Travel guide: Hanoi

In Ha Noi, visitors will enjoy an incomparable combination of tradition, elegance and progress. The northern metropolis possesses a unique architecture of beautiful colonial vil¬las and streets lined with old trees. However, just as the rest of the country, its capital is undergoing major changes. Wide avenues and highways are being created, hotels and office buildings are also being built, and giv¬ing a whole new looks to the city. Noi Bai International Airport, 35km from the centre of Ha Noi, is one of the two biggest airports in the country. The airport is being modernized. Ha Noi means "the hinterland between the rivers" (Ha: river, Noi: interior). The portion of the Red River running in Ha Noi is approxi¬mately 160km long. Ha Noi also characteris¬tically contains many beautiful lakes, which are the lungs of the city, with their surround¬ing gardens and trees providing a vital source of energy. CLIMATE Ha Noi is situated in a tropical monsoon zone with two main seasons. During the dry sea¬son, which lasts from October to April, it is cold and there is very little rainfall, except from January to March, when the weather is still cold but there is some light rain. The wet season, from May to September, is hot with heavy rains and storms. The average annual temperature is 23.2°C (73.7°F) and the aver¬age annual rainfall is 1,800 mm (70.8 inches). The average temperature in winter is 17.2°C (62.9°F), but can rarely go down to 5°C (41°F). The average temperature in summer is 29.2°C (84.6°F), but can reach up to 39«C (1040F). ADMINISTRATIVE DISTRICTS After being adjusted the official border in August 2008, encompassing 18 outlying dis-tricts (Gia Lam, Dong Anh, Thanh Tri, Tu Liem, Soc Son, Ba Vi, Chuong My, Dan Phuong, Hoai Due, My Due, Phu Xuyen, PhucTho, Quoc Oai, Thach That, Thanh Oai, Thuong Tin, Ung Hoa and Me Linh, and one town of Son Tay; Ha Noi is also contains ten urban districts. Hoan Kiem District is the nerve centre of the city, the major trading zone and the sector of traditional handicrafts. The Old Quarter, a cul¬tural heritage area, is also located in this dis¬trict. Ba Dinh District includes the historic Ba Dinh Square and President Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum. Several Government depart¬ments, embassies and sites of interest are also located in this area. Dong Da District The name Dong Da origi¬nates from Dong Da Victory of Tay Son insur¬gent army against Qing invaders in spring j 1789. The district houses some famous cul- | tural and historical relics such as: Van Mieu | (Temple of Literature)- Quoc Tu Giam, ves¬tiges of Xa Tac Esplanade and Dai La Citadel, ; Boc Pagoda, Dong Da Mound and statue of King Quang Trung, Lang Pagoda, Bich Cau Temple, etc. Hai Ba Trung District, named after the Trung Sisters, has undergone major construction J work; many new buildings have appeared on the axis of Giai Phong Str. A university village has begun to take shape in the South of the i city, where the Ministry of Education and ■ Training, the Polytechnic University, University of Civil Engineering, and National I Economic University are located. Tay Ho District was established in October ! 1995, owing to the needs of developing the capital. This region is already famous for Nhat Tan Flower Village, Quang Ba Kumquat j Village, Nghi Tarn Decorative Plant Village, j and more than 20 historic sites listed as such j by the State. This is a tourism potential of Tay j Ho District. Thanh Xuan District, established in January j 1997, lies along Nguyen Trai Street. The Ha I Noi University, Architecture, Pedagogy, Music and Painting Colleges are located in this dis- [ trict. Cau Giay District was formed in August j 1997. It lies along Thang Long Highway to Noi Bai and contains many new schools and j research institutes. Long Bien District established in November | 2003 has Gia Lam Airport; military area; j many joint-venture industrial zones such as: high-tech industrial zone of Sai Dong B, j industrial zone of Sai Dong A...; works of economy, culture, technology, science; state and local factories. Hoang Mai District established at the same time with Long Bien District has over 50 cul¬tural, historical relics and many villages with famous traditional foods such as: Thanh Tri steamed rolled rice pancake (Thanh Tri Ward), Hoang Mai wine, Tu Ky rice vermicel¬li, Phap Van vermicelli and shellfish soup (Hoang Liet), Mo soya curd (Mai Dong Ward). In addition, wards of Vinh Hung and Linh Nam have villages growing flower and clean vegetable, ward of Yen So has Yen So fish vil¬lage. Ha Dong District established on December, 2008 on the base of the whole area and pop¬ulation of Ha Dong City. Ha Dong District is well-known by villages of Van Phuc silk, Da Sy forge and many historical relics such as: pagodas of Van