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Hanoi

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Hanoi is the capital city of Vietnam.

Old and French quarters hanoi
Old and French quarters hanoi

It is a very large and busy place. As of 2025, more than 8.8 million people live there. The city is also a major center for money and business. It had a gross regional domestic product of US$48 billion in 2023. Many different groups live and work here. There are 78 foreign embassies in the city.

Ngân hàng Nhà nước - 2022-09-02 01
Ngân hàng Nhà nước - 2022-09-02 01

It is also home to the Vietnam People's Army headquarters.

The city has many famous places to visit.

Old Quarter, Hanoi (12) (38496654951)
Old Quarter, Hanoi (12) (38496654951)

You can see the Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long. There is also the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. Many people visit Hoàn Kiếm Lake or West Lake.

One Pillar Pagoda Hanoi
One Pillar Pagoda Hanoi

For nature, Ba Vì National Park is near the city. The city has many different styles of buildings. Some are French colonial buildings. Others are brutalist apartments or small tube houses.

Hanoï - Théâtre rue Paul Bert
Hanoï - Théâtre rue Paul Bert

These different buildings show how the city grew over time.

Hanoi has a very old story. People lived in this area a long time ago. Archaeologists found tools from the Sơn Vi Culture. These tools are 10,000 to 20,000 years old.

Temple of Literature - main gate
Temple of Literature - main gate

Long ago, the area was even underwater. About 4,000 years ago, people began living there continuously. In the third century BC, a large fort called Cổ Loa was built.

Old and French quarters hanoi
Old and French quarters hanoi

This was a very important center for the Vietnamese people.

The city has had many different names. In 1010, King Lý Thái Tổ made it the capital. He named it Thăng Long, which means "ascending dragon."

One Pillar Pagoda Hanoi
One Pillar Pagoda Hanoi

In 1428, King Lê Lợi renamed it Đông Kinh. Later, the Nguyễn dynasty moved the capital to Huế. In 1831, the city was finally named Hanoi.

Hanoi, Vietnam (12036416576)
Hanoi, Vietnam (12036416576)

The city has been part of many different governments. It served as the capital of French Indochina for many years.

The weather in Hanoi changes with four seasons.

Hanoi Train Street (20231225b) (53489076293)
Hanoi Train Street (20231225b) (53489076293)

Summer is from May to September. It is hot and humid with more rain. Fall is in October and November. The weather is warm and mild then. Winter comes from December to February. It is cool and dry because of the northeast monsoon.

Cat Linh station with train
Cat Linh station with train

Spring is from March to April. It can be drizzly and cloudy during this time. The city is a place where history and modern life meet.

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🖼️ Images & Media (18)
File:HA 52-140 R5 Foule assistant à la cérémonie de présentation du nouveau gouvernement d'Union nationale à Hanoï.jpg
HA 52-140 R5 Foule assistant à la...
File:HA 53-8 R28 Le portique d'entrée de la pagode Ly Trieu Quoc Su le jour des élections municipales d'Hanoï.jpg
HA 53-8 R28 Le portique d'entrée de la...
File:Police station Hoan Kiem.jpg
Police station Hoan Kiem.jpg
File:Ngân hàng Nhà nước - 2022-09-02 01.jpg
Ngân hàng Nhà nước - 2022-09-02 01.jpg
File:Newone - Vincom Mega Mall Times City.jpg
Newone - Vincom Mega Mall Times City.jpg
File:Hanoi Stock Exchange (18780216822).jpg
Hanoi Stock Exchange (18780216822).jpg
File:One Pillar Pagoda Hanoi.jpg
One Pillar Pagoda Hanoi.jpg
File:Old Quarter, Hanoi (12) (38496654951).jpg
Old Quarter, Hanoi (12) (38496654951).jpg
File:Temple of Literature - main gate.jpg
Temple of Literature - main gate.jpg
File:Hanoi, Vietnam (12036416576).jpg
Hanoi, Vietnam (12036416576).jpg
File:Hanoï - Théâtre rue Paul Bert.jpg
Hanoï - Théâtre rue Paul Bert.jpg
File:Old and French quarters hanoi.png
Old and French quarters hanoi.png

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