HA NOI

Land area: 921km2

Population: 2,672,122

Ethnic groups: Viet (Kinh)

Geography:

Hanoi lies in the Red River Delta. It borders the hilly provinces of Vinh Phu and Bac Thai to the north, the provinces of Ha Bac and Hai Hung to the east, and the province of Ha Tay to the south and the province of Ha Tay and Vinh Phu to the west. The city of Hanoi is situated from longitude 20o25' North and from Latitude 105o15' to 106o03' East. It is situated in a tropical area having a strong monsoon influence. Hanoi is endowed with all the four seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter. Climate in Hanoi can be divided into two distinct seasons: the dry and the rainy seasons. The dry season. The dry season starts from October to April. This is the period characterized by spells of cold wind and drizzles. The rainy season starts in May and ends in September, there are many torrential rains and fierce sunshine in this period. The autumn season is in August, September and October. Climate in Autumn in Hanoi is characterized by a clear, blue sky and gentle spells of breeze. However at the close of the autumn in the city there are short spells of little cold which are eventually followed by long spells of severe cold and drizzles that make the sky gloomy all day long. That is the beginning of the winter time.
Temperature:

Average temperature in winter time is registered at 17o 2C. The lowest temperature at the same period is recorded at 5o C. Average temperature in summer time is recorded at 29o2C. The highest temperature at the same period is registered at 40oC. Average temperature in a year is recorded at 23o 2C. Annual average of rainfall is registered at 1,800 millimeters.
Rivers:

Hanoi is situated on an ancient soil area deposited from time immemorial with layer after layer of alluvium carried down from the northern mountain ranges by the Red River and its tributaries. That is the reason why Hanoi's feel as closely connected to their Red River as children do towards their mothers. In the old days the Red River has been given another common name: Cai (Mother) River. The name of Hanoi (Exterior side of a river) has derived from an ancient language which is literally known as a land area located in the inner side the Red River. It is not that the city is inside the river but rather it is embraced by about 100 kilometers of the Red river dykes. The dyke portion in Hanoi accounts for about one fifth of the total river dykes flanking on either side of the Red River that runs along the Vietnamese territory on a stretch of more than 500 kilometers.

Other rivers that run through Hanoi include the Duong, the Cau, the Ca Lo, the Day, the Nhue, the Tich, the To Lich and the Kim Nguu rivers. The last two river, To Lich and Kim Nguu, have been regarded as an inexhaustible sources of inspiration for many Vietnamese literature writers and poems who lived in the capital city in the old days. These two rivers were considered the most Poetic and romantic bodies of water that flows through the city.
At present the two rivers, To Lich and Kim Nguu, are still partly seen in the city. Their former grandeur has long lost their literature charm because they have to give way to urbanization development scheme. Currently these rivers are regarded merely as the city's main open ditch drainage system. However, the government has had in mind a massive upgrading scheme to return the two historic rivers their original beauty
Lakes:

Hanoi has long been considered as the city of romantic lakes. Currently there are 18 lakes with water surface areas totaling more than 2,200 hectares. Those beautiful lakes which have come down into Vietnam's history of prose and verse literature include Ho Hoan Kiem (Sabre Restored Lake), Ho Tay (West Lake), Ho Truc Bach (White Bamboo Lake), Thien Quang Lake, Ho Bay Mau (Bay Mau Lake), Ho Thu Le (Thu Le Lake), and Ho Giang Vo (Martial Art Training Lake). These lakes are considered the giant lungs of the city which is covered with parks and shade trees grown along main boulevards to make the city more close to nature.
ADMINISTRATIVE AREAS

Hanoi has six inner precincts: Hoan Kiem, Ba Dinh, Hai Ba Trung, Dong Da, Tay Ho, Cau Giay, Thanh Xuan
Hoan Kiem Precinct:

This is regarded as the business district, the central administrative part of the city. Hoan Kiem precinct is the place where are located the city council locally known as the Municipal People's Committee, big trade centers, and the city's ancient trade and occupation area regionally reputed as the "ancient Hanoi with 36 guild streets."
Ba Dinh Precinct:

