Vietnam
/ Hanoi / The City
Hanoi, Vietnam's
capital, lies on the banks of the Red River, some
100 kilometres from its mouth. Human settlements at the place
date back as far as the 3rd century B.C.
In 1010
Hanoi, at that time known by the name of Thang Long,
became capital of the first Vietnamese dynasty independent from
the Chinese. The city received its present name, Hanoi, only in
1831. However, at that time not Hanoi but Hué was
the capital of the Vietnamese empire.
In 1882 Hanoi
was conquered by a French expedition. In 1883 France forced
the then uncolonialized North of the Vietnamese empire to accept
the status of a French protectorate. The French administratively
divided the country into the colony Cochin China
(in the South) and the protectorates Annam (central
Vietnam) and Tonkin (North Vietnam). Hanoi became
the capital of the protectorate Tonkin.
Vast parts
of present-day Hanoi were built during the French colonial occupation.
With its broad boulevards and a French-inspired architecture
the city has a noticeable structural charm.
The French
abandoned Hanoi after their defeat at Dien Bien Phu
and the division of Vietnam into two separate states according
to the Geneva Treaty signed on July 20, 1954. Ho Chi Minh
made Hanoi the capital of North Vietnam and initially concentrated
on the expansion of the city's industry.
During the
US bombardments of North Vietnam from March 1965 to October
1968 the authorities evacuated 75 % of Hanoi's population. After
the end of the bombardments the city again grew rapidly. Today
the population of Hanoi counts more than 3 million.
Nevertheless,
the city does not seem as crowded as Ho Chi Minh City, the former
Saigon. And even though Hanoi is the political capital of the
country, Ho Chi Minh City definitely is ahead economically.
Bus to Vientiane at the Hanoi Nam Ngoc bus station
Another Hanoi Vientiane bus all are second hand imports from Korea
Buses between Hanoi and Vientiane are typically registered in Laos
Hanoi Vientiane buses often carry lots of merchandize
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