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HA NOI
Ha Noi, Hoan Kiem Lake,
One-Pillar Pagoda, Hanoi Flag
Tower, Tran Quoc Pagoda, West
Lake,- Ho Tay, Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum,
Quan Thanh Temple, Vietnam Army
Museum, Presidential Palace,
Ho Chi Minh Museum, Quan Su Pagoda,
Ba Dinh Square, Van Mieu–Quoc Tu
Giam
 HA NOI
The Capital: Area: 921 sq. kilometers Population
(1999): 2,672,122. Average annual temperature: 23.4 C. Economic
potentialities: Hanoi is the political, economical, and cultural
center of the country. Hanoi is located in the Red River Delta,
in the center of North Vietnam. It is the political, economical,
cultural, commercial, and tourist center of the country. It was
founded in 1010 under the reign of Ly Cong Uan King. The
tropical monsoon climate is divided into the rainy and dry
seasons. The most distinctive characteristic of Hanoi's climate
is the fluctuations between the cold and hot seasons. Hanoi
still preserves plenty of ancient architectural works comprising
the Old Quarter and over 600 pagodas. Tens of hectares of lakes
lie intertwined between the streets, the largest ones being Hoan
Kiem Lake, West Lake, and Truc Bach Lake. Many traditional
handicrafts are also practiced in Hanoi including bronze
molding, silver carving, lacquer, and embroidery.Other famous
sites include the One Pillar Pagoda (built in 1042), the Temple
of Literature (built in 1070), the Tay Phuong Pagoda, which is
very famous for its collection of statues, and Lenin Park.In the
wide, tree-lined boulevards of the French Quarter, the past is
palpable. History clings to the sun-drenched walls like moss.
But the fine colonial mansions are but one layer of history.
Strolling around the little lake in the heart of Hanoi, where
legends grow thicker than water lilies, you will get a sense of
the city's true cultural depth. One myth tells of a golden
turtle, which rose from the lake's green depth-, to present
Vietnam's king with a magical sword, used to repel northern
invaders in the 15th century. Hanoi's position as Vietnam's
capital dates back to 1010, when Emperor Ly Thai To established
the court of Thang Long (Ascending Dragon) on this site. Over
the' centuries the city's name changed several times, until
emperor Tu Duc christened it Hanoi (City in a Bend of the River)
in 1831. Then, from 1902 to 1953 Hanoi was the capital of French
Indochina. Vietnam's long struggle for independence and its
birth as a socialist state are commemorated in many of the
city's museums and monuments, the most famous of which President
Ho Chi Minh's imposing stone mausoleum. In the Old Quarter
Hanoi's rich past comes to life.Stroll down the ancient guild
streets, where the wares on offer have remained unchanged for
centuries: traditional medicines and herbs, brightly colored
votive paper, bolts of finely spun silk, silver and jade
jewelery. Ten centuries of culture and commerce are layered like
paint, creating a vibrant mural of past and present. Here you
will see the life of Hanoi: the women who pad past with baskets
of bread perched on their heads; the flower vendors wheeling
bicycles festooned with fresh-cut roses, mums and lilies; the
brown-robed monks on their way to the pagoda. As well as being
Vietnam's political center. Hanoi has long been the country's
artistic and cultural heart. Visitors can explore the peaceful
grounds and pavilions of the Temple of Literature, an ancient
university where the first scholars enrolled in 1070. Today, the
city's aura of culture continues to draw intellectuals and
artists. Dozens of galleries showcase the fruits of a
flourishing contemporary art scene. This creative legacy is not
surprising, given that Hanoi invites quiet contemplation. With
its shady lakes and countless street-side cafes, the city tempts
you to linger over a cup of thick Vietnamese coffee and watch
the world go by. Spend some time in Hanoi and you too will fall
under its languid spell. Hanoi 's cloistered beauty hides
Vietnam's ancient soul.
