Hanoi

Ho Guom Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam.

Hanoi is located in the heart of the Red River Delta. It is encompassed by Thái Nguyên, Vĩnh Phúc to the north, Hòa Bình and Hà Nam to the south, Bắc Giang, Bắc Ninh and Hưng Yên Provinces to the east, Hòa Bình and Phú Thọ to the west.

Hanoi lies between latitudes 20° 25’ and 21° 23’N, and longitudes 105° 15’ and 106° 03’E. Hà Nội is situated in a tropical monsoon zone with two main seasons. During the dry season, which lasts from October to April, it is cold and there is very little rainfall, except from January to March, when the weather is still cold but there is some light rain. The wet season, from May to September, is hot with heavy rains and storms. From August to October, it is considered as Autumn of Hanoi. This is the most beautiful time in Hanoi with blue and clear sky, cool wind.

Average winter temperature is 17.20°C (sometimes it may go down to 2.70°C). Average summer is 29.20°C (sometimes it may go up to 42.80°C). The average annual temperature: is 23.20°C, and the average annual rainfall is 1800 mm.

Hanoi is the city of beautiful lakes. The famous lakes are the Hoan Kiem Lake (Sword Lake), West Lake, Truc Bach, Thien Quang, Bay Mau, Thu Le, Lake Vo... They are as green lungs of the city, with gardens, giving the city energy and freshness.

General Info

Area: 3.324,92 sq. km
Population: 6,232,900 habitants (as of August 2008)
Administrative divisions:
Ten urban districts: Hoàn Kiếm, Ba Đình, Đống Đa, Hai Bà Trưng, Tây Hồ, Thanh Xuân, Cầu Giấy, Long Biên, Hoàng Mai and Hà Đông.
One town: Sơn Tây
18 rural districts: Đông Anh, Sóc Sơn, Thanh Trì, Từ Liêm, Gia Lâm, Ba Vì, Chương Mỹ, Đan Phượng, Hoài Đức, Mỹ Đức, Phú Xuyên, Phú Thọ, Quốc Oai, Thạch Thất, Thanh Oai, Thường Tín, Ứng Hòa and Mê Linh.
Ethnic groups: Việt (Kinh), Hoa, Mường, Tày, Dao...

History

Hà Nội is a sacred land of Việt Nam. In the 3rd century BC, Cổ Loa (actually belonging to Đông Anh District) was chosen as the capital of the Âu Lạc Nation of Thục An Dương Vương (the King Thục).

Hà Nội later became the core of the resistance movements against the Northern invasions.

Located in the middle of the Red River Delta, the town has gradually expanded to become a very populous and rich residential center. At different periods, Hà Nội had been selected as the capital city of Việt Nam under the Northern domination. In the autumn of Canh Tuất lunar years (1010), Lý Thái Tổ, the founder of the Lý Dynasty (1010-1225), decided to transfer the capital from Hoa Lư to Đại La, and so he re-capitalized it Thăng Long (Soaring Dragon). The year 1010 then became a historical date for Hà Nội and for the whole country in general. For about a thousand years, the capital was called Thăng Long, then changing to Đông Đô, Đông Kinh, and finally to Hà Nội, in 1831. This sacred piece of land thereafter continued to be the theater of many fateful events.

Culture

Traditional Festivals
Co Loa Temple Festival, from 6th to 16th of the First Month of Vietnamese Calendar (it is often in the middle of February or the first days of March) to commemorate Thuc Phan An Duong Vuong.

Phu Dong Festival, from 9th to 12th of the Fourth Month of Vietnamese Calendar, about in the middle of May, or beginning of June to hold a worship of Saint Giong.

Thay Pagoda Festival, the procession of Tu Dao Hanh’s worshiping tablet takes place on the 7th day of the Third Month of Vietnamese Calendar

Dong Da Festival held annually by the 5th day of Vietnamese New Year, to celebrate the victory of the Emperor Quang Trung against Chinese aggression.

Dong Nhan Temple Festival, from 3rd to 6th of the Second Month of Vietnamese Calendar, to commemorate the Hai Ba Trung, the first queens of Vietnam, who defeated the Chinese aggression in the first century.

Le Mat Village Festival, from 23rd of the Third Month of Vietnamese Calendar.

Trieu Khuc Village Festival, from 10th to 12th of the First Month of Vietnamese Calendar, to commemorate King Phung Hung, who defeated the Chinese aggression.

The rice cooking Contest of Thi Cam Village, from 8th of the First Month of Vietnamese Calendar.

Huong Pagoda Festival, from 15th of the Second Month of Vietnamese Calendar.

Chem Festival, from 15th of the Fifth Month of Vietnamese Calendar.

Soc Son Temple Festival, from 6th of the First Month of Vietnamese Calendar.

Lang Festival, from 7th of the Third Month of Vietnamese Calendar.

Chess Festival, from 6th to 9th of the First Month of Vietnamese Calendar.