Hanoi - capital of Vietnam
Over the past ten years the number of tourists heading to Vietnam has increased steadily, and there is considerable development of the coastal regions famous for their beautiful beaches, and interesting boat tours.
On the Red River, Hanoi, the capital, is also the cultural center of Vietnam. It has a wonderfully preserved Old Quarter, which is near Hoan Kiem Lake. This area has a lot of artisan trades, including a number of shops selling silk goods. The area has a number of eateries where you can get traditional Vietnamese food, such as delicious sticky rice cakes, and fish dishes.
Hanoi has a large number of temples and pagodas, and is a marvelous combination of old and modern.
There are still many fine examples of French colonial architecture, such as The Grand Opera House, The State Bank of Vietnam, The Presidential Palace, the Cathedrale Saint-Joseph, and Hanoi University. The French influence is also evident in the many tree lined boulevards, such as Phan Dinh Phung Street.
Other interesting places to visit are The Temple of Literature, the One Pillar Pagoda, and the Flag Tower of Hanoi.
There are a fair number of interesting museums; including The Vietnamese National History Museum, The National Museum of Ethnology, The National Museum of Fine Arts and The Revolution Museum.
There is plenty of budget priced accommodation to be found in Hanoi, from reasonably priced hotels and guest houses, to hostel-type accommodation. With plenty of good, but inexpensive, places to get a good meal, it should be feasible to keep a visit to Hanoi well within budget.