Quan, Bia Ba La Khe, Trang Mau Luong; communal houses of La Khe, Cau Do... OLD QUARTER The Old Quarter is located north of Hoan Kiem Lake. In the past, each street used to be dedicated to one commercial activity. That is why a lot of streets name begin with the word Hang, meaning merchandise, followed by a word indicating a product or profession. Ma May Ancient House Located at 87 Ma May Street, north of Hoan Kiem Lake in the Old Quarter, the delightful house is worth visiting. It is one of rare ancient house still preserved in Ha Noi. The house was built at the end of the 19th century according to the structure of tradition¬al house. There is a small yard between buildings to have wind and light. The ground floor (facing street) used to selling goods, and the inner used for living and producing, and at the end is kitchen and toilet. On the second floor, the room - facing street used for wor-shipping and receiving guests, and the inside room used for bedrooms. After restoration many times, the house still kept old architec¬ture decorations of Ha Noi. The house is open from Monday to Friday, from 9am to 11.30am and from 2 to 5pm. Dong Xuan Market Among tens of markets in the capital, such as Mo, Horn, Cua Nam or Ngoc Ha, Dong Xuan is the biggest. It was founded in 1889 in the Dong Xuan Quarter. At first, it was an open- air mar¬ket, but it was later rebuilt with five iron arch¬es and a roof made of zinc-coated iron sheets. Located near the railway station, at the begin¬ning of Long Bien Bridge, by the Red River, Dong Xuan Market is a convenient place for goods from everywhere to converge. At this market, you can find almost any everyday goods. Dong Xuan Market is also the biggest wholesale market in the North. Today, although it has been expanded and renovat-ed to include three large, modern and spa¬cious floors, it has still kept its original facade architecture. Dong Xuan Market played a historical part since it was used as a glorious defence sys¬tem for the soldiers protecting Ha Noi from the French in 1946. It is open from 6am to 6pm every day. Ha Noi Cathedral Ha Noi Cathedral, also known as Saint Joseph's Cathedral, was inaugurated on Christmas Day, 1887, after two years of con¬struction. It was built on the site of the former Bao Thien Tower, which was famous in the ancient capital of Thang Long under the Ly Dynasty (11* and 12* centuries). Its design is inspired by the architecture of the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. Ha Noi Cathedral is open daily for mass from 5am to 7am and 5pm to 7pm. The entrance gate is at 40 Nha Chung St. Ha Noi Opera House The construction of the Ha Noi Opera House was started in 1901 and completed in 1911. It was modelled on the style of Paris Opera. It is the first opera house in Ha Noi that was built on a large scale and bears the architec¬tural styles of modern European opera hous¬es. The house is 87m long and 30m wide. The audience's room is about 566m2 and holds more than 900 seats. The ceiling is 30m high and in typically Greek style. The second floor houses many small compartments. The first and second floor has a balcony in the front and two staircases, which are very conven¬ient for going upstairs and downstairs. Behind the stage are working rooms, make-up rooms, the rehearsal room and the meeting hall. Ba Dinh Square Ba Dinh Square is a huge plaza composed of 240 squares of grass covering an area of 32,000m2. On the west side of the esplanade is President Ho Chi Minh's commemoration area where the Ho Chi Minh Museum and President Ho Chi Minh's Stilt House are located. President Ho Chi Minh Relic Site in the Presidential Palace President Ho Chi Minh Relic Site in the Presidential Palace is locat¬ed in Ngoc Ha Ward, Ba Dinh District. This relic site has been considered as one of the 10 special national relics (first batch) on August 12, 2009 signed by Vietnamese Prime Minister. Here in the site are 1,456 objects, with 759 ones on display. All relics, objects and docu¬ments are well preserved so that they remain true to their origin and the state they existed at the last days of the President Ho Chi Minh's life. Covering an area of more than 10ha, the site consists of houses, garden, lawn, fish pond, and pathways. The Wooden Stilt House is where President Ho Chi Minh lived and worked from mid-May 1958 to 1969. The stilt house was built from April 15 to May 17, 1958. The wooden tiled roof two-storey house overlooks a garden where scented flowers are planted. The house has a green fence of hibiscus plants, reminiscing an image of his house in Nghe An Province where he was born and grown up. Presently, more than 250 documents and objects made of various materials in the stilt house have been kept intact and well pre¬served to the state they were during President Ho Chi Minh's last days in