Hanoi

Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam and its second largest city. It is smaller and less hectic than its southern counterpart - Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) and retains much of its old world charm.

It is a city of tranquil lakes, ancient pagodas and temples; charming French colonial mansions and boulevards; and the bustling street life of the Old Quarter. The city of Hanoi has developed over the centuries along the banks of the Red River ( Song Hong ). There are three bridges across the river into the city including the 19th century Long Bien Bridge which was repeatedly bombed and repaired during the Vietnam War.

The centre of Hanoi which contains the majority of Hanoi attractions is a compact area which is easy to get around on foot or cyclo. The street names are prefixed with 'hang' (meaning shop or trader) in the Old Quarter which is a reference to the guilds that traded here; 'pho' which is used for other narrow streets, and 'duong' for the wider boulevards.

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(Credit: Hanoi Travel Guide)