HA NOI

HA NOI
	Land area: 921km2 Population: 2,672,122 Ethnic groups: Viet (Kinh)
Geography: Hanoi lies in the Red River Delta. It borders the hilly provinces of Vinh Phu and Bac Thai to the north, the provinces of Ha Bac and Hai Hung to the east, and the province of Ha Tay to the south and the province of Ha Tay and Vinh Phu to the west.  The city of Hanoi is situated from longitude 20o25' North and from Latitude 105o15' to 106o03' East. It is situated in a tropical area having a strong monsoon influence. Hanoi is endowed with all the four seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter. Climate in Hanoi can be divided into two distinct seasons: the dry and the rainy seasons. The dry season. The dry season starts from October to April. This is the period characterized by spells of cold wind and drizzles. The rainy season starts in May and ends in September, there are many torrential rains and fierce sunshine in this period. The autumn season is in August, September and October. Climate in Autumn in Hanoi is characterized by a clear, blue sky and gentle spells of breeze. However at the close of the autumn in the city there are short spells of little cold which are eventually followed by long spells of severe cold and drizzles that make the sky gloomy all day long. That is the beginning of the winter time. Temperature:  Average temperature in winter time is registered at 17o 2C. The lowest temperature at the same period is recorded at 5o C. Average temperature in summer time is recorded at 29o2C. The highest temperature at the same period is registered at 40oC. Average temperature in a year is recorded at 23o 2C. Annual average of rainfall is registered at 1,800 millimeters.  Rivers:  Hanoi is situated on an ancient soil area deposited from time immemorial with layer after layer of alluvium carried down from the northern mountain ranges by the Red River and its tributaries. That is the reason why Hanoi's feel as closely connected to their Red River as children do towards their mothers. In the old days the Red River has been given another common name: Cai (Mother) River. The name of Hanoi (Exterior side of a river) has derived from an ancient language which is literally known as a land area located in the inner side the Red River. It is not that the city is inside the river but rather it is embraced by about 100 kilometers of the Red river dykes. The dyke portion in Hanoi accounts for about one fifth of the total river dykes flanking on either side of the Red River that runs along the Vietnamese territory on a stretch of more than 500 kilometers. Other rivers that run through Hanoi include the Duong, the Cau, the Ca Lo, the Day, the Nhue, the Tich, the To Lich and the Kim Nguu rivers. The last two river, To Lich and Kim Nguu, have been regarded as an inexhaustible sources of inspiration for many Vietnamese literature writers and poems who lived in the capital city in the old days. These two rivers were considered the most Poetic and romantic bodies of water that flows through the city.  At present the two rivers, To Lich and Kim Nguu, are still partly seen in the city. Their former grandeur has long lost their literature charm because they have to give way to urbanization development scheme. Currently these rivers are regarded merely as the city's main open ditch drainage system. However, the government has had in mind a massive upgrading scheme to return the two historic rivers their original beauty  Lakes:  Hanoi has long been considered as the city of romantic lakes. Currently there are 18 lakes with water surface areas totaling more than 2,200 hectares. Those beautiful lakes which have come down into Vietnam's history of prose and verse literature include Ho Hoan Kiem (Sabre Restored Lake), Ho Tay (West Lake), Ho Truc Bach (White Bamboo Lake), Thien Quang Lake, Ho Bay Mau (Bay Mau Lake), Ho Thu Le (Thu Le Lake), and Ho Giang Vo (Martial Art Training Lake). These lakes are considered the giant lungs of the city which is covered with parks and shade trees grown along main boulevards to make the city more close to nature. ADMINISTRATIVE AREAS Hanoi has six inner precincts: Hoan Kiem, Ba Dinh, Hai Ba Trung, Dong Da, Tay Ho, Cau Giay, Thanh Xuan Hoan Kiem Precinct: This is regarded as the business district, the central administrative part of the city. Hoan Kiem precinct is the place where are located the city council locally known as the Municipal People's Committee, big trade centers, and the city's ancient trade and occupation area regionally reputed as the "ancient Hanoi with 36 guild streets." Ba Dinh Precinct: This is the area where are located most of the government offices. Ba Dinh Precinct is also famous for the location of the Mausoleum of the late President Ho Chi Minh, next to the historic Ba Dinh Square and many historic and cultural sites of the capital city. Dong Da Precinct: This area is mostly marked for residential areas and universities. In the last two or three decades, there have emerged several big residential areas. They are government-built apartment buildings locating in Trung Tu, Giang Vo, Thanh Xuan, Yen Lang areas. Most of the tenants are government employees. Along Nguyen Trai Road leading to National Highway 6 to the southwest of the city are located several major universities and colleges. This area, about seven kilometers from the city's center, houses the Hanoi Foreign Languages Institute, the institute of Architecture, the National University formerly known as the Hanoi University, and several others. Hai Ba Trung Precinct: This is also an area mostly used for residential and educational projects. Many projects have been built along the National Highway 1A. There has been some sort of infrastructure for the forming of a national university village on the southern approach to the city. Currently there are the head office of the Vietnam's Ministry of Education and Training, The National Polytechnics Institute, the Institute of Construction and the National Institute of Economics.   And Tay Ho, Cau Giay and Thanh Xuan are the three new founded precincts. There are five suburban districts: Tu Liem, Thanh Tri, Gia Lam, Dong Anh and Soc Son. The current construction site of the Nghi Tam tourist resort center on the bank of Ho Tay is in Tu Liem district.   Ha Noi is the capital of Socialist Republic of Vietnam as well as the center of culture, economy, trade, and tourism. Lying in Red River Delta, Hanoi is an ancient city that was built in 1010 by Ly Cong Uan Dynasty. Originally named as Thang Long (Ascending Dragon), it was then renamed Dong Do (Eastern Capital) and now Ha Noi (Inner side of river). Today, Ha Noi still preserves many ancient architectural buildings including the areas of ancient streets, whose names are attached closely with the trade and occupation of its inhabitants, and more than 600 pagodas. Apart from these, there are many modern buildings, such as President Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum, Viet Xo Friendship Palace... and a system of different museums and theatres. Part of the city's area is lakes covering 10ha (24.7 acres) with the largest ones being West Lake, Hoan Kiem Lake, and Bay Mau Lake.   Ha Noi is well known for many types of food. The most impressive food is "Pho" (a kind of rice noodle with a tasty broth), "Cha ca La Vong" (rice noodle served with fried trout), "Nem" (spring roll), "Bun Cha" (warm rice noodle served with roasted pork), and "Banh Goi" (a cake that looks like a pillow).   Ha Noi is also home to various traditional handicraft articles. They are rattan products; pottery ware; sculptured and carved products; silk items. Many of these have become the most impressive types of souvenirs from Vietnam.  Arriving in Ha Noi, you have chance to visit One Pillar Pagoda, Temple of Literature (the first University of Vietnam), Hanoi Cathedral, Quan Thanh Temple, Tran Quoc Pagoda, Thong Nhat Park, and Thu Le Park, Cua Bac Church - or go on an excursion to tourist spots around Hanoi: Co Loa Citadel, Huong Pagoda, and Tay Phuong Pagoda.    In Vietnam's history, Ha Noi has always been the political, cultural, scientific-technological center, as well as a great economic and political center of the whole country. In the process of national renovation and development, Ha Noi has attracted much investment, contributing to the development of the national economy in general, and of the North Delta Region (Ha Noi-Hai Phong-Quang Ninh) in particular.