life. Fish Pond located in the front of the stilt house covers more than 3,000m2, with the deepest point being 3m. President Ho Chi Minh visited the pond everyday after working hours to feed fish, mainly carp. Orchard covering more than 65,000m2 goes well with fish pond, and they create green-watery picturesque scenery for the place. The botany here is diverse with 1,271 individuals from 161 species of 54 families, including 36 species of fruit trees, 59 species of shady trees, and 67 species of flowers and bonsai trees. In the orchard, there are Xoai Road -where President Ho Chi Minh did morning exercise and had a walk after working hours in the afternoon and Gian hoa Phu Chu Tich which is considered the place as a special open-air living room for President Ho Chi Minh's meetings with dear guests, both local and foreign, on nice days. Apart from these, the relic site also exists House 54 - where President Ho Chi Minh lived and worked from December 1954 to mid-May 1958, House 67 - where President Ho worked from 1967 to 1969 and is where he stayed for medical treatment and passed away, a kitchen, a garage where two cars that the President used to drive are kept, the Presidential Palace, the Government's Office, and surrounding gardens. Currently, the Presidential Palace and the Government's Office remain as working places of the State. Opening time: all days except afternoon of Mondays and Fridays - Summer: 7h30 to 11h and 14h to 16h - Winter: 8h to 11 h and 13h30 to 16h President Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum After two years of construction, President Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum was officially inaugu¬rated on 29 August 1975. This project was the result of a close collaboration between engi¬neers from Viet Nam and the former Soviet Union in order to keep the remains of President Ho Chi Minh, a great patriot who was later conferred the title of "World Cultural Activist" in 1990 on the occasion of his cente¬nary birthday. The mausoleum is divided into three floors. The first floor is a ter¬raced stand exclusively used for grand meet organised at Ba Dinh Square The second floor is the centre of the mau¬soleum, where the remains of the president are kept in a chamber, accessible through a series of passages and flights of marble stairs. The upper floor is the roof. The facade of the upper floor bears the inscription "President Ho Chi Minh" in dark violet, pre¬cious stone. The mausoleum is open to the public on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. In summer, it is open from 7.30am to 10.30 am; in winter, from 8am to 11am. The hours are extended by 30 minutes on Sundays and holidays. The Mausoleum is usually closed from September 5 to December 10 for maintenance. Photography is not allowed inside the mausoleum. For reservation, contact the Board for Organising Homage Paying to President Ho Chi Minh at 5 Ngoc Ha St., Tel: 3825 5128. TEMPLES AND PAGODAS Van Mieu ■ Quoc Tu Giam Van Mieu - Quoc Tu Giam is a famous histor¬ical and cultural relic consisting of the Temple of Literature and Viet Nam's first university. The Temple of Literature was built in 1070 in honour of Confucius, his followers, and Chu Van An, a moral figure in Vietnamese educa¬tion. Quoc Tu Giam, or Viet Nam's first university, was built in 1076. It was the first educational school for royal family members, and it was later opened to talented students. Throughout its more than 700 years of activity, thousands of Vietnamese scholars graduated from this university. In 1482, Emperor Le Thanh Tong ordered the erection of stelae with inscrip¬tions of the names, places of birth, and achievements of the graduates who had taken examinations since 1442 to 1779. Especially, 82 stone stelae at Van Mieu have been recognised as World Documentary Heritage by UNESCO in March 2010. In 1483 Quoc Tu Giam was changed into Thai Hoc Vien (Higher Educational Institute). After decades of war and natural disasters, the for¬mer construction was completely destroyed. In preparation for the celebration of the 1000th anniversary of Thang Long (present day Ha Noi) another construction has been built following the model of the previous Thai Hoc Vien on the same ground. The work was started on July 13, 1999 and completed on October 10,2000, the day of 46* anniversary of Hanoi's liberation. With area of 1,530m2, the work includes the front hall, the back sanctuary, lean-tos on the left and on the right, the courtyard, and subsidiary struc¬tures. On March 11, 2003, Ha Noi People's Committee had statues of four cultural celebri¬ties begun to cast. They are King Ly Thanh Tong, King Ly Nhan Tong, King Le Thanh Tong and Chu Van An who founded Van Mieu -Quoc Tu Giam and developed Viet Nam's education. This site preserves historical vestiges of a 1,000-year-old