Hanoi capital

Hanoi, capital of Vietnam since the 11th century dazzles visitors with its unique blend of oriental lifestyle, French colonial architecture, tree-lined boulevards and peaceful lakes. Still retaining a charming air from its colonial days, visitors are often impressed with the quietness and subtle beauty of Hanoi.

The Temple of Literature (Van Mieu-Quoc Tu Giam)

Van Mieu-Quoc Tu Giam is a rare example of well-preserved traditional Vietnamese architecture, which consisting of the Temple of Literature and Vietnam’s first university. The Temple of Literature (Van Mieu) was built in 1070 in honour of Confucius, his followers, and Chu Van An, a moral figure in Vietnamese education. Quoc Tu Giam, or Vietnam's first university, was established here in 1076. 

The Temple of Literature is made up of five separate courtyard divided by walls. The central pathways were for the King. The walkways on one side were for the administrative mandarins and those on the other side were for military mandarins. The most precious artifacts are the 82 steles, each one sits on a stone tortoise, arrayed to either side of the third enclosure

Ho Chi Minh’s stilt house is his residence and office from 1958 until his death in 1969. Near Uncle Ho’s house is the Presidential Palace, which was built in 1906 as the Palace of the Governor General Indochina, and now is an administrative office of the Government.


Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum is where the remains of Ho Chi MInh are kept. The Mausoleum was constructed between 1973 and 1975, on the foundations of the old rostrum in Ba Dinh Square where President Ho Chi Minh used to chair national meetings. Every day, many visitors come here to honour Ho Chi Minh.

Ho Chi Minh Museum is the huge cement structure next to Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. The museum is designed in the shape of a lotus flower, as a symbol of President Ho’s noble character. The museum displays many kinds of documents, articles, and pictures... illustrating for President Ho Chi Minh’s activities and other important historical events of the world.

One Pillar Pagoda was built in 1049 by the Emperor Ly Thai Tong after the description of a dream of his, in which the Goddess of Mercy (Quan The Am Bo Tat) while seated on a lotus flower, handed him a male child gratitude. The one pillar Pagoda is designed in the shape of a lotus blooming in a square water tank. The Pagoda located near Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum.

Tran Quoc Pagoda is on the shore of West Lake. It was constructed in the 6th century and is the oldest pagoda in Hanoi.

Hoan Kiem Lake Legend has it that in the mid-15th century, Emperor Ly Thai To had a magical sword given by Heaven. After driving the Chinese out of Vietnam, one day while boating out, a giant golden tortoise emerging, it grabbed the sword and disappeared into the depths of the lake. The tortoise restored the word to its divine owner. 

That is why the lake named as Lake of the Restored Sword or Hoan Kiem Lake and the tiny Pagoda in the middle of the lake called Tortoise Pagoda or Thap Rua. Nowadays, occasionally tortoise still emerges on the surface of the water and then disappears.

Ngoc Son Temple was built on an island in the northern part of Hoan Kiem Lake in the 19th century. The temple is dedicated to Van Suong (one of the bright stars in Vietnam’s literary); General Tran Hung Dao (who led Vietnamese people to defeat the Nguyen aggressors. In 1864, Nguyen Van Sieu-a great writer renovated the temple. He had a large pen-shape obelisk, called Thap But, on the left of the gate. Ngoc Son temple is reached via the red painted, wooden The Huc Bridge (Rising Sun)

Quan Thanh Temple is situated in the West Lake area. It is one of the Four Guards of Old Thang Long. The temple is dedicated to Huyen Thien Tran Vo-the God guarded the north of the country. The Temple is also named Tran Vo Temple. Quan Thanh Temple was built during the reign of King Ly Thai To (1010-1028).

St Joseph Cathedral was inaugurated on Christmas Day 1886, after two-year construction. The Cathedral is noteworthy for its square towers, elaborate altar and stained glass windows. A ritual ceremony dedicated to Jesus Christ is held here every year on March 19.

Army Museum was formerly the French expeditionary barracks. It contains many objects and documents related to the Vietnamese Army. The displays include weapons, maps, objects and models of the Dien Bien Phu Campaign in 1954 and Ho Chi Minh Campaign ended in 1975. Outside, some heavy weapons captured from enemy forces are represented alongside Soviet and Chinese weapons.

Hanoi Flag Tower (Cot Co Hanoi) is next to the Army Museum. It was built in 1894 and used to be an observation and communication station between headquarter and adjacent military posts of the French troops. This hexagonal tower was fortunate not to be destroyed by the French administration between 1894 and 1897.

History Museum preserves a large number of valuable artefacts from various historical periods, including some from the Palaeolithic and the Neolithic, the development of Vietnam’s cultural from the late Neolithic Age to the Early Iron Age, the history of Vietnam through various dynasties.

Vietnam Fine Arts Museum display approximately 10,000 works, objects, restored articles, pottery, pictures and paintings... through various eras, from Neolithic Age, Bronze Age until now.

Vietnam Museum of Ethnology presents the deferent cultures of the 54 ethnic groups of Vietnam. It’s collection including about 25,000 objects, photographic and audio-visual resources. The museum is also a scientific research centre of the cultural and historical heritage of Vietnam’s ethnic groups.