One Thousand Years of History in Hanoi

Hanoiis the second largest city in Vietnam (after Ho Chi Minh City) and is currently the country’s capital city. With a population inching upwards towards 10 million residents and a long history of distinction as the capital city of various political configurations of the country called simply “Vietnam” today, the city celebrated its 1000^th year anniversary in October of 2010. If you are planning a trip to visit Hanoi, whether by taking advantage of a vacation package or through a self-planned, self-guided tour, it can be helpful to do some research before you arrive so you can maximize the time you spend there.

The city was Vietnam’s most pivotal center of politics and government for approximately 800 years, and during that time cultivated the expansion of a wealth of culture, history, art and cuisine that dates back to the first time when people were known to have inhabited the area – 3000 B.C. Depending on when you arrive, you may encounter hot and humid summery weather, or a surprisingly dry and temperate winter climate. Because the climate itself is considered subtropical, be prepared for rain as well; Hanoi gets an average of 66 inches of rainfall per year, although most of that happens during a relatively brief period from May through September annually.

The Temple of Literature

As you are planning your Hanoi excursion, you may want your first stop to be the Temple of Literature. This temple is 1,000 years old. This also means it marks the anniversary of Hanoi’s foundation as the major city it was at that time still yet to be. The Temple of Literature is a literal monument to the value of education and the arts, and is also Vietnam’s oldest university. There are five courtyards and two sections to the Temple of Literature – a main area where most students went and a single courtyard that was formerly reserved for trained scholars who were known as “mandarins.” One interesting fact about the temple is that it is only standing today because of dedicated reconstruction and renovation efforts. Ongoing conflicts in Vietnam decimated the structure on several occasions, but what you will see today reflects much of the original look and feel of the building and courtyards.

Hoan Kiem Lake

Two more not-to-be-missed attractions in Hanoi are conveniently located near to one another, so you can make a historical day of it that will include nature, shopping, sightseeing and sampling the local cuisine. You can begin at Hoan Kiem Lake, which functions in much the same way for Hanoi residents as Central Park does for residents of Manhattan, New York. The lake is a popular destination for engagement and bridal portraits, which often happen side-by-side with the devotional practices of the faithful in the nearby Ngoc Son Temple and fitness enthusiasts practicing martial arts on the green banks that surround the lake. From there, you can walk a short ways to Hanoi’s Old Quarter, where you can find eager vendors who want to introduce you to Hanoi’s local cuisine and curiosities, travel services if you need them, and charming small streets that can start to seem like a maze if you aren’t watching where you are going carefully!

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

If you have some hankering to see remnants of Hanoi’s political involvement in years (and centuries) past, then no trip to Hanoi is complete without a stop at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, a giant Romanesque structure that, it is said, Ho Chi Minh himself would have loathed, but the people of Vietnam insisted upon. Ho Chi Minh’s body lies inside in a glass case and you can pay your respects each morning, as long as you are willing to follow the strict dress code and no-photography rules.

Hanoi Hilton

Your next stop on the political tour will be Hoa Lo Prison, a name which literally translates to mean “stove.” It is better known today as the “Hanoi Hilton,” a nickname given by American POWs during their incarceration that, unhappily, stuck. It is here that Senator John McCain was retained as a POWs along with the troops under his command and his flight suit is still on display as a tourist attraction in the prison/museum. Interestingly, Hanoi can thank the French for the construction of Hoa Lo Prison and while much of the structure has been torn down, what remains is a continual reminder of the period when the French occupied the city.

Ahn Cara Tran was born and raised in Hanoi, then spent several years working as a cruise ship singer.

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