Hanoi is the economic, political and cultural center of Vietnam with many unique and interesting facts that you may have never heard of.

US Defence Secretary Arrives in Hanoi for Official Visit to Vietnam

GrabVietnam Pauses All Services in Hanoi

Stuck Inside? Take a Virtual Walk in Hanoi

Tran Quoc Pagoda in Hanoi. Photo: thespiritbusiness

As the economic, political and cultural center of the country, Hanoi has a history of more than 1,000 years and a harmonious beauty that's a mix between the modern and ancient. Visitors come here not only to visit historical monuments and works, but also to enjoy rich cuisine and learn interesting things about the city.

The largest cable-stayed bridge in Vietnam

From Noi Bai International Airport to the city center, visitors will cross Nhat Tan Bridge, the largest cable-stayed bridge in Vietnam. The bridge was inaugurated in 2015, with five rhombus-shaped towers representing five historical gates. The bridge has a total length of nearly 3.8 kilometers, a width of 33.2 meters with 6 cable-stayed spans. In 2017, the bridge was installed with a new lighting system with 450 lights, which can change color depending on the day and week.

Nhat Tan Bridge glows at night. Photo: VnExpress

The oldest temple in the city

Tran Quoc Pagoda is located on a peninsula east of West Lake, in Tay Ho district. The temple was built during the Ly Nam De period (541-547) with the name "Khai Quoc." The pagoda has been restored and repaired many times, and has the architectural style of the periods, most recently in 2010 to celebrate the 1000th anniversary of Thang Long. The structure of the pagoda consists of many layers, with three main ones: Tien Duong, Thieu Huong and Thuong Dien, connected in the shape of the word Cong, according to the rules of Buddhist temples. The highlight is the tower garden, with many ancient towers dating back to the 18th century.

Tran Quoc Pagoda in Hanoi. Photo: Vietair

Up to now, the temple is still known as "the most beautiful landscape in the period". This place has also been praised by international media as one of the most beautiful religious buildings in the world, seen from a distance like a lotus flower.

The shortest street in Hanoi

Hoan Kiem Lake Street is more than 50 meters long, connecting Cau Go street with Dinh Tien Hoang, overlooking Hoan Kiem Lake. Because it is so short, many visitors to the city think that the street is just an unnamed shortcut. However, this place is famous for dried beef salad shops, sidewalk rice dumpling cakes and souvenir shops.

Bustling snacking spot for tourists before Covid-19. Video: VnExpress

The largest square in Vietnam

Ba Dinh Square is located on Hung Vuong Street, in front of Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. It has a campus of 320 meters long and 100 meters wide, with many grass squares representing the mats spread on the communal house yard in the old Vietnamese village, interspersed with a 1.4-meter-wide path.

Here, on September 2, 1945, President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence, giving birth to the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. Over the years, the square has always been a place that Vietnamese people and international tourists look forward to visiting. Here, visitors can also watch the flag raising and lowering ceremony at 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. daily.

The flag raising ceremony is a national ceremony performed every 6 a.m. in front of the mausoleum of President Ho Chi Minh. Photo: VnExpress

The only turtle tower in Vietnam

Turtle Tower is located on a natural land island about 350 square meters in Hoan Kiem Lake. According to many records, the tower was built during the reign of King Le Thanh Tong, but there was no trace left in the Nguyen Dynasty and was rebuilt in 1883. Therefore, the tower's architecture has a combination of European style, with two-storey Gothic roller shutters, and Vietnamese architecture in the curved roof.

Hoan Kiem Lake on an autumn morning. Photo: VnExpress

The turtle tower and many relics around Hoan Kiem lake such as Ngoc Son temple, and the Huc bridge are considered symbols of the city, which domestic and foreign tourists must definitely visit when coming here.

" "

Rosie Nguyen