Hanoi is a city with a unique flavor, a place where French, Chinese and Vietnamese traditions harmoniously coexist. It was founded in the distant XI century and during this time managed to visit the capital of several state formations. Today it is a modern developed metropolis, living in a frantic rhythm, but maintaining an inextricable connection with its rich past.
Tourists come to Hanoi to look at the monuments of Vietnamese architecture and Buddhist pagodas, visit museums and the traditional water puppet theater, enjoy the beauty of the capital's parks and plunge into the atmosphere of the Asian metropolis. As a rule, travelers spend several days here, and then go to the ocean shore in Central or South Vietnam.
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What to see and where to go in Hanoi?
The most interesting and beautiful places for walking. Photos and a short description.
Old quarter "36 streets"
The area was founded by a representative of 36 trade guilds in the 12th century on the site of a floating market, which is why it has such a name. Its streets still bear the names of those goods that were sold here in the past: Copper, Silk, Silver, etc. The quarter is built up with old two-storey houses with narrow facades, typical for the urban architecture of Vietnam of the past centuries. Here, as before, there is a brisk trade in everything in the world.
Hanoi Citadel
A complex of palaces that belonged to the ruling dynasty of Vietnam. It is believed that it began to be erected in the 11th century. By the end of the 19th century, many buildings were in ruins due to the war with France. Systematic excavations began several decades ago. In 2010, the citadel was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Among all the structures of the complex, the 34-meter Banner (Flag) tower, built in 1812, stands out.
Flag tower
One of the few architectural monuments in Hanoi that survived the wars with the French. It is the latest construction of the Hanoi citadel and is an example of Vietnamese pre-colonial architecture. In the 19th century, it served as a military observation post. Today the Flag Tower is considered the symbol of the city. Together with the banner, its length exceeds 40 meters.
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
Ho Chi Minh - statesman, first president of North Vietnam and founder of the communist party. Despite the fact that after his death the leader bequeathed himself to be cremated, his successor decided to embalm the body. After the end of the war in 1973, a mausoleum was erected for the burial of the leader. The main architect of the building was the Soviet specialist G. Isakovich (he had previously worked on Lenin's mausoleum).
Presidential palace
The official residence of the President of Vietnam, built at the beginning of the 20th century. At first, the building served as the office of the governor of French Indochina. The structure was built according to the project of the architect A.G. Vildieu. For the sake of the palace, they even demolished an ancient architectural monument - a thousand-year-old pagoda that had previously stood on this site. You cannot go inside the residence, but you can stroll through the palace gardens.
Museum of Vietnamese Women
The exhibition opened in 1987 thanks to the initiative of the Vietnamese Women's Union. Today it is considered one of the most popular in Hanoi. The collection is spread over four floors. It consists of various exhibits that tell about the life and fate of a woman from the most ancient times to the present. Items have been collected for over 10 years from all over the country. The main hall of the building is decorated with the statue "Mother of Vietnam" - the symbol of the museum.
Vietnam Museum of Ethnology
The collection is dedicated to the culture and life of 54 nationalities (ethnic groups) living in Vietnam. Here you can see ritual objects, costumes, traditional dwellings, and items of decorative and applied arts. The museum opened in 1997 in a building designed by Ha Duc Lin. There are so many exhibits that it can take a whole day to view the entire exhibition.
Vietnam Museum of Military History
The exposition of the museum is made up of samples of Chinese, Soviet, French and American military equipment, as well as weapons, documents and objects that tell about the development of the Vietnamese armed forces. The museum opened in 1959 at the initiative of Ho Chi Minh. It was preceded by various thematic exhibitions that were held to maintain the fighting spirit of the soldiers. The museum is located on the territory of the Royal Citadel.
Art Museum
The collection is entirely dedicated to Vietnamese culture. Paintings, samples of temple sculptures, traditional lacquer painting, wooden products, drawings on rice paper, national costumes and other exhibits are placed on three floors of the building. The collection will be of interest to art connoisseurs, as works of eminent Vietnamese masters are exhibited here.