civilization such as statues of Confucius and his disciples (Yan Hui, Zengshen, Zisi, Mencius), and ancient con¬structions such as Khue Van Pavilion, and Worshipping Hall. Van Mieu - Quoc Tu Giam is located on Van Mieu Street, 2km west of Hoan Kiem Lake. It is open Tuesday to Sunday from 8am to 11.30am and 1.30pm to 5pm. One Pillar Pagoda The original name of the One Pillar Pagoda was Dien Huu Pagoda, which literally means "long lasting happiness and good luck". The pagoda is located on Ong Ich Khiem St., in the western part of the Thang Long Citadel, and near Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum. It was first built in 1049, during the reign of Emperor Ly Thai Tong. According to legend, ageing Emperor Ly Thai Tong, who had no children, often went to pagodas to pray to Buddha for a son. One night, he dreamed that he was granted a private audience with Buddha. Buddha, who was seated on a lotus flower in a square-shaped lotus pond on the western side of Thang Long Citadel, gave the king a baby boy. Months later, when the queen gave birth to a male child, the Emperor ordered the construction of a pagoda supported by only one pillar to resemble the lotus seat of his dream in the honour of Buddha. The pagoda is open daily from 8am to 5pm. Entrance is free. Tran Quoc Pagoda Tran Quoc Pagoda, located on an islet in West Lake, is the one of the oldest pagodas in Viet Nam; its construction started in 541. Standing at one end of Thanh Nien Road, one can see the towers of the pagoda rising above the lake's surface. Inside, there is a precious statue of Sakyamuni Buddha entering Nirvana, which is a masterpiece of Vietnamese sculptural art. A stele dating from 1639 tells the story of this pagoda. It is open daily. Ngoc Son Temple Hoan Kiem Lake was already considered the most beautiful lake in the city when Ngoc Son Temple was built on Ngoc (Jade) Islet, in the northern part of the lake during the 19th century. It was dedicated to Van Xuong, once considered as the brightest star in Vietnamese literary and intellectual circles, and Tran Hung Dao, the national hero who led the Vietnamese people to victory over Mongol aggressors in the 13* century. The temple, as it is seen today, is attributed to the restoration efforts of Nguyen Van Sieu in 1865. Nguyen Van Sieu, a great Hanoian writer, had a large pen-shaped tower (Thap But) built at the entrance of the temple. On the upper part of the tower are three Chinese characters, Ta Thanh Thien, which mean "to write on the blue sky is to imply the height of a genuine and righteous person's strength and will." The temple is open daily from 8am to 5pm. Kim Lien Pagoda Kim Lien Pagoda was originally built on Nghi Tarn peninsula, on the bank of West Lake. Today it is located in Quang An Ward, Tay Ho District, Ha Noi. According to legend, during the 12* century (1128-1138), Princess Tu Hoa, daughter of King Ly Than Tong, led her royal representtives to this area where they cultivated muL berries and reared silkworms. The pagoda was later built in 1631. Formerly, it had the name Dai Bi, Dong Long, and Tu Hoa. In 1771 Lord Trinh restored the pagoda and changed its name to Kim Lien (Golden Lotus) part of the former Tu Hoa Palace of the Ly Dynasty. Kim Lien is composed of three pavilions, each of which has 2 roof layers and the appearance of being slightly curved and sup¬ple. Apart from its nice disposition, the pago¬da has a gate of sophisticated and intricate architecture. The origin architecture and decoration togeth¬er with the location of Kim Lien Pagoda gives visitors an opportunity to enjoy tranquillity and solitude. It is open daily. Quan So Pagoda Quan Su Pagoda, built in the 17* century, is located at 73 Quan Su Street. The Northern Buddhist Association chose Quan Su Pagoda as its meeting hall in 1934. In 1942, the pago-da was restored to its actual state, and since 1958, the Viet Nam Buddhist Association has had its head office at the pagoda. The pagoda opens daily from 7.30am to 11.30am and 1.30pm to 5.30 pm. Qoan Thanh Temple The three ancient Chinese characters at the top of the entrance of Quan Thanh Temple read "Tran Vu Quan", which means that the temple is dedicated to Huyen Thien Tran Vu, the God who guarded and administered the north of the country. Saint Tran Vu was both a Vietnamese legendary character (who assisted King An Duong Vuong in chasing away ghosts during the construction of Co Loa Citadel) and a Chinese legendary char¬acter (who guarded and administered the North). Quan Thanh Temple was built during the reign of Emperor Ly Thai To (1009-1028). Special attention should be paid to the black bronze statue of Saint Tran Vu, nearly 4 m in height and 4 tons in weight, was cast in 1677 located in the main hall. Also noticeable, a 1.5m high ancient bronze bell hangs at the top of