Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam in southeast Asia. Meaning “between rivers” in Vietnamese, Hanoi is located in the Red River Delta in northern Vietnam, about 100 miles directly south of the Chinese border.http://en.hanoi.vietnamplus.vn/Home/Geography-of-Hanoi-Capital/20102/2.vnplus The city celebrated its 1,000th anniversary on October 10, 2010. http://en.hanoi.vietnamplus.vn/Home/Biggestever-parade-marks-Hanois-millennium/201010/1397.vnplus The capital city used to be Hoa-Lu, located about 50 miles south, before Emperor Ly Thai To moved it to Hanoi in 1010. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-10-08/hanoi-s-millennial-celebrations-set-to-showcase-vietnam-s-economic-advance.html

A 2009 study by PricewaterhouseCoopers projected Hanoi to have the world’s fastest average Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth between the years 2008 and 2025. Hanoi and another Vietnamese city, Ho Chi Minh, are both expected to have 7.0% growth per year within this time period, ranking them first and second out of 30 total cities. http://www.bbgv.org/download/businessnewsfiles/december/2009_11_10_PwC_Hanoi%20&%20HCMC_top%20positions_economic%20growth_08-25_Final_EN_.pdf

The Hanoi region and the rest of Vietnam were dominated by the Chinese for approximately 1,000 years.http://talk.onevietnam.org/commemorating-1000-years-of-the-founding-of-hanoi/ Vietnam gained independence in the 10th century, and by 1010 A.D. Hanoi was declared the country's capital by Emperor Ly Thai To. The city was called Thang Long ("Rising Dragon") until 1831, when Minh Mang changed the name to Hanoi.http://talk.onevietnam.org/commemorating-1000-years-of-the-founding-of-hanoi/

Hanoi served as the capital of French Indochina between 1902 and 1954, and during World War II was also occupied by Japanese fascists.http://www.lonelyplanet.com/vietnam/hanoi/history The Viet Minh (short for Viet Nam Doc lap Dong minh Hoi, meaning the League for Vietnamese Independence) led the revolution in August of 1945 to resist dual Franco-Japanese powerhttp://en.hanoi.vietnamplus.vn/Home/The-August-1945-Revolution/200910/262.vnplus On September 2, 1945, President Ho Chi Minh declared independence of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4207232.stm

France once again occupied Hanoi beginning in 1946, but were defeated in 1954 and left Vietnam divided into north and south parts.http://www.vietnamembassy-usa.org/learn_about_vietnam/geography/ha_noi/ Hanoi was made capital of the north, and many industrial zones, factories, schools, hospitals and theaters were built during this time. By the time Vietnam was liberated and reunited in 1975, Hanoi had become the political, cultural and economic center of the nation.http://www.vietnamembassy-usa.org/learn_about_vietnam/geography/ha_noi/

Hanoi is located in the center of the triangular basin of the Red River. Covering an area of about 355 square miles, the city lies on both sides of the Red River and its tributaries.http://en.hanoi.vietnamplus.vn/Home/Hanois-natural-conditions/20102/266.vnplus The region sits on a plain and is relatively flat, but to the north are the Tam Dao mountains that stretch about 50 miles through three Vietnamese provinces.http://en.hanoi.vietnamplus.vn/Home/Hanois-natural-conditions/20102/266.vnplus About 25 miles of the Red River flow through the capital, and Hanoi also has many other rivers and waterways, including the Duong, Cau, Ca Lo, Day, Nhue, Tich, To Lich and Kim Nguu.http://en.hanoi.vietnamplus.vn/Home/Geography-of-Hanoi-Capital/20102/2.vnplus

Hanoi is located at a latitude of 20 25' N and a longitude of 105 30' E, which is roughly the same latitude as Honolulu, Hawaii and Mexico City, Mexico.http://www.vietnamembassy-usa.org/learn_about_vietnam/geography/ha_noi/ Hanoi is in a tropical monsoon zone, with a dry season that lasts from October to April and a wet season that lasts from May to September each year. The average annual rainfall in the city is approximately 70 inches.http://en.hanoi.vietnamplus.vn/Home/Geography-of-Hanoi-Capital/20102/2.vnplus

• Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum: Built in 1975, the mausoleum honors the life of former president Ho Chi Minh.http://www.haivenu-vietnam.com/des-hanoi-mausoleum.htm
• Vietnam Fine Arts Museum: This museum displays a collection of over 18,000 items pertaining to Vietnamese history and arts.http://vnfineartsmuseum.org.vn/English/gioithieu.asp
• Hoa