and a very small percentage of other nationalities.
