In Vietnamese language, Ha Noi is always written separately: "Ha" which means "river" (Red River) and "Noi" meaning "inner". But before it got its present name, this capital city of Vietnam has undergone the complicated history filled with stories for thousand years. After proclaiming independence from China in the 1010, Ha Noi, then known as "Thang Long", was established as the capital of Vietnam under the first Dynasty of Ly. The city was so-named after the legend telling of the appearance of a golden dragon flying up from the Red River before the king, hence its name "Thang Long" meaning the "Ascendance of Dragon". Throughout the Ly, Tran and Le Dynasties ruling over Vietnam, Ha Noi was developed as capital teemed with splendid palaces and temples until it was left abandoned when the capital was moved to Hue in 1831. It was then when the name of Ha Noi was used to call the city on the bank of the Red River.
Under the French Occupation, Ha Noi became the center of Indo-China. Large parts of the present-Ha Noi was what the French has left: the broad, shady boulevards as well as gracefully French-styled architecture, creating charming atmosphere of the colonial past and making Ha Noi distinct from other Asian capitals. Alongside the European architectural works, the historical vestiges since ancient times are also well preserved, enhancing its characteristic beauty despite a great devastation during the wartimes. Ha Noi city is composed of Old Quarter and the French Quarter. Between the streets there lie intertwined many lakes, the largest ones are Hoan Kiem Lake, West Lake, and Truc Bach Lake. All of them are lined with roads under the verdant foliage, providing romantic ambiance to the city.
Production of traditional handicrafts is still active in Ha Noi such as bronze mounding, silver craving, lacquer, and embroidery. Ha Noi is also then the center of arts.
Ha Noi, although the capital, still retains its generally ambling pace amidst the sleepy atmosphere if compare to the more bustling Ho Chi Minh. For better or worse, Ha Noi deserves all rights to be Vietnam's capital due to its rich culture accumulated along the passage of time which defines best what Vietnam is.
Major attractions in Ha Noi

Ho Hoan Kiem Lake or the Restored Sword Lake
Lying in the heart of the Old Quarter, Ho Hoan Kiem Lake embraces the miraculous legend of the city. Legend goes that on the occasion of King Le Loi's relaxation trip by sampan on the lake after the victory over Chinese invasion, a Golden Tortoise emerged to take back a holy sword given to the king by the God to protect the country against the enemy, and then it disappeared into the lake; hence its name. In the middle of the lake, the Thap Rua (The Tortoise Tower) stands on an islet and becomes the symbol of Ha Noi. Around the lake, the pleasant sight of local people, who come jogging and doing their traditional exercise, eating ice cream or relaxing under the shade of trees dotted on the lake's bank, proves well the simple happiness of Ha Noi people.

Ngoc Son Temple
Also known as the "Jade Mountain Temple", the temple is situated not far from the Tortoise Tower, and can be reached by a red painted wooden bridge called, The Huc Bridge or the Rising Sun Bridge. Ngoc Son Temple is built in the 19th century, dedicated to General Tran Hung Dao, a hero who fought against Mongolian invasion in the 13th century.

The Temple of Literature
The temple is constructed in traditional Vietnamese architecture in 1070, dedicated to Confucian cult which broke the Buddhist monopoly in education; the temple was then regarded as the site of the first university of Vietnam. Throughout its 900 years of its history, thousands of Vietnamese elites graduated from this university. On the temple's grounds, there are dominantly Vietnamese structures such as Khue Van Pavilion which was served as the meeting points of scholars in the past, the Worshipping Hall as well as the statute of Confucius.

One Pillar Pagoda
One Pillar Pagoda was built by the Emperor Ly Thai Tong in 1049 in order to thank the Goddess of Mercy for giving him a son. It was built of wood on a single stone pillar, designed to resemble a lotus blossom which is a symbol of purity.

Historical Museum
Formerly the French Far East School, the museum now houses an extensive collection of objects of pre-historical period and of the beginning of national history. There are exhibits of Vietnam history from the beginning until now.

Fine Arts Museum
The Fine Arts Museum gathers a large collection of prestigious artifacts of Vietnam including intricate sculptures, paintings, lacquerware, ceramics and other traditional Vietnamese arts.

Army Museum
There are the war vestiges as well as the weapons of China, Soviet, French and the Unite States displayed in the museum. There are also exhibitions representing stories of Vietnam wars in different aspects.

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
The construction of the mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh started in 1973 despite the fact that his willing requested cremation. The mausoleum was built on the site where Ho Chi Minh read his manifestation of Vietnam's independence on 2 September 1945, the same day of his death 24 years later. His body is well preserved in a glass sarcophagus. The site is one in Ha Noi that should not be missed.

Ho Chi Mihn's Residence
Situated behind the mausoleum, a wooden house built on stilt was where Uncle Ho used to live between 1958 and 1969. The house was built in Vietnam's ethnic minority style and has been preserved just as Ho Chi Mihn left it.

Dong Xuan Market
This is the most vibrant area of Ha Noi city for a number of shops with various kinds of goods are clustered here. Situated north of the Old Quarter, the market endows the gamut of goods varies from basketry to carpets, to local foods. Even the French wine and Russian vodka are also sold at surprisingly cheap price with a guarantee of their original marks. Stalls of multi-colored flowers enhance the liveliness of the market. The traditional medicinal herbs are available in the market as well.