Hanoi
Overview
Hanoi, the capital of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, is an elegant city located on the banks of the Red River with tranquil Hoan Kiem Lake at its heart. North of the lake are the bustling streets of the Old Quarter, each street named after the trade that used to take place there.
Much of the city was transformed by the French when it became a French protectorate in the 1880s and there are wide boulevards and large colonial buildings which are now home to government departments and foreign embassies.
Located on the banks of the Red River with tranquil Hoan Kiem Lake at its heart, Hanoi is the capital of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. North of the lake are the bustling streets of the Old Quarter, each street named after the trade that used to take place there. Hanoi Overview relates the tale about its history when Ho Chi Minh established the Viet Minh during the Second World War in order to gain independence.
Weather
In Hanoi there are four distinct seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. But it is able to be divided into two main seasons: the rainy season from May to September (hot, heavy rain), and the dry season from October to April (cold, little rainfall). The annual average temperature is 23.2oC, but in winter the average temperature is 17.2oC. The lowest temperature ever recorded was 2.7oC in 1955. The average summer temperature is 29.2oC, with the highest ever recorded being 42.8oC in 1926. On average, there are 114 rainy days a year with around 1,800mm of rainfall. The most pleasant weather to visit Ha Noi is from February to April and September to November avoiding the heat and the rain. The official peak season in Viet Nam is from September to April.
Tourism Information
The heart of Hanoi
Hoan Kiem Lake and the Old Quarter in central Hanoi are thronged with people throughout the day. Nearby, in an attractive setting, is the Hanoi Municipal Theatre, better known as the Opera House, a smaller version of its cousin in Paris and now restored to its original grandeur. The adjacent Hanoi Opera hotel is one of the few modern buildings that enhance an architectural classic anywhere in Vietnam. Asiana travel guests will be offered tickets for any interesting performances at the Opera House during their time in the capital. You'll also be invited to a performance of water puppetry, an art form unique to North Vietnam and an interesting, humorous introduction to its traditional culture.
The Ho Chi Minh complex
The area dedicated to the late President Ho Chi Minh is well worth a visit. Viewing his embalmed body in an imposing mausoleum is a somewhat macabre experience, but the nearby museum and his modest small stilt house provide a valuable insight into the life and times of one of the most successful leaders of the 20th century. Close by is the magnificent Presidential Palace, unfortunately not open to visitors.
Van Mieu
Van Mieu, (the Temple of Literature) dates back to the 11th century and is the oldest university in Vietnam (and one of the oldest in the world). Recently restored, it is a now an attractive and informative monument not far from the city centre.
Museums
Further out is the Museum of Ethnology - we rate it as the best museum in Vietnam. It gives an in-depth overview of the complex life-styles, traditions and handicrafts of the 54 ethnic groups of Vietnam, well-presented and effectively interpreted. Also of note, but more traditional in their approach, are the History Museum, the Army Museum and the Fine Arts Museum. On a much smaller scale, both physically and financially, the Women's Museum focuses on the role of women in the community and that of the ‘Long-haired Army’, the many women who fought and died alongside the men of the Viet Minh and the Viet Cong.
The Citadel area
The ancient Hanoi Citadel is currently occupied by the army, but is in the process of restoration prior to making sections accessible to the public during 2004. Across the road, a large archaeological 'dig' currently taking place on the site of what will be the new National Assembly building has unearthed what appear to be the remains of an ancient palace and its ceramics kiln. Ceramic articles were the sole property of royalty, and were thought to have been imported from China during its Song period. The findings have revealed that Vietnam not only made its own ceramic articles, but also developed a unique style during the Ly Dynasty from the 9th to the 11th centuries.
Transportation
Traffic on Hanoi streets is extremely chaotic. Traffic on a typical thoroughfare includes buses, heavy trucks, cars, motorbikes, bicycles, cyclos, pedestrians (often pulling handcarts), and even the occasional pony cart, all jockeying for the same pavement. Motorbikes are by far the most common vehicles, followed closely by bicycles. Average speeds are quite slow because of bicycle and pedestrian traffic, but speeding and darting motorbikes are becoming more common, with negative consequences.
Rules of the road commonly accepted in the west do not apply. Traffic lights are a relatively new introduction and not widely obeyed. Lane markings, including pedestrian crosswalks, exist but are completely disregarded. It is common for bikes and motorbikes to drive the wrong way down streets, against traffic. Vehicles stopped in traffic do not pull over. Vendors selling produce from their laden bicycles typically set up in the street near intersections, looking for the greatest volume of potential customers and creating crowds around them of stopped vehicles. Friends on bikes and motorbikes like to ride abreast and catch up on conversations in traffic, often holding hands in a chain effect.
There are three main modes of public transportation:
Taxis now abound in Hanoi. They are metered, inexpensive, and reasonably safe. Most drivers are quite honest; a few would rather bargain for the price of a ride (and keep the fare themselves) than turn on the meter. Taxi drivers frequently do not have small change and often hope that foreign passengers will simply forego getting change for their big bills. Carry small change or stay in the taxi until the driver procures change.
Xe om (seh ohm), or motorcycle taxis, are even more abundant than taxis. They can be identified by the green pith helmets their drivers almost invariably wear. Riders must bargain with drivers for the price of the ride before getting on the back of the bike. Xe om drivers often drive carelessly and frequently spend their time between fares drinking at local beer stands. Riders are not provided with helmets and are in the traffic segment most vulnerable to accidents.
Cyclos (seek-loh), bicycle-powered taxis, are used on the streets of Hanoi for everything from carrying passengers to moving entire contents of houses. The front "cab" of a cyclo is designed for two passengers but it is not unusual to see a driver straining to pedal a cab loaded down with four or five. Cyclo fares must also be negotiated up front. Cyclos are the slowest and least maneuverable vehicles on Hanoi streets, although they tend to stay along the edges of traffic and are not as vulnerable to higher-speed accidents.
Related Tours
Search Tours
Support online
Weather
Ha Noi
- No significant clouds
- Temperature: 30 °C
Ho Chi Minh
- Scattered clouds
- Temperature: 26 °C
Vientiane
- Broken clouds
- Temperature: 27 °C
Phnom-Penh
- Scattered clouds
- Temperature: 31 °C
Siemreap
- Broken clouds
- Temperature: 27 °C
PROMOTION TOURS
CURRENCIES EXCHANGE RATES
| AUD | 17,936.00 VND |
| CAD | 18,525.00 VND |
| CHF | 19,542.00 VND |
| EUR | 29,416.00 VND |
| GBP | 32,356.00 VND |
| HKD | 2,522.00 VND |
| JPY | 227.00 VND |
| SGD | 14,141.00 VND |
| THB | 597.00 VND |
| USD | 18,495.00 VND |