Located in the Red River Delta, Ha Noi Capital is the political, economic and cultural centre of Viet Nam. Through many changes and challenges, Ha Noi is developing incessantly and affirms position as one of the biggest tourist centres in the country.
After being adjusted the official border in August 2008, Ha Noi covers an area of 3,324.92km² and includes 10 urban districts, 1 town and 18 suburban districts. Encompassed by Ba Vi mountain range to the back and Red River to the front, Ha Noi has the rong cuon ho ngoi (rolling dragon and sitting tiger) position, thus has great opportunity to inherit and promote the quintessence of science and art.
Ha Noi is situated in a tropical monsoon zone with four seasons: spring, summer, autumn, winter. Especially, the beauty of Ha Noi autumn with intense perfume of hoa sua (milk flower) or green grilled rice of Vong Village… has become inspiration for many artists.
Under the Ly, Tran and Le dynasties, Ha Noi was the capital of Dai Viet nation with the name of Thang Long (flying dragon). Throughout the thousands years of its eventful history, Ha Noi has succeeded in maintaining over 4,000 historical relics and beautiful sites. These relics are closely connected with folk festivals which represent historical thickness and cultural tradition of Thang Long – Ha Noi. Of which, Central Sector of Imperial Citadel of Thang Long – Ha Noi, Giong Festival in Phu Dong and Soc temples, 82 stone steles which record the royal examinations of post-Le and Mac dynasties in Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam have been recognized as world cultural and documentary heritage by UNESCO.
An architectural heritage site which contains national cultural character with tube-shaped ancient houses is Ha Noi Ancient Quarter. Covering an area of 100ha, the Ha Noi Ancient Quarter was founded from the 11th century as crowded trade area where artisans and traders concentrated to work and set up specific trade streets. The artisans from craft villages around former Thang Long Citadel gathered in areas which specialized in their work. This reason made the trade streets develop more and more. Every street was noisy, animated in trade and work as a miniature craft village. And street names were begun with “Hang” and originated from names of merchandise types produced and traded such as Hang Gai (Silk), Hang Duong (Sugar), Hang Muoi (Salt)… Therefore Vietnamese people usually call Ha Noi as Ha Noi 36 streets, of which street means concentration place of artisans or traders who specialize in same merchandise. Most merchandises traded here originates from Ha Noi’s hundred-year-old craft villages. Currently, there are 272 traditional craft villages in Ha Noi.
In Ha Noi, visitors will enjoy an incomparable combination of tradition, elegance and progress. Ha Noi possesses a unique architecture of beautiful colonial villas and streets lined with old trees. Dozens of lakes, flower gardens and row of majestic trees give sense of coolness to Ha Noi. However, Ha Noi is undergoing major changes. Wide avenues and highways are being created, hotels and office buildings are also being built, and giving a whole new looks to the city. Noi Bai International Airport, 35km from the centre of Ha Noi, is one of the two biggest airports in the country.
Besides, Ha Noi gastronomy with dishes such as pho (noodles served with beef, chicken), cha ca (rice vermicelli and fried fish), bun oc (rice vermicelli and fresh water snail), banh cuon (steamed rolled rice pancake)… will also creates unforgettable impression for tourists. Each dish here has its own flavour, beauty and crystallizes quintessence values of Viet Nam’s gastronomy culture.
Let visit Ha Noi – the city for peace to feel tranquility and stillness but not less attraction of the capital in international integration process.