Hanoi Vacations, Hanoi Vacation Reviews, Tourism Guide

Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, has been the political and cultural center of the country for hundreds of years, with a few interruptions. The site of the city has been occupied for thousands of years and is located on the Red River Delta in the northern region. Approximately 3.1 million people live in the nine inner and five outer districts. Hanoi's architecture has been influenced from both the East and the West, namely the Chinese and the French.

In the city center, close to Hoan Kiem Lake,is the Old Quarter. This area is well known its shops, boutiques, and restaurants housed in pre-colonial and colonial architecture. There are about 36 streets in the Old Quarter, each named after a particular profession or merchandise being sold, such as Hang Bong(Flower trade),Hang Gai(Silk trade) and so forth. Wandering around the entire area can take a few days, but it is well worth it to catch a glimpse of everyday Hanoi.

Other areas of interest are The Temple of Literature(Văn Miếu), site of the oldest Vietnamese univerisity, Hoan Kiem Lake, with its island temple,One Pillar Pagoda (Chùa Một Cột),The National Museum of Ethnology,The Revolution Museum, and National Museum of Fine Arts,to name a few.

To catch the French influeneces, go to Phan Dinh Phung Street for the tree lined boulevards, the Cathedral St. Joseph, the Grand Opera Hall,Presidential Palace,Vietnam State Bank & many other examples.

As other cities in Vietnam, this place also full of motorbikes.