![The Presidential Palace of Vietnam, located in the city of Hanoi, was built between 1900 and 1906 to house the French Governor-General of Indochina. It was constructed by Auguste Henri Vildieu, the official French architect for Vietnam. Like most French colonial architecture, the palace is pointedly European- the only visual cues that it is located in Vietnam at all are mango trees growing on the grounds. The striking yellow palace stands behind wrought iron gates flanked by sentry boxes. It incorporates elements of Italian Renaissance design, including: * aedicules * a formal piano nobile reached by a grand staircase * broken pediments * classical columns * quoins When Vietnam achieved independence in 1954, Ho Chi Minh refused to live in the grand structure for symbolic reasons, although he still received state guests there, and he eventually built a traditional Vietnamese stilt house and carp pond on the grounds. Today, Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum stands nearby and the Presidential Palace remains part of Hanoi's cultural core. The palace hosts government meetings. It is not open to the public, although one may walk around the grounds for a fee. [Wikipedia.org] | Hanoi in Vietnam](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fhumbo.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com%2Fplace-photo%2F5fa84490d2ea05c9538bc3a7%2FZ3ykxd-1l4_thumb.jpeg&w=3840&q=75)
The Vietnamese capital is a dizzying, intoxicating metropolis where ancient traditions and modern dynamism collide in a heady, spicy mix. From the frenetic streets of the Old Quarter, with its street food and chaotic markets, to the French colonial architecture and leafy boulevards of the city centre, Hanoi is a beguiling and constantly surprising city. Motorbikes whiz past ancient temples and noodle stalls, while a seemingly never-ending stream of scooters vie for space on the city’s clogged streets.Pause for a coffee at a pavement cafe and watch the world go by, then explore the warren of backstreets in the fascinating Dong Xuan Market. Sample some of the city’s fiery cuisine, and finish up with a relaxing drink on a street-side bar watching the world go by.
Hanoi
A megacity on the banks of the Red River.What people say about Hanoi
Hanoi is a bit tricky to review for me. I have been there a few times as a tourist, and I also worked for a company headquartered in Hanoi for 18 months which made me visit several times for work as well. I really like the food, with Northern style phở (noodle soup), fun drinks and desserts such as sữa chua nếp cẩm (sweet purple rice with yoghurt and ice), and my absolute favorite in all of Vietnam bún chả hà nội (grilled meatballs with rice noodles and pickled veggies). And even if it might not be the best beer in the world, one can't forget bia hơi (fresh beer) where a round for all your friends costs less than a bus ticket in Europe. The city definitely also has some beautiful parts with its lakes, narrow streets, and great historic buildings. But... I do find it a bit drab and cold overall. Especially when comparing it to Ho Chi Minh City which is vibrant and full of positive energy. I can't really explain why. I will be back. But perhaps mostly to finally visit Sapa and go kayaking in Ha Long Bay again.
0°Jan0°Feb0°Mar0°Apr0°May0°Jun0°Jul0°Aug0°Sep0°Oct0°Nov0°DecYou can expect temperatures of around NaN° Celsius in March during the day in Hanoi.