According to Thach Lam, a famous Vietnamese writer: “The French have Paris, the English have London, the Chinese have Shanghai. In books or newspapers, these cities are described passionately and with sincere love“. And for the Vietnamese, their pride is Hanoi, the capital, considered “the Paris of Asia”.
Social contrasts in Hanoi
Hanoi is one of the country’s two largest economic, political, social, cultural, and educational centers; it is also the perfect blend of antiquity and modernity, of the past, the present, and the future.
The city is located in the northeast of the country, on the banks of the Red River, and approximately 1,760 km from the country’s other major hub, Ho Chi Minh City. This is where most of the population and a large share of foreign investment are concentrated.
Hanoi is home to an ancient culture—quite literally—as it carries more than 1,000 years of history on its shoulders. In 1010, Emperor Lý Thái Tổ, of the Lý dynasty, had his new capital built on this site, naming it Thăng Long (“soaring dragon”), and it kept that name until 1831, when it was changed to Hanói (“city between rivers”). In any case, the old name “Thăng Long” has remained deeply rooted in local folklore and is still used as the city’s literary and poetic name, while “Hanói” remains the official administrative designation.
An emperor who gave everything for Vietnam
The history of Hanoi cannot be understood without that of Emperor Lý Thái Tổ, who, at the beginning of the 11th century, was concerned about the threat of invasion from the Chinese empire. As he walked along the Hoan Kiem River, a turtle appeared and offered him a magical sword that would help the emperor defend his kingdom and put an end to the attempted invasion. The war lasted ten years until, finally, he achieved victory. As a sign of gratitude, he returned to Hoan Kiem Lake to give the magical sword back to the turtle and established Hanoi as the new capital of the Đại Việt kingdom (the former name of Vietnam). The legend of Lý Thái Tổ remains alive at Ngoc Son Temple, built as a tribute to the turtle. In addition, Hoan Kiem Lake is known as the “Lake of the Returned Sword”.
Besides Hoan Kiem Lake, it is probably difficult to find any city in the world with such a large number of rivers and lakes. Seven rivers run through the city and there are more than 40 lakes, of which Tay Ho (“West”) Lake, Truc Bach Lake, and the aforementioned Hoan Kiem are the best known.
The perfect blend of chaos and tranquility. A must-visit city that will not leave you indifferent.
Would you like to get to know the “Paris of Asia”? Let us accompany you and discover the city’s highlights in our post Get to Know Hanoi in Depth.
