Hanoi
Template:Infobox province of Vietnam
Hanoi (Vietnamese: Hà Nội), estimated population 3,083,800 (2004), is the capital of Vietnam and was the capital of North Vietnam from 1954 to 1976. Before that, it had served as the capital of the entity now known as Vietnam from at least the 11th century until 1802 (with a few brief interruptions). The city is located on the right bank of the Red River. Hanoi is located at 21°2' North, 105°51' East (21.0333, 105.85), 1,760 km north of Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon). [1]
History
Through history, Hanoi was known by many names. During Chinese domination of Vietnam, it was known as Tống Bình and later Long Đỗ. In 866, it was turned into a citadel and was named Đại Nam.
In 1010, Lý Thái Tổ, the first ruler of the Lý Dynasty (Triều Lý), moved the capital of Đại Việt (the Great Viet, then the name of Vietnam) to the site of the Đại Nam Citadel. Claiming to have seen a dragon ascending the Red River, he renamed it Thăng Long (Ascending dragon) - a name still used poetically to this day. It remained the capital of Vietnam until 1397, when the capital was moved to Thanh Hóa, also known as Tây Đô (Western Capital). Thăng Long then became Đông Đô (Eastern Capital).
In 1408, Vietnam was invaded by Chinese troops from the Ming Dynasty and Đông Đô was renamed Đông Quan (Eastern Gateway) by the Chinese. In 1428, Vietnam was liberated from Chinese rule by Lê Lợi, the founder of the Le Dynasty (Triều Lê ) and Dông Quan was renamed Dông Kinh (Eastern Capital - the name known to Europeans as Tonkin; and evidently, the same characters used for Tokyo). During the Tây Son Dynasty, it was named Bắc Thành (Northern Citadel).
In 1802, when the Nguyễn Dynasty (Triều Nguyễn) was established and then moved the capital down to present-day Huế, it was renamed Thăng Long. However, the second syllable of the toponym is actually a homonym of the word long, and so, actually suggests �to flourish� as opposed to �dragon�. Therefore the name would be translated roughly to to ascend and flourish. In 1831 the Nguyen Dynasty renamed it Hà Nội (which can be translated as around the bend of the river or River Interior) . 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, when it became the seat of Vietnam's government. 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.
During the Vietnam War Hanoi's transportation facilities were disrupted by the bombing of bridges and railways, which were, however, promptly repaired. Following the end of the war, Hanoi became the capital of all Vietnam when North and South Vietnam were reunited on July 2, 1976.
In 2004, during site surveys for construction of a new parliament house, the remnant of a massive 900 years old citadel was discovered in central Hanoi, near the site of Ba Dinh square.
Climate
Hanoi represents typical northern climate for Vietnam, where summers are hot and humid, and winters are cold and dry. The summer months from May to September receive the majority of rainfall in the year (1,682 mm rainfall/ year). The winter month from November to March is relatively dry, although springs then often brings light rains. The minimum winter temperature in Hanoi rarely goes lower than 6-7 degrees Celsius (43 degrees Fahrenheit), while summer can get as hot as 38-40 degrees Celsius (100+ degrees Fahrenheit). Central heating is not common in Hanoi, and wind chills may make one feel rather cold in winters. Hanoi experiences full four seasons in a year.
Education
Hanoi is home to many universities, colleges and institutes, which serve not only the locals but also nationally. Admissions to undergraduate study are through entrant examinations, which are conducted annually and open for everyone in the country. The majority of universities in Hanoi are public, although in recent years a few private universities have started their operation. Among foreign Western universities, Royal Melboune Institute of Technology operates a campus out of Hanoi, besides its other Vietnam campus in Ho Chi Minh city.
Because many of the national universities are located in Hanoi, students from other provinces wishing to enter university often travel to Hanoi for the annual entrant examination. Such events often take place in June/July, when a large number of students and their families converge on the city a few weeks before and after the exam dates.
There are also many pre-tertiary schools in Hanoi which mainly serve their local districts. Education is equivalent to the K-12 system in the US, with elementary school between grades 1 and 5, middle school (or junior high) between grades 6 and 9, and high school for grades 10 to 12.
Some schools might have a few selective classes for students with higher entry scores, with a stronger emphasis on subjects such as mathematics of physics. A number of schools are designated as selective where admissions are also by entrant examination on the subjects of choice. A few major universities in Hanoi also run a limited number of high-school and middle-school classes out of their Hanoi campuses for gifted students in subjects such as mathematics, chemistry, physics, information technology, linguistics, biology, and other social science and humanity subjects.