HOAN
KIEM LAKE
Lake, also called Lake of the Restored Sword, is located in the
center of Hanoi. The name Lake of the Restored Sword is derived
from a legend in which King Le Thai To, as he was on a boat
cruise on the lake, saw a giant turtle coming towards him. The
turtle took his sword that had secured the victory against the
Minh aggressors.
 King Le Thai To named the lake after this
episode. Ngoc Son Temple was built on the small island in the
middle of the lake. The lake does contain giant turtles. Every
morning, the park around the lake fills with locals coming to
exercise and play badminton Hoan Kiem Lake was already
considered the most beautiful lake in Hanoi when Ngoc Son Temple
was built on an island in the 19th century. Initially, the
temple was called Ngoc Son Pagoda and was later renamed Ngoc Son
Temple, since temples are dedicated to saints. Saint Van Suong,
considered to be one of the brightest stars in Vietnam's
literary and intellectual circles, was worshipped there.
National hero Tran Hung Dao was also worshipped after he led the
Vietnamese people to victory over the Nguyen aggressors. The
temple as it is today is the result of renovations made by
Nguyen Van Sieu in 1864. A great Hanoi writer, Nguyen Van Sieu
had a large pen-shaped tower built at the entrance of the
temple. On the upper section of the tower, also called Thap But,
are three Chinese characters Ta Thanh Thien, which literally
means "to write on the blue sky is to imply the height of a
genuine and righteous person's determination and will"; Dai
Nghien, meaning "ink stand", is carved from stone resembling a
peach placed on the back of the three frogs on top of the gate
to the temple; and The Huc, meaning "where rays of morning
sunshine touch". On the way to the temple there are several cau
doi, parallel sentences, written on the walls. These cau doi
were part of traditional word puzzles played by educated
individuals.
ONE-PILLAR
PAGODA
 Located in Ngoc Ha, Ba Dinh precinct, Hanoi, the One Pillar
Pagoda is a cultural and historic relic, unique for its
architectural features. The pagoda was first built in 1049 under
the Ly dynasty, on the west side of the ancient Thang Long
capital. Its original name was Dien Huu, expressing the wish for
longevity for the second Ly King. The pagoda is built in the
shape of a lotus blooming on its stem. The pagoda was built
after the description of a dream of King Ly Thai Tong, who
reigned between 1028 and 1054, in which Bodhisattva
Avalokitesvara, the Goddess of Mercy, led him to a lotus flower.
HANOI
FLAG TOWER
Hanoi Flag Tower, also called Cot Co, is one of the rare
architectural works in Hanoi that was fortunate enough to not be
destroyed by the French administration between 1894 and 1897. It
was used by French troops as an observation tower and
communication station between command headquarters and adjacent
military posts. It was built in 1812 and is composed of three
platforms and a tower.The words Nghenh Huc, meaning "to welcome
dawn's sunlight," are inscribed on the eastern door. The western
door bears the two words Hoi Quang, meaning "to reflect light,"
and the southern door, Huong Minh, meaning "directed to the
sunlight.“. The tower receives sunlight through 36 flower-shaped
and six fan-shaped windows.
TRAN
QUOC PAGODA
Tran Quoc Pagoda is the oldest of all pagodas in Hanoi.
 It was
constructed in the 6th century during the reign of King Ly Nam
De and was then named Khai Quoc, which means: "founding the
country". It was first built outside the Yen Phu dike and then
moved to West Lake. It has been named An Quoc, Tran Quoc, and
Tran Bac. With architecture in harmony with nature, the pagoda
complements the beautiful scenery around the lake. This famous
Buddhist Pagoda is situated by Thanh Nien road, Tay Ho
district.The existing building remains from the last repair work
done in 1815, which included the triple gate, the main pagoda,
the sitting room, the ancestral worshipping chamber, and the
garden tower.