the three-gate entrance. In the temple, a small black bronze statue of Old Trong, the chief artisan of the bronze casting team who made the bell and the giant statue of Saint Tran Vu. To commemorate the great contribu¬tions of their teacher, Old Trong's students cast his statue and placed it in the temple so that future generations would remember him. The Temple is located at the southern end of Duong Thanh Nien (Youth Road), near the intersection of Quan Thanh Str., and Duong Thanh Nien, 2km west of Hoan Kiem Lake. It is open daily. Hal Ba Trung Temple This temple is also called Dong Nhan Temple because it is located in Dong Nhan Ward in Hai Ba Trung District, 2km south of Hoan Kiem Lake. The temple was built in 1142, under the reign of Emperor Ly Anh Tong and was dedicated to the Trung Sisters, Trung Trac and Trung Nhi. Two statues made of clay are located at the inner sanctum of the tem¬ple. They are surrounded by statues of the 12 female generals who followed the two sisters in leading their army to defeat their aggres¬sors. From the 3"* to 6* days of the 2"d lunar month, there is a grand festival at the temple to commemorate the two national heroines. Tay Ho Temple Tay Ho was an ancient village of Thang Long, located to the east of West Lake. At the entrance of the village, there is a temple to worship Mother Lieu Hanh, who had an exquisite talent for playing music, singing, and writing poetry. Mother Lieu Hanh was so kind that she was raised as Thanh Mau (Saint Mother). Every year, on the 15* day of the 1st lunar month, many people come here, not only to worship Thanh Mau in the hope that she will offer them good things and good luck, but also to admire the beautiful landscape of the capital city. MUSEUMS Viet Nam History Museum The Viet Nam History Museum was founded in September 1958. Located behind the Ha Noi Opera House at N<>1 Trang Tien Street, the museum contains a great deal of valuable objects, which reflect all the periods of Vietnamese history. The museum is a beautiful architectural work. It provides an area of 2,000m2 for exhibition. On the ground floor are theme rooms: Prehistory, Viet Nam in the Time of National Building and the Tran Dynasty. The second floor features Viet Nam from the Ho Dynasty to the Nguyen Dynasty and contains a sec¬tion on Cham culture. Nearly 7,000 objects and documents depict vividly the long process of development of the Vietnamese community, its undaunted and heroic struggle for thousand years, from its early history up to the August Revolution in 1945. The system of computers installed on the second floor is intended for visitors to search for information effectively. The exhibits provide systematic, scientific and reliable information for those who want to understand and research on the history of Viet Nam. The museum is open daily from 8am to 4.30pm. Revolution Museum Established in August 1959, the Revolution Museum is situated at 216 Tran Quang Khai Street, Ha Noi. It has been designed into 29 showrooms, containing more than thousands of historical exhibits. The museum introduces Viet Nam - the land and the people from the middle 20* century up to now. The exhibition is divided into: - National liberation movements of the Vietnamese from 1858 to 1945 (from the 1st to the 9th showrooms) - 30 years of struggle against the invaders and protecting the National independence and unifying the country from 1945 to 1975 (from the 10* to the 24* showrooms) - Developing the economy from 1976 up to now. The collections of Viet Nam Economy from 1975 to 2000 are displayed in the room N°26, N"27. The present collections of the Vietnamese people and of the people in the world offered President Ho Chi Minh and the Viet Nam Communist Party (rooms N°28 and N«29). Military History Museum The History Military Museum, 10,000m2 in area, was founded on December 22,1958 at 28A Dien Bien Phu Street (Ha Noi). The con¬tent of the museum covers 6 periods: - The history of the Vietnamese nation and the birth of the Viet Nam People's Army. - The Vietnamese struggle against French colonialism. - The Vietnamese struggle against American imperialists. - The Viet Nam People's Army on the path to a regular modern army. - The People and the Army are oneness -they will be invincible. - Piece of weaponry displayed in the museum courtyard (airplanes, tanks, heavy artilleries, rockets, mortars, bombs, etc.) The History Military Museum is the concen¬trated embodiment of the spirit of the Vietnamese people "Nothing is more pre¬cious than independence and freedom." Viet Nam Fine Arts Museum In June 1966, house N066 on Nguyen Thai Hoc Street in Ba Dinh District, Ha Noi, was trans¬formed into the Viet Nam Fine Arts Museum. Two storey buildings are displayed the art works. The exhibition system is divided into 5 parts: - Fine arts of Prehistory: