- Hanoi landmarks
- Religious buildings
- Hanoi museums
- Note to shopaholics
- Delicious points on the map
The history of Hanoi begins in 1010, when Emperor Li Thai To transferred the capital of the state Daikoviet to the banks of the Red River. Since then, the city has become the largest educational and cultural center in Vietnam, which is often referred to by tourist publications as a very attractive city for travelers in Southeast Asia. You can easily find where to go in Hanoi and what to see on its streets, because the Vietnamese capital has preserved many architectural monuments.
Hanoi landmarks
During a city sightseeing tour, guides usually show guests two sights that symbolize the connection of times for the people of Vietnam and are of particular value for representatives of all generations:
- The fortress in the capital of Vietnam exists in 1009, when its construction was started by representatives of the ruling dynasty of the Daikoviet state. Since then, a lot of water has flowed from the Dai River, the citadel was rebuilt many times, but the ruins of the royal palace of the emperor of the Li dynasty remained unchanged on its territory. The fortress is a complex of buildings dating from the 15th to the 16th centuries. The famous tower can be easily recognized by the national flag raised on it. It is often indicated in guidebooks as a symbol of the capital, and its height is more than 30 m. The Znamenny Tower is the youngest structure in the Hanoi Fortress. It appeared in 1812. The oldest architectural landmarks in the Hanoi citadel complex date back to the 11th century. Then the Kinthien Palace and the gate connecting it with the fortress were built.
- Leader and teacher Ho Chi Minh, beloved by millions of Vietnamese, rests after his death in a mausoleum designed by Moscow architect Isakovich. He also owns the honor of creating the Mausoleum on Red Square in the Russian capital. The Mausoleum of the Vietnamese Father of Nations is set in a garden where hundreds of species of local flora grow. The body of the deceased is housed in a glass sarcophagus. The mausoleum complex also includes a modest house where Ho Chi Minh spent the last years of his life, and a luxurious lotus-shaped palace with a memorial exposition.
If you love legends, you should go to the Lake of the Returned Sword in the center of Ho Chi Minh City. Tradition says that a turtle lived in the waters of the lake, which handed the sword to Emperor Le Loy. Having defeated the enemy, he became a national hero, and during the holiday in his honor, the turtle demanded that the weapon be returned to the sacred waters. The Ngonk Son Pagoda in the center of the lake contains the shells of turtles, one of which helped the emperor in the battle.
Religious buildings
Many iconic sites in Vietnam have a long history. Temples and pagodas, fortunately, survived in numerous wars and have received the status of protected cultural values today.
The One Pillar Pagoda or Chua-Mot-Kot was built during the reign of Emperor Li Thai Tong. Being childless, the ruler no longer hoped to get an heir, when he suddenly had a prophetic dream. Soon happiness came to the emperor's house already in reality, and the happy father ordered to erect a pagoda in gratitude for the wish that had come true. Chua-Mot-Kot stands in the middle of a pond with blooming lotuses on a concrete pillar that replaced teak. The most famous landmark of Hanoi is almost a thousand years old.
Boats depart daily from the Yen shipyard to the Midyk area. Here, on the banks of the Dai River in the mountains, there is another priceless pagoda for local believers, called Aromatnaya. It was built in the 17th century when Le Khi Tong ruled Vietnam. The emperor ordered to build a temple complex on the site of the former, in which, according to legend, Buddha once lived. Boats glide along the Dai River past the Dechin Pagoda, decorated with elephant sculptures, then the Heavenly Kitchen Pagoda, the Guanyin statue and several temples located on the banks of the picturesque pond appear.
Within the city limits there are several picturesque lakes, among which Lake Tay is especially popular with the townspeople. For guests of the capital, it is also of interest because around it you can find picturesque restaurants with local cuisine and entertainment venues for children and adults. And lovers of oriental architecture are in a hurry to Lake Tay, because on the island of Golden Fish in the very center of the reservoir back in the 6th century. a beautiful pagoda appeared, which has remained practically unchanged to this day. Changkuok was built by order of Emperor Li Nam De and for many centuries has been and remains a major religious center of the country. The pagoda stupa has eleven tiers, each of which is decorated with sculptures of Buddha.
The ancient temple complex of the 11th century, called the Temple of Literature, includes several pagodas, courtyards and sacred trees. It was founded by Li Thanh Tong, who dedicated the building to Confucius and ordered to build an exact copy of the complex in Qufu, the hometown of the philosopher and sage. For centuries, there was a university in the Temple of Literature, where the children of rich and important people studied science and religion. Their names can be read on the stone steles installed on the territory of the Temple of Literature.