HO TAY
(WEST LAKE)
West Lake, also called Ho Tay, is the biggest lake in central
Hanoi, covering 500 ha in Tay Ho district. In the past, West
Lake used to be part of the Hong River. West Lake, a beautiful
spot in Hanoi, was once a resort for mandarins and kings. Many
palaces including Thuy Hoa Palace, Ham Nguyen Sanctuary, Tu Hoa
Palace, Kim Lien Pagoda, and Ngoc Dam Palace were built on the
bank of the lake . The 14 km path around the lake leads to Nghi
Tam flower village, Tay Ho, Nhat Tan peach garden and Tay Ho
Pagoda, built in honor of Princess Lieu. Today, many hotels of
all sizes surround the lake. Visitors can go sightseeing and
enjoy typical dishes, such as Ho Tay shrimp cakes, Ho Tay snail
noodles, and Ho Tay fish dishes.
HO CHI
MINH'S MAUSOLEUM
 The construction of the Mausoleum started in September 1973, on
the foundations of the old rostrum in Ba Dinh Square where
president Ho Chi Minh used to chair national meetings. Ho Chi
Minh's Mausoleum was completed nearly two years later on August
29, 1975.Engraved on the front of the Mausoleum is Chu Tich Ho
Chi Minh, meaning "President Ho Chi Minh." Uncle Ho's dead body
dressed in faded khaki clothes and plain rubber shoes was put in
a glass coffin..The Mausoleum is the everlasting rest house of
the greatest leader of Vietnam.
QUAN
THANH TEMPLE (HOLY MANDARIN TEMPLE )
Quan Thanh Temple is an important historical and cultural relic
in Quan Thanh ward, Ba Dinh precinct, Hanoi. It was built during
the reign of King Ly Thai To (1010-1028).
 The temple was
dedicated to Huyen Thien Tran Vo, or the God who guarded and
administered the north of the country. That is why it is also
known as the Tran Vo Temple or the Temple of Quan Thanh Tran
Vo.Situated on a large and beautiful area by West Lake near the
northern gate of old Thang Long capital, Quan Thanh Temple is
one of the Four Guards of Old Thang Long.The existing
constructions originate from the last renovations that were made
in the 19th century; these renovations included the triple gate,
the yard, the front and central worshipping chambers, and the
shrine. A bronze statue, nearly 4 m in height and 4 tons in
weight, was cast in 1677 and dedicated to the holy Huyen Thien
Tran Vo.
VIETNAM
ARMY MUSEUM
Add: 30 Dien Bien Phu – Hanoi- The Vietnam Army Museum is
located on Dien Bien Phu Street in Hanoi. It was formerly the
French expeditionary barracks and covers 10,000 m2 divided into
30 showrooms. It opened in December 1959. The Vietnam Army
Museum contains objects and documents related to the
establishment and development of the Vietnamese armed forces.
There are many artifacts demonstrating the There are many
artifacts demonstrating the tradition of fighting against
foreign aggressors in previous eras. The museum also has many
displays depicting the development of the Vietnamese armed
forces. The evolution of the Vietnamese National Army and the
Vietnamese People’s Army (1946-1954) is displayed with weapons,
maps, and objects of the Dien Bien Phu Campaign. The fighting
period against the United States army, which ended in 1975, is
also represented through maps, models of the Ho Chi Minh
Campaign, plus artifacts that belonged to heroic Vietnamese
soldiers. Several large and impressive artifacts, such as heavy
weapons retrieved from enemy forces and shards of US planes, are
also exhibited.