Consist of the objects from the Bronze Age and Iron Age - Ancient fine arts from the 11* to the 19* centuries: Consists of the objects of Ly, Tran, Le, Mac, Tay Son, and Nguyen Dynasties. ■ - Fine arts in the 20* century: Contemplate times fine arts (1925-1945) and modern fine arts (1945 up to now). - Folk painting - Traditional pottery and ceramics Viet Nam Fine Arts Museum is a lively histor¬ical treasure depicting the origins and evolu¬tion of Vietnamese fine arts. It is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 8am to 11.30am and 1.30pm to 4.30pm. Viet Nam Museum of Ethnology Located on Nguyen Van Huyen Road in Cau Giay District, west of city-centre, the Viet Nam Museum of Ethnology opened at the end of 1997. Since then, it has attracted the attention of visitors as well as ethnographers and researchers from all over the world. It contains more than 10,000 objects, 15,000 black and white photos and hundreds of video tapes and cassettes which depict all aspects of life, activities, customs, and habits of the 54 ethnic groups of Viet Nam. The Viet Nam Museum of Ethnology has successfully recreated the daily life together with the reli¬gious rituals and the symbolic festivals of each ethnic group in Viet Nam. Visitors have the opportunity to admire costumes, embroi¬dery as well as outside stilt houses and habi¬tats from the different groups. All displayed objects mingle and supplement one another to create a colourful and diversi¬fied picture of Vietnamese culture. An open-air exhibition in the museum's spacious and peaceful ground features ethnic houses from all over Viet Nam. The displayed object area is divided into 9 parts: - Introduction - Introduction of Viet (Kinh) - Introduction of Muong, Tho, Chut ethnic groups - The ethnic groups belong to the Tay, Thai, and Ka Dai Groups - The ethnic groups belong to the H'Mong-Dao Group, Tang Group and San Diu, Ngai ethnic Groups. - The ethnic groups belong to the Mon-Khmer Group - The ethnic groups belong to the Nam Dao - The ethnic groups: Cham, Hoa, Khmer - Exchange and mingle between the ethnic groups. It is open from 8.30am to 5.30pm, closes Monday and Tet holiday. Minibus 14 runs from Dinh Tien Hoang Str., to Nghia Tan stopover at the museum. Ho Chi Minh Museum This museum is located near Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum. It was completed on 19 May 1990 for the 100* anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's birthday. The museum is a four-story building covering a total area of 10,000m2 and designed in the shape of a lotus flower as a symbol of President Ho's noble character. The main showroom displays 117,274 docu¬ments, articles, pictures and exhibits illustrat¬ing the historical events that took place during President Ho Chi Minh's life, as well as impor-tant events that occurred in the rest of the world since the end of the 19* century. The museum contains other rooms such as a library, a large hall, meeting rooms and research rooms. Since its opening, the museum has wel¬comed millions of local and international visi¬tors. It is open daily from 8am to 11am and 1.30am to 4.30pm. Photography is forbidden. Cameras and bags must be left at the recep¬tion. Memorial House at 48 Hang Ngang Hang Ngang St. is in the old quarter of Ha Noi. At 48 Hang Ngang, in a small upstairs room, President Ho Chi Minh drafted the Declaration of Independence founding the Democratic Republic of Viet Nam. On 25* August 1945, after returning from Tan Trao, President Ho Chi Minh stayed here and chose this house to be one of his meeting places. He used the living room to receive the representatives of domestic public bodies, overseas Vietnamese and foreign visitors. Next to the living room is the small room, with simple furnishings (including a small wardrobe, a sofa, a round table and an arm¬chair) where Ho Chi Minh composed the Declaration of Independence. Everything has been kept and preserved as a museum. Hoa Lo Prison Museum Hoa Lo Prison is located on the street of the same name. The French colonialists used Hoa Lo to imprison many patriots and com¬munist prisoners. After peace was estab¬lished (1954), this site was used by the Vietnamese Government as a jail for criminal prisoners. In 1996, Hoa Lo Prison was moved to the suburbs of Ha Noi and a 26-floor tower used for a hotel and offices was built in this area. One building at the front and the gate of the prison were kept as a museum. Inside, you can find some photographs as well as a guil¬lotine used to carry out the death sentences of revolutionary soldiers. It was also a place to keep American Pilots during the anti US war in the North. The museum is open daily, except Monday, from 8am to 11.30am and 1.30pm to 4.30 pm. Wei* Nam Women's Museum Located in the centre of Ha Noi on Ly Thuong Kiet Str., the Viet