Hanoi museums
Getting to know the city certainly includes visiting the Hanoi museums. For foreign tourists, the exhibitions of the three most popular are usually especially interesting.
The Army Museum displays the history of the Vietnamese Armed Forces. The large-scale exhibition appeared thanks to Ho Chi Minh. The collection occupies three dozen rooms, where more than 150 thousand various items are exhibited, one way or another related to the army. The stands display weapons and military equipment that belonged to both the Vietnamese army and the armed forces of countries that were its opponents in wars and combat operations. In the museum, you will get acquainted with the weapons and uniforms of the armies of France, China, the United States and the Soviet Union. The stands showcase authentic documents, maps and plans of military operations carried out in the country. The whole family should visit the Army Museum in Ho Chi Minh City: numerous combat vehicles, tanks and helicopters will undoubtedly interest both children and adults.
Being a protectorate of France for many years, Vietnam inherited from the Europeans many architectural objects that are now recognized as a national treasure. A special place in the list is occupied by the Hoalo prison, built by the French at the end of the 19th century. The name of the prison is translated from Vietnamese as "fiery furnace". During the existence of dungeons, many prisoners of war have visited them. Among them were the military and politicians who are very famous in the modern world. Today, Hoalo hosts an exhibition that tells about the past and demonstrates to the world the special importance of freedom and independence.
The country's ethnic diversity is presented in a museum that studies the cultural heritage of each of the peoples and nationalities in Vietnam. The building that houses the collection looks like a large replica of a Dong Shon drum. Within its walls are thousands of objects illustrating the peculiarities of the national culture: musical instruments and dishes, national costumes and ritual objects, weapons and household items, agricultural tools and furniture. The museum has recreated the dwellings of some ethnic groups inhabiting the territory of Vietnam.
Note to shopaholics
The most shopping area in Hanoi, where you can go for any kind of shopping, is called 36 streets. Each of them has shops in its own direction: selling silk or spices, dishes or jewelry with pearls. It is possible and necessary to bargain in shops, but, unlike the markets, prices on 36 streets are not too readily and not much lower.
Modern and civilized shopping can be found in the Vincom shopping center. Under the roofs of the three twin towers, absolutely everything that a person may need is sold: from rattan furniture to jewelry with precious stones.
Parkson department store is no less popular with residents and guests of the Vietnamese capital. In addition to silk products, jewelry, python and crocodile leather accessories, you can buy here products, spices and spices traditionally used in oriental cuisine.
The clothes and shoes of the coolest brands in Hanoi are sold at Trang Tien Plaza. The huge supermarket will delight fashionistas with the latest collections of designer houses, and gourmets - with a varied menu of restaurants gathered under its roof.
Delicious points on the map
It is best to continue your gastronomic acquaintance with the capital of Vietnam in the restaurants on the shores of the West Lake. One of the most popular is Sen Tay Ho. The establishment operates on the principle of a buffet, which presents hundreds of types of traditional Vietnamese dishes.
An ideal menu for lovers of exoticism will be offered to you at Highway4. You will find on its pages not only ostrich steak and buffalo kebab, but also fried grasshoppers with silkworms. All this splendor is offered to be washed down with rice wine.
The expensive Vietnamese restaurant Nam Phuong is famous for being located in an old French mansion, and the names of some of the dishes served in it remind of honored visitors. You will find the names of presidents and governors in the food list, and the size of the invoice will once again confirm that you dined in a high-class establishment.
The traditional bun cha dish is meatballs with herbs, special spices and rice noodles, best tasted at Bun Cha Hang Manh. The restaurant has existed in the same place for more than half a century, and its cuisine is also famous for the right broths and signature green papaya sauce.
If nostalgia suddenly took power over you and you unbearably wanted the usual food, the restaurant with the Slavic name "Budmo" will hurry to the rescue. It is located on the same Western Lake, and its menu contains a wide range of food familiar to any Russian person: cabbage soup and dumplings, Kiev cutlets and fried potatoes. Get ready to pay in full, because such a set of products for Vietnam is considered exotic and not cheap.
Lovers of French cuisine in Hanoi will not be disappointed either. The long-term presence of Europeans has left a significant mark on the culinary traditions of Hanoi.
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