Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, is the most famous and fascinating city of the North of Vietnam, which you will definitely visit during your trip. Compared to Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi continues to try and retain the traditional Vietnamese culture in all the nooks and crannies of the city and so you get a more authentic feel while staying here. Most parts of Vietnam are reachable from Hanoi as you have road, rail and air connections. Everything from agricultural fields to centuries-old monuments, lakes, rivers, religious buildings, museums, lines of communication, universities, malls, all have can be found here. Get ready to immerse yourself in the rich history of this city dating back at least 1,000 years with Egg Ventures! Here are 10 interesting facts about Hanoi that will interest you:
1. Long Bien Bridge in Hanoi
Hanoi's Long Bien Bridge connecting Hoan Kiem and Long Bien was designed by Alexandre Gustave Eiffel. This is the man who designed the Eiffel Tower in Paris and the Statue of Liberty in America. The bridge is 2,290m long and this is the first bridge to cross the Red River. Long Bien Bridge is considered a historical witness, and is a favorite destination of many tourists when visiting Hanoi today.
Source: Internet
2. The name of the capital Hanoi
Hanoi, literally 'city within rivers' was built on the banks of the Red River. Built on the lowland between rivers, Hanoi keeps traces of the many rivers that flow around the city and form lakes inside the city. Some of the most popular lakes are Hoan Kiem Lake, West Lake, Thien Quang Lake, Truc Bach Lake, Bay Mau Lake, and Thu Le Lake. These lakes are quiet places to visit when you are in Hanoi to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. An interesting fact about Hanoi, even locals often call it the 'city of lakes'.
3. Hanoi is the center of Vietnamese cuisine
As the saying goes, you really get to know the history and culture of a city when you enjoy the food there. Different from Southern and Central Vietnamese dishes, Hanoi's dishes have an impeccable taste, not sour, sweet or spicy like other regions across the country. Considering the profound history that Hanoi has experienced, Hanoi's cuisine is certainly a true reflection of Vietnam. Famous Vietnamese dishes found in this city include Pho Hanoi, Banh Duc, Bun Cha (which former US presidents Obama and Anthony Bourdain shared while in Hanoi), Pho cuon and Bun Thang . You must try traditional Hanoi dishes while you are there to experience the best Vietnamese food.
Source: Internet
4. Traffic in Hanoi
Hanoi traffic is chaotic and noisy but still very interesting. This is something you won't see anywhere else. Motorcycles running on the road do not obey any traffic rules and 'signals' and 'walkways' are words that are not in the dictionary of Hanoians. You will always be advised to look both ways before crossing the street in this city, just keep your head up and then pray to heaven a bike won't hit you. As the saying goes: "If you can get through the rush hour Hanoi traffic, you can go anywhere in life".
5. Hanoi has the largest ceramic painting in the world
The Hanoi ceramic painting is a 4km long painting made on the wall of the dike system. An idea suggested by art and culture journalist Nguyen Thu Thuy, this project started in 2007, taking advantage of the dull dike wall, turning it into Vietnam's most distinctive work of art. Awarded the Guinness World Record for the largest ceramic painting in the world. This is a picture that reflects the rich history, culture and vibrancy of Hanoi over the years. More than 600 people including Vietnamese and foreign artists, craftsmen, children have collaborated to use their ceramics and artistic skills to turn this wall into a colorful creation of Hanoi. .
Source: Internet
6. Hanoi has many French architecture
Hanoi is home to many glorious French architectures in the form of monuments, cafes, churches and more. Catholicism, a belief brought by the French to Vietnam, many Vietnamese still follow Catholicism. And today you can see those chapters of Hanoi's history in these beautiful architectures. Hanoi Opera House, Cathedral, Presidential Palace, Long Bien Bridge and Vietnam National Museum of History are just a few of the many buildings where you will find influences of French architecture. These are also some of the most famous tourist attractions in Hanoi today.
7. Hanoi 36 streets
Hanoi 36 streets is a phrase often mentioned in poetry, proverbs or daily stories of Vietnamese people. In the past, to make it easier to remember, the streets here were named after the items that were traded on that street. Hang Bac Street sells silverware, Hang Thiec sells tin, Hang Fan sells fans, etc. Nowadays, these streets no longer only deal in such a product. However, there are still some streets that keep their traditions such as Hang Ma street, Thuoc Bac street, etc.
8. Railway village
Railway hamlet is the name for a small hamlet, with trains running through residential areas at a very close distance. If there is a signal that the train is coming, everyone will quickly pack up. After the train passes, everything will return to normal. The railway village has been introduced on tourist sites and foreign newspapers. This is considered a unique feature of Hanoi as well as the check-in point of many tourists when coming to Hanoi. Although this is a popular tourist destination, the authorities decided to close the railway cafe in October 2019 to ensure the safety of both residents and visitors.
9. Hanoi has 12 flower seasons
Every month, Hanoi will have a flower blooming, and especially going into music. Musician Giang Son composed the song "Hanoi 12 seasons of flowers" to express this beauty of the capital Hanoi. In January, the capital is bursting with peach blossoms. By February, the purple color of the banyan flower is flooded all over the street. March is the month of white succulents, April lilies, then summer comes in May with red phoenix flowers, purple mausoleum.
Source: Internet
10. Flag raising and lowering ceremony every day
Visitors to Hanoi can witness the flag raising and flag lowering ceremony at 6 am and 9 pm daily, in front of the mausoleum of President Ho Chi Minh. A solemn atmosphere enveloped Ba Dinh square when the loudspeaker sounded to announce the upcoming ceremony. Many people who are walking for exercise also gather in neat lines to watch this solemn ceremony.
Above are some of the most interesting facts about Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. What are you waiting for, pack your bags and head to this city rich in history, rich culture, great food, nightlife and all that is beautiful. Book a trip to the capital with Save Extra at: https://bit.ly/3gR1Wsn