Places of interest
Hanoi is often said to be the cultural center of Vietnam, where every dynasty has left behind their imprint. Even though some relics have not survived through wars and time, the city still has many interesting cultural and historic monuments for visitors and residents alike.
Some of the prominent places are: Ho Chi Minh mausoleum; the Temple of Literature (Vǎn Miêu), site of the oldest university in Vietnam; One Pillar Pagoda (Chùa Môt Côt); Flag Tower of Hanoi (Côt co Hà Nôi)
Hanoi is also home to a number of museums, including Vietnamese National History Museum, the Revolution Museum and National Museum of Fine Arts.
The Old Quarter, near the scenic Hoan Kiem lake, is famous for its small artisans and merchants, including many silk shops. Local cuisine specialties as well as several clubs and bars can be found here also. A night market in the heart of the district opens for business every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evening with a variety of clothing, souvenirs, and food.
West Lake (Ho Tay) is a popular place for recreation, with small boats for hire.
Transportation
Hanoi is served by Noi Bai International Airport, located in the Soc Son District, approximately 40 km (25 miles) north of Hanoi. Noibai is the only international airport for the northern regions of Vietnam. Direct daily flights are available to other cities in Vietnam, Asia, Australia and Europe. Flights to and from Americas usually involve a transit. The airport has recently been rebuilt with modern facilities.
There are two main highways linking the airport and city. The route to the city via Thang Long Bridge is more direct than Highway 1, which runs along the outskirts of the city. The main highways are shared by cars, motor scooters, with separate lanes by the side for bicycles. Taxis are plenty and usually have trip meters, although it is also common to agree on the trip price before taking a taxi from airport to the city center. Tourists also sometimes tour the city on rickshaws.
Hanoi is also the origin departure point for many train routes in the country. The Union Express (tau Thong Nhat) runs from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh city from Hang Co station, with stops at cities and provinces along the line. Trains also depart Hanoi for Hai Phong and other northern cities.
The main means of transport within the city are motobikes, buses, taxis, and bycicles. Motobikes remain the most common way to move around the city, due to their flexibility in navigating small streets, lack of parking spaces for cars, and also being more fuel economic than automobiles. The number of private cars are however rising every year, and traffic at peak hours can be very heavy at main intersections.
Public buses run on many routes and fare can be purchased on the bus. For short trips, a "hired" motorbike is a peculiar option where the passenger sits at the rear of a motobike and the driver will take you to your destination. A taxi is more convenient for longer trips, and if you do not wish to travel in open air.
Economy
Though representing only 3.6 percent of the country's population and 0.3 percent of the national territory, Hanoi contributes 8 percent to the national GDP and 45 percent of the Red River Delta's economy.
Industrial production in the city has experienced a rapid boom since the 1990s, with average annual growth of 19.1 percent from 1991-95, 15.9 percent from 1996-2000, and 20.9 percent during 2001-2003. In addition to eight existing industrial parks, Hanoi is building five new large-scale industrial parks and 16 small- and medium-sized industrial clusters. The non-State economic sector is expanding fast, with more than 25,000 businesses currently operating under the Enterprise Law.
Trade is another strong sector of the city. In 2003, Hanoi had 2,000 businesses engaged in foreign trade, having established ties with 161 countries and territories. The city's export value grew by an average 11.6 percent each year from 1996-2000 and 9.1 percent during 2001-2003. The economic structure also underwent important shifts, with tourism, finance and banking now playing an increasingly important role.
Agriculture, previously a pillar in Hanoi's economy, has striven to reform itself, introducing new high-yield plant varieties and livestock, and applying modern farming techniques.
Together with economic growth, Hanoi's appearance has also changed significantly, especially in recent years. Infrastructure is constantly being upgraded, with new roads and an improved public transportation system. The rate of telephone users was 30 per 100 people in 2003. New urban areas are growing rapidly, with 1.5 million square metres of housing constructed during 1996-2000 and 1.3 million square metres built in 2003 alone.
Social services have been developed in both scale and quality. The public healthcare network has been strengthened, ensuring at least one doctor for each commune and ward. Thanks to these accomplishments, Hanoi has the highest development index in the country. Movements such as raising donations for poor people or promoting a "cultural lifestyle", have received support from local people and been maintained.
Health care and other facilities
The following medical facilities are located in Hanoi:
External links
- Vietscape Travel: Hanoi
- Hanoi Daily: (in Vietnamese)
- Living in Hanoi: Expat and Travel guide
- 2006 Vietnam Travel Guide - Hanoi
- Template:Wikitravel