Explore the ancient city of Hanoi, Vietnam and discover its rich history. Visit the iconic Hoan Kiem Lake, the bustling Old Quarter, and the Temple of Literature. Learn about the city's past and present, from its days as a French colony to
Hanoi is the capital and second-most populous municipality of Vietnam. It encompasses an area of 3,358.6 km2 (1,296.8 mi2), and as of 2025 has a population of 8,807,523. Hanoi had the second-highest gross regional domestic product of all Vietnamese provinces and municipalities at US$48 billion in 2023, behind Ho Chi Minh City. It hosts 78 foreign embassies, the headquarters of the Vietnam People's Army (VPA), its Vietnam National University system, and other governmental organizations. Hanoi has 18.7 million domestic and international visitors in 2022. It hosts the Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Hoàn Kiếm Lake, West Lake, and Ba Vì National Park near the outskirts of the municipality. Hanoi's urban area has architectural styles, including French colonial architecture, brutalist apartments and disorganized alleys and tube houses stemming from the city's growth in the 20th century.