Hanoi ceramic mosaic
A long wall to the east of the Lake of the Returned Sword, covered with colored mosaics. It stretches for 4 km. For such an impressive size, the structure was included in the Guinness Book of Records. The construction of the wall began in 2007; the best masters of the country, as well as foreign specialists, worked on it. The drawings are stories from legends, children's pictures, everyday scenes and images of historical sights.
Hanoi Opera House
The theater building was built in the classical colonial style at the beginning of the 20th century. The architects took the Paris Opéra Garnier as a model. At the invitation of the French administration, artists from Europe often came here on tour. During the struggle for independence, the theater became a venue for political meetings. In 1997, the building was restored, after which the theater became the cultural center of the country.
Puppet theater on the water
Puppet shows on the water were invented by Vietnamese peasants who worked in the rice fields. In order to somehow entertain themselves after a hard day at work, they showed scenes with wooden dolls, standing waist-deep in water. Over time, a whole genre has grown out of this simple fun. The puppet show shows the diversity of Vietnamese culture. As a rule, they are accompanied by singing and music.
Hanoi Cathedral
The temple was built at the end of the 19th century in the neo-Gothic style. As you might guess, the appearance of the cathedral resembles the outlines of French churches. It is decorated in the architectural tradition of European religious buildings. After the liberation of Vietnam, the temple was closed due to the persecution of the Catholic Church. It was rediscovered in 1990. Over time, the walls of the building darkened due to industrial emissions, but inside it retained its original appearance.
"One Pillar Pagoda"
Buddhist shrine, which is considered one of the most revered in Hanoi and throughout Vietnam. She stands on a single wooden post. Previously, the building was surrounded by other religious buildings. The pagoda was built by order of Emperor Li Thai Tong in the 11th century. Thus, the ruler thanked heaven for the long-awaited heir. The shape of the building resembles a lotus flower in the middle of a lake.
Changquoc Pagoda
The temple is the oldest in Hanoi. It is believed that it was erected in the 6th century by the will of the emperor Li Nam De (this ruler delivered the country from the claims of China). In the 17th century, the pagoda was moved to another place - to the island of Golden Fish. In 1815, restoration work was carried out. The structure consists of a central tower, a gate and a guest room. A bodhi tree, presented to Hanoi by the Indian Prime Minister in 1959, grows near the temple.
Temple of Literature
The building was built in the 11th century during the reign of Emperor Li Thanh Tong, who immensely admired Confucius and his philosophy. In tribute to this thinker, as well as to other, no less worthy sages, the ruler decided to build the Temple of Literature. Almost immediately after the completion of construction, an institute was opened at the institution, where children of officials who demonstrated high intellectual abilities began to study.
"Hanoi Hilton"
The former Hoa Lo prison, now a museum and tourist site. The building was built under the French in the 19th century to hold political prisoners caught for opposing colonial authorities. During the war with the United States in the 20th century, there were captured American soldiers in the building (the most famous prisoner is Senator John McCain). In the 1990s, almost the entire complex was demolished, and a museum exposition was placed in the remaining guardroom.
Long Bien Bridge
Hanoi has a huge number of rivers, canals and ponds. The name of the city itself is translated as “surrounded by water”. The Long Bien Bridge, which is thrown across the Red River, was built in the late 19th - early 20th centuries according to the design of a French architect. During the struggle for independence, rice was transported along it for the Vietnamese army, which contributed to the victory of the latter over the occupation forces.
Hoan Kiem lake
Other famous names of the reservoir are "Lake of the Returned Sword" and "Lake of Green Water". A legend is connected with him about the emperor Le Loyu, who rebelled against the rule of China. Allegedly, a golden turtle appeared here to the ruler and gave him the sword Thuantkhyen, with the help of which he defeated the armies of the Celestial Empire. After the victory, Le Loy, at the request of the same turtle, returned the weapon back.
Lake Tay
A body of water in the center of Hanoi with a coastline of about 17 km, making it the largest in the Vietnamese capital. Many legends are associated with this place. Today Lake Tei is a large recreational area. It is surrounded by gardens, parks, terraces, attractions, hotels, restaurants and other establishments. Also here are the Kuanthan Temple and the 4th century Chang Quoc Pagoda. The lake is very popular with tourists.