Nam Women's Museum covers a 4,500m2 area planted with beautiful trees. It was open on October 20* 1995 on the occasion of 65 years' birthday of the Vietnamese Women's Association. Documents and objects are displayed and carefully preserved and maintained in this place, expressing the role of women in the process of the development of the Vietnamese nation. The Museum is also a place for cultural exchange for Vietnamese and international women with the goal of cre¬ating "equality, development, and peace". The exhibits are displayed on an area of 1,200 sq.m on two story buildings; the muse¬um organized around five main themes: - Vietnamese women in Vietnamese commu¬nity - The involvement of Vietnamese women in the fight for national independence and national construction - The Vietnamese Women's Association and its struggle to liberate women - The culture of Vietnamese women express¬es through traditional handicraft products. - Women costumes of the 54 Vietnamese eth¬nic groups. The museum is open daily except Monday, from 8am to 4pm. Ha Noi Museum Located on Pham Hung Street, Me Tri Commune, Tu Liem District, Ha Noi Museum has been regarded as the most modern work of art, architecture, culture among the Viet Nam's museums now. The museum was offi¬cially started constructing on May 19, 2008 and inaugurated on October 6, 2010. With total area of nearly 54,000m2, the museum is designed as an upside-down pyramid and includes four stories and two-story basement. The first floor displays models of columns that carved dragons in the Ly Dynasty, artifacts of Ly - Tran - Le dynasties, photos and science materials on Thang Long in Dai Viet period and antiques excavated from Imperial Citadel of Thang Long. The second floor is space for pre-Thang Long era artifacts with emphasis on Co Loa bronze drum and the pictures of three rounds of the Co Loa Citadel in An Duong Vuong time. The third floor displays antiques and the fourth floor is the exhibition on images of ancient Ha Noi. The opening time: from 8.30am to 5.30pm daily except Mondays. LAKES Hoan Kiem Lake Hoan Kiem Lake constitutes the core of Ha Noi. Its other name, Lake of the Restored Sword (Ho Guom), was derived from a leg¬end about Emperor Le Thai To, in which a large turtle came towards him while he was boating on the lake. The turtle grabbed his sword that had secured victory against the Ming aggressors and restored it to its place. Emperor Le Thai To named the lake after this episode. There are several rare relics around Hoan Kiem Lake. To the east is Hoa Phong Tower, and King Ly Thai To Statue; To the west is King Le Thai To Statue and his Memorial House; The north-east is Ba Kieu Temple, But Tower (pen-shaped tower), The Hue Bridge connecting with Ngoc Son Temple. West Lake (Ho Tay) West Lake and True Bach Lake are an attractive part of the city. The two lakes are separated by Thanh Nien Road, which is almost one kilo¬metre long. It is bordered by rows of willow and bang lang trees and is a favourite of young lovers. West Lake, also called Ho Tay, is the biggest lake in Ha Noi. Covering an area of 500ha in Tay Ho District, West Lake was created when the Red (Hong) River overflowed. West Lake was once a relax site for man¬darins and kings. Many palaces, including Thuy Hoa Palace, Ham Nguyen Palace,Tu Hoa Palace, and Ngoc Dam Palace were built on the banks of the lake. The 17km path around the lake leads to Nghi Tarn Flower Village, Nhat Tan Peach Garden, Kim Lien Pagoda and Tay Ho Temple, built in honour of Princess Lieu. Today, many hotels of all sizes can be found around the lake. West Lake is a very popular recreational place for everyone who comes to enjoy typi¬cal dishes such as Ho Tay shrimp cakes, Ho Tay snail noodles and Ho Tay fish. True Bach Lake True Bach Lake is separated from West Lake by Thanh Nien Road. In the 18* century, Lord Trinh Giang built a palace near the lake, called True Lam Institute. Later on, this insti¬tute became a place for banishing guilty ladies-in-waiting, who then had to weave silk cloth to support themselves. Their silk was very beautiful and famous all over the capital. The village was named True Silk Village, which is why the lake was called True Bach Lake. Along the lake, there are also many ancient monuments: Quan Thanh Temple is in the south-west, Chau Long Pagoda is in the east and Cau Nhi Temple is on a small island in the northern corner of the lake. PARKS Thong Nhat Park (old name: Lenin Park) Covering an area of more than 50ha, this park is one of the most spacious green areas in the city. In the park, there is a 7ha lake with Hoa Binh Islet at the centre, which is a meet¬ing place for storks and a recreational park where chess competitions and poem recita¬tions are held. There is a playground for chil¬dren with swings, trains, planes, etc. The park