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Hanoi
Area:
3.324,92
sq. km
Population:
6,232,900
habitants (8/2008).
Administrative divisions:
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9
urban districts:
Hoan Kiem, Ba Dinh, Dong Da, Hai Ba Trung, Tay
Ho, Thanh Xuan, Cau Giay, Long Bien, Hoang Mai.
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2 cities: Ha Dong, Son Tay
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18
rural districts:
Dong Anh, Soc Son, Thanh Tri,
Tu Liem, Gia Lam
(old Hanoi); Ba Vi, Chuong My, Dan Phuong, Hoai Duc, My Duc, Phu Xuyen, Phuc
Tho, Quoc Oai, Thach That, Thanh Oai. Thuong Tin, Ung Hoa (former Ha Tay
province) and Me Linh (a former district of Vinh Phuc province).
Ethnic
groups:
Viet (Kinh), Hoa,
Muong, Tay, Dao...
Hanoi is the
capital of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the center of culture,
politics, economy and trade of the whole country.
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Geography
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Hanoi is
located in the Red River Delta, in the center of North Vietnam. It is
encompassed by Thai Nguyen Province to the north, Vinh Phuc and Ha Tay to
the west and south, Bac Giang, Bac Ninh and Hung Yen provinces to the east
and south-east.Hanoi means "the hinterland between the rivers" (Ha:
river, Noi: interior). Hanoi's territory is washed by the Red River
(the portion of the Red River embracing Hanoi is approximately 40km long)
and its tributaries, but there are some other rivers flowing through the
capital, including Duong, Cau, Ca Lo, Day, Nhue, Tich, To Lich and Kim Nguu.
Climate:
Hanoi is
situated in a tropical monsoon zone with two main seasons. During the dry
season, which lasts from October to April, it is cold and there is very
little rainfall, except from January to March, when the weather is still
cold but there is some light rain. The wet season, from May to September, is
hot with heavy rains and storms. The average annual temperature is 23.2ºC
(73.7ºF) and the average annual rainfall is 1,800mm. The average temperature
in winter is 17.2ºC (62.9ºF), but can go down to 8ºC (46.4ºF). The average
temperature in summer is 29.2ºC (84.6ºF), but can reach up to 39ºC
(102.2ºF).
History
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Hanoi is
a sacred land of Vietnam. In the 3rd century BC, Co Loa (actually
belonging to Dong Anh District) was chosen as the capital of the Au Lac
Nation of Thuc An Duong Vuong (the King Thuc). Hanoi later became the core
of the resistance movements against the Northern invasions. Located in the
middle of the Red River Delta, the town has gradually expanded to become a
very populations and rich residential center. At different periods, Hanoi
had been selected as the chief city of Vietnam under the Northern
domination.In the autumn of Canh Tuat lunar years (1010), Ly Thai To, the
founder of the Ly Dynasty, decided to transfer the capital from Hoa Lu to
Dai La, and so he rebaptized it Thang Long (Soaring Dragon). The year 1010
then became an historical date for Hanoi and for the whole country in
general. For about a thousand years, the capital was called Thang Long, then
changing to Dong Do, Dong Kinh, and finally to Hanoi, in 1831. This sacred
piece of land thereafter continued to be the theatre of many fateful events.
Tourism
Throughout the thousand years of its eventful history, marked by
destruction, wars and natural calamities, Hanoi still preserves many ancient
architectural works including the Old Quarter and over 600 pagodas and
temples. Famous sites include the One Pillar Pagoda (built in 1049), the
Temple of Literature (built in 1070), Hanoi Citadel, Hanoi Opera House,
President Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum...
Hanoi also characteristically contains 18 beautiful lakes such as Hoan Kiem
Lake, West Lake, and Truc Bach Lake..., which are the lungs of the city,
with their surrounding gardens and trees providing a vital source of energy.
Many traditional handicrafts are also practiced in Hanoi including bronze
molding, silver carving, lacquer, and embroidery. Hanoi has many famous
traditional professional handicraft villages such as Bat Trang pottery
village, Ngu Xa bronze casting village, Yen Thai glossy silk...
Transportation
By road:
Hanoi is 93km from Ninh Binh, 102km from Haiphong, 153km from Thanh Hoa,
151km from Halong, 474km from Dien Bien Phu, 658km from Hue, 763km from
Danang, and 1,710km from Ho Chi Minh City.
By air:
Noi Bai International Airport, over 35km from the city center, is one of the
biggest airports of the country with various international and domestic
routes. There are domestic flights from Hanoi to Danang, Dien Bien, Ho Chi
Minh City, Hue, Nha Trang and international flights to many countries in
over the world.
By train:
Hanoi Railway Station is Vietnam's main railway station. It is the starting
point of five railway lines leading to almost every province in Vietnam.
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