Hanoi << hah NOY >> (pop. 3,962,310) is the capital of Vietnam. The city lies in northern Vietnam on the west bank of the Red River about 55 miles (90 kilometers) from the Gulf of Tonkin. Second in economic importance to Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi is the traditional center of administration and culture in Vietnam.
The Old Quarter, the oldest part of Hanoi, is an area of narrow streets and tiny shops near the river. The area where French colonial officials lived when the French controlled Vietnam has wide boulevards and stately villas. Ba Dinh Square in the center of the city is the scene of large public ceremonies. The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, one of the city’s most famous landmarks, stands on the square. The preserved remains of the Vietnamese Communist leader Ho Chi Minh may be seen there. Other landmarks include the One Pillar Pagoda and a complex of buildings known as the Temple of Literature. Hanoi University of Science and Technology; National Economics University; and Vietnam National University, Hanoi, are the city’s largest institutions of higher learning.
Many of Hanoi’s people work for the government. The city’s main products include building materials, chemicals, electric motors, processed foods, and textiles.
Hanoi was the capital of Vietnam and known as Thang Long during most of the period from 1010 to 1802, when Hue became the capital. Hanoi received its present name in 1831. The French took over the city in 1882 and made it the administrative center of French Indochina in 1887. Hanoi became the capital of Communist North Vietnam in 1954, when the country was divided in two after the French were defeated.
When the United States began bombing North Vietnam in the mid-1960’s, during the Vietnam War, the government moved most factories out of Hanoi. The few industrial sites that remained suffered heavy damage from bombing in December 1972. The rest of the city was largely untouched. The war ended in 1975. North and South Vietnam were officially reunited in 1976 with Hanoi as the capital.
Since the late 1980’s, the population of Hanoi has grown rapidly. This growth has severely overtaxed the city’s ability to provide water, electric power, and other basic services. In August 2008, Hanoi’s area expanded to include parts of surrounding provinces. In 2010, Hanoi celebrated the 1,000th anniversary of its founding. The celebrations included an international fair, performances of traditional dance and music, parades, and fireworks.