is open daily from early in the morn¬ing to late at night. Ha Noi Zoological Garden (Thu Le Zoo) Situated west of the city-centre and occupy¬ing an area of about 20ha, Thu Le Zoo is built in the shape of a flying dragon. It is divided into many sections, including reptiles, birds, wild animals, etc. Approximately 40 different species of animals inscribed in the Red Book of Viet Nam and given by foreign countries can also be seen at the zoo. Thu Le Zoo is already a member of the South East Asia Zoo Association and has relations with more than 30 zoos throughout the world. There are two gates to the zoo, one is on Kim Ma St., and the other is on Buoi Road. It is open everyday from 7am to 5pm. Ho Tay Water Park The Ho Tay Water Park covers an area of 35,560m2, comprising five entertainment sec¬tions. The park put into operation several entertainment amenities. Among them are seven sliding lanes with the average height of 12m, of which two are high-speed lanes ever installed in Viet Nam with the height of 14.5m; a three-meter wave-making pool can bring about waves as high as 1.2m. Adventurers should not miss out on the Tibetan suspen¬sion bridge, the hair-raising swinging ropes, and the 3.5-meter diving pool where they can dive using specific devices or spring-boards. The 0.6-meter massage pool ensures a relaxed feeling. Children can go to specially-designed pools, sliding lanes and water games. The 4.5-meter "lazy river" spans 450m, flowing past five bridges. The New Sun Park stands adjacent to the Water Park. Sitting on the 60-meter swing, one gets a panoramic view of Ha Noi. The New Sun Park also boasts a three-dimension cinema, new-generation electronic games, and a supermarket. There is a sports com¬plex where tourists can play tennis, bad¬minton, ping-pong, and billiards. Fascinating extras include a pond for fishing, a mini golf court, as well as bumping cars and a roller coaster. As the most modern and exciting theme park in Ha Noi, the Ho Tay Water Park has received millions of visitors so far. AROUND HA NOI Co Loa Citadel &An Duong Vuong Temple Co Loa Citadel is perhaps the most ancient citadel in Viet Nam. It was built by Thuc An Duong Vuong in the 3rd century BC to be the capital of Au Lac Kingdom (the name of Viet Nam at the time). It was built according to a helical design and was surrounded by three ramparts and a deep moat. The remains of the citadel are located on the same site where archaeologists have found tens of thousands of bronze arrowheads, iron axes, and animal bones. Close to the citadel are the remains of Co Loa Communal House, a temple devoted to the cult of Princess My Chau and An Duong Vuong, a King who loved his daughter with all his heart but, lacking vig¬ilance, left Co Loa and lost both his family and his country. Co Loa Citadel is located 18km north of the centre of Ha Noi in Co Loa Village, Dong Anh District. Perfume Pagoda (Chua Huong) The Perfume Pagoda is situated in My Due District, approximately 70km south-west of Ha Noi. To go there, travellers must cross Ha Dong, then Van Dinh, to reach Ben Due Wharf. From there, a boat takes them for a scenic 3km ride on the Yen Vy Stream. The landscape displays high mountains, deep forests and streams that harmoniously inter¬mingle with the rice fields. Huong Tich Grotto is the most beautiful and famous of the grottoes in the area. It was dis¬covered more than 2,000 years ago. When Lord Trinh Sam visited the grotto in the 18* century, he wrote five Chinese characters on the entrance in calligraphy: Nam Thien De Nhat Dong, meaning "the most beautiful grot¬to under the Southern skies". In the middle of the grotto is a statue of Bodhisattva Kuanin. Surrounding the statue are stalagmites resembling golden trees, silver trees, cocoons, hillocks, and a group of nine drag¬ons. Many Vietnamese visit the Perfume Pagoda to implore Buddha for happiness and good luck, as well as to immerse themselves in the beauties of nature. The Perfume Pagoda Festival begins after the New Year's festivities and lasts until the 3rd lunar month. During that period, between three and four hundred thou¬sand people, from children to 60 and 70 year-old pilgrims, visit the Perfume Pagoda. Thay and Tay Phuong Pagodas Thay Pagoda belongs to Sai Son Village in Quoc Oai District, 25km south-west of Ha Noi. The pagoda was built on the slopes of Sai Son Mountain. Water puppet shows are held on Long Tri Lake, where a bridge with a tile roof built in 1602 remains. As for Tay Phuong Pagoda, it was built in the 8* century and it is located on Cau Lau Mountain, about 35km south-west of Ha Noi. More than 200 stone steps must be climbed before reaching the pagoda where one can admire hundreds of large statues made of lacquered and gilded wood, featuring among the best specimens of Vietnamese traditional statuary art.