Hanoi

Hà Nội is the capital and second-largest city of Vietnam, with a population of around 5 million. Located along the right bank of the Red River, it was founded in 1010 as Thăng Long (“Ascending Dragon”) by Emperor Lý Thái Tổ, making it one of the oldest continuously inhabited capitals in Southeast Asia. The city was renamed Hà Nội (“Between Two Rivers”) in 1831 under the Nguyễn dynasty.

During the French colonial period, Hanoi served as the capital of French Indochina. The city was heavily bombed during the Vietnam War, particularly during the 1972 Christmas bombings. Today it serves as Vietnam’s political center while the larger Ho Chi Minh City serves as the economic engine of the country.