PRESIDENTIAL
PALACE
Located in a large garden at the back of the Presidential Palace
is a nice road covered with pebbles and bordered with mango
trees that leads to a stilt house, Uncle Ho's residence and
office from May 1958 until his death. The perfume of jasmine
flowers and roses is omnipresent. At the back is a garden of
fruit trees, where the luxuriant milk fruit tree donated to
Uncle Ho by his southern compatriots in 1954 stands between two
lines of Hai Hung orange trees. Other valuable trees belonging
to more than 30 species supplied by the Ministry of Agriculture,
the Ministry of Forestry, and several provinces represent the
wide variety of trees growing in Vietnam. There are also trees
imported from foreign countries, such as Ngan Hoa trees,
miniature rose bushes, areca trees from the Caribbean, Buddhist
bamboo trees, etc. Dozens of varieties of orchid beautifully
hang from the trees which blossom all year round.The basement of
the residence used to be the meeting place of the "Politburo".
There are two small rooms upstairs: a study and a bedroom. A
wooden bed occupies half of the bedroom and a small wooden
table, where the book "Resistance against the Yuan" was placed.
Items that belonged to Uncle Ho consist of a paper fan, a palm
leaf fan, a small thermos, a glass, a radio, and an electric fan
offered by the Japanese Communist Party.Next to the house is
Uncle Ho’s fish breeding pond.
HO CHI
MINH MUSEUM
Add: No. 3 Ngoc Ha St. – Hanoi - This museum is located near the
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. It was completed on May 19, 1990, on the
occasion of President Ho Chi Minh's birthday. The museum is
housed in a 4-story building covering a total area of 10,000 m2.
The museum is designed in the shape of a lotus flower, as a
symbol of President Ho’s noble character.The main showroom
displays more than 2,000 documents, articles, pictures, and
exhibits illustrating not only historical events that took place
in president Ho Chi Minh’s life, but also important events that
occurred in the rest of the world since the end of the 19th
century. The museum also contains other rooms such as a library,
a large hall, meeting rooms, and research rooms.Since its
opening, the museum has welcomed millions of local and
international visitors.
QUAN SU
PAGODA
Quan Su Pagoda was first built on the land of An Tap village, Tho Xuong district, on the southern gate of Thang Long capital.
Formerly, it was a small Buddhist pagoda, located near the Quan
Su house which had been constructed during the Le dynasty in the
15th century to receive foreign envoys and ambassadors. In 1934,
the pagoda was the headquarter of the Ton kin Buddhist
Association. Since 1942, the pagoda has been restored and
expanded many times, with a larger and better architectural
structure. Nowadays, this place acts as the headquarters of the
Vietnam Central Buddhist Congregation, at 73 Quan Su Street,
Tran Hung Dao ward, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi.
BA DINH
SQUARE AND THE PRESIDENTIAL PALACE
Ba Dinh is a complex of several beautiful cultural and historic
tourist sites, situated in the center of Hanoi. Ba Dinh Hall is
a meeting place for the great important events of Vietnam. The
Presidential Palace is an administrative office of the
Government. The One-pillar Pagoda is a famous thousand-year old
cultural relic of Vietnam. There is a monument of the patriot
combatants who sacrificed their lives for the independence of
the Homeland. President Ho Chi Minh’s Museum and Residence are
where many precious documents and relics of President Ho Chi
Minh’s life and works still remain. President Ho Chi Minh’s
Mausoleum, an imposing construction, is the where the remains of
Ho Chi Minh are kept. Everyday, many visitors come to this area
to honor Ho Chi Minh.
VAN
MIEU - QUOC TU GIAM ( THE TEMPLE OF LITERATURE )
 Van Mieu–Quoc Tu Giam is a famous historical and cultural relic
consisting of the Temple of Literature and Vietnam’s first
university. The Temple of Literature was built in 1070 in honor
of Confucius, his followers, and Chu Van An, a moral figure in
Vietnamese education. Quoc Tu Giam, or Vietnam's first
university, was built in 1076. Throughout its 900 years of
activity, thousands of Vietnamese scholars graduated from this
university. This site preserves historical vestiges of a
1,000-year-old civilization such as statues of Confucius and his
disciples (Yan Hui, Zengshen, Zisi, Mencius), and ancient
constructions such as Khue Van Pavilion and the Worshipping
Hall.
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