This is the area where are located most of the government offices. Ba Dinh Precinct is also famous for the location of the Mausoleum of the late President Ho Chi Minh, next to the historic Ba Dinh Square and many historic and cultural sites of the capital city.
Dong Da Precinct:

This area is mostly marked for residential areas and universities. In the last two or three decades, there have emerged several big residential areas. They are government-built apartment buildings locating in Trung Tu, Giang Vo, Thanh Xuan, Yen Lang areas. Most of the tenants are government employees. Along Nguyen Trai Road leading to National Highway 6 to the southwest of the city are located several major universities and colleges. This area, about seven kilometers from the city's center, houses the Hanoi Foreign Languages Institute, the institute of Architecture, the National University formerly known as the Hanoi University, and several others.
Hai Ba Trung Precinct:

This is also an area mostly used for residential and educational projects. Many projects have been built along the National Highway 1A. There has been some sort of infrastructure for the forming of a national university village on the southern approach to the city. Currently there are the head office of the Vietnam's Ministry of Education and Training, The National Polytechnics Institute, the Institute of Construction and the National Institute of Economics.



And Tay Ho, Cau Giay and Thanh Xuan are the three new founded precincts.
There are five suburban districts:

Tu Liem, Thanh Tri, Gia Lam, Dong Anh and Soc Son. The current construction site of the Nghi Tam tourist resort center on the bank of Ho Tay is in Tu Liem district.



Ha Noi is the capital of Socialist Republic of Vietnam as well as the center of culture, economy, trade, and tourism. Lying in Red River Delta, Hanoi is an ancient city that was built in 1010 by Ly Cong Uan Dynasty. Originally named as Thang Long (Ascending Dragon), it was then renamed Dong Do (Eastern Capital) and now Ha Noi (Inner side of river).

Today, Ha Noi still preserves many ancient architectural buildings including the areas of ancient streets, whose names are attached closely with the trade and occupation of its inhabitants, and more than 600 pagodas. Apart from these, there are many modern buildings, such as President Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum, Viet Xo Friendship Palace... and a system of different museums and theatres. Part of the city’s area is lakes covering 10ha (24.7 acres) with the largest ones being West Lake, Hoan Kiem Lake, and Bay Mau Lake.

Ha Noi is well known for many types of food. The most impressive food is “Pho” (a kind of rice noodle with a tasty broth), “Cha ca La Vong” (rice noodle served with fried trout), “Nem” (spring roll), “Bun Cha” (warm rice noodle served with roasted pork), and “Banh Goi” (a cake that looks like a pillow).

Ha Noi is also home to various traditional handicraft articles. They are rattan products; pottery ware; sculptured and carved products; silk items. Many of these have become the most impressive types of souvenirs from Vietnam.

Arriving in Ha Noi, you have chance to visit One Pillar Pagoda, Temple of Literature (the first University of Vietnam), Hanoi Cathedral, Quan Thanh Temple, Tran Quoc Pagoda, Thong Nhat Park, and Thu Le Park, Cua Bac Church - or go on an excursion to tourist spots around Hanoi: Co Loa Citadel, Huong Pagoda, and Tay Phuong Pagoda.




In Vietnam's history, Ha Noi has always been the political, cultural, scientific-technological center, as well as a great economic and political center of the whole country.

In the process of national renovation and development, Ha Noi has attracted much investment, contributing to the development of the national economy in general, and of the North Delta Region (Ha Noi-Hai Phong-Quang Ninh) in particular.

HA NAM

Area: 826,66 km2
Population: 791,618
Provincial capital: Phu Ly Town
Ethnic groups: Viet (Kinh), Tay, Hoa

Ha Nam is situated south of the Red River Delta, the south gate of Hanoi Capital. The diversified terrain is mainly made up of low-lying marshy plains, mountainous and semi-mountainous regions.

Ha Nam has a tropical climate, which is divided into two seasons: dry and wet. The average annual temperature is 23oC (73.4oF).

Ha Nam is a place of age-old culture, and has diversified folk culture. The area is small but Ha Nam has quite many historical remains and famous landscapes such as: Truc Temple and Ngu Dong (Five Grottos) Mountain, Cam (Forbidden) Mountain, , Ba Danh Pagoda, Luon Cave, and Cam Kha Phong Cavern.

HA GIANG

Land area: 7,831km2

Population: 602, 684

Provincial capital: Ha Giang Town
Ethnic groups: Viet (Kinh), Tay, Nung, Dao, San Diu, H’Mong, Cao Lan.

Ha Giang is a northern border province of Vietnam. It has many mid-air mounts and streams. The terrain of Ha Giang is rather complicated and can be divided into three regions. The northern stony mountain region lies in the north with temperate climate. This region has two seasons a year rainy and dry with the average temperature of about 24-280C. Sometimes it falls to 50C below zero in winter. The western soil mountain region in the block of the upper stream of the Chay River is large with narrow valleys and springs. The low region consists of hills, home to Ha Giang Township with the annual average temperature of 21-230C.



The mountains and forests cover almost all the area of Ha Giang. The primitive forests have many medicinal herbs and rare, scarce animals, which make the province an ideal place for eco-tourism. Ha Giang also has other tourist attractions such as charming, superb Dong Van Plateau, attractive Khau Vai Love Market.

Economic potentialities: cattle breeding, agriculture.

GIA LAI

Area: 16,212 km2
Population: 971,920
Provincial capital: Pleiku City
Ethnic groups: Viet(Kinh) Gia Rai , Ba Na , Xo Dang, Gie Trieng...

Gia Lai is a mountainous province north of Tay Nguyen, 800m (2624 ft.) above sea level. Gia Lai has the tropical monsoon highland climate with two seasons: rain season and dry season.

Gia Lai is the source of many river systems that run to coastal areas and Cambodia. Gia Lai is also the home of many lakes, waterfalls, whirlpools, mountain passes, and pure forests that shape a magnificent, poetic beauty. Some of those are Kon Ka King and Kon Cha Rang tropical forest; Yaly; Xung Khoeng and Phu Cuong Falls; “Dream” boat harbor; immense and tranquil “Sea Lake” on the mountain; and Ham Rong Mount.

Based on the agricultural, forest, and mineral resource, there are favorable prospects for industries in construction materials and agricultural and wood processing on medium to large scale.

With the on the spot source of limestone. It is possible to set up a cement factory with a capacity of between 200.000 and 300,000 tons per year to serve the whole Northern Highland area and the northeastern provinces of Cambodia. The available quantity of granite abundant in color, can be processed for export.
The local clay is good enough for brick and tile kilns - with beating tunnels of medium scale to meet the increasing construction needs of the locality. The enormous capacity of wood guarantees the availability of materials within the province and wood imported from Cambodia and Laos is available in the long term for producing and processing woods and rattan and wicker goods. High quality consumer and industrial products are manufactured from latex. Coffee is processed for export. Also, there is ongoing processing of sugar cane, vegetable oil, manioc, and fruit and animal meat. Once location and capacity are confirmed, mine exploitation can take place along with development of local industries. In 1998, the construction industry increase is 14.5% and 2.28 % in 1999.

DONG THAP

Area: 3,276km2

Population: 1,564, 977

Provincial capital: Cao Lanh, Sa Dec Town

Ethnic groups: Viet (Kinh), Khmer, Cham, Chinese.

The province of Dong Thap is 160km (99 miles) south-west of Ho Chi Minh City. It has an interlacing system of rivers, canals, ponds, and lakes, which make it easy to access by waterway. Dong Thap is known as the rice basket of Vietnam that produces food and many valuable agricultural products.

Dong Thap Province is also home to various religions with many festivals taken yearly. There are several historical places here, including the Tomb of Junior Doctor Nguyen Sinh Sac- father of late President Ho Chi Minh; Tam Nong village that breeds different snakes and land birds; and flower gardens of Tan Qui Dong and Chau Thanh districts.

Economic potentialities: agriculture, trade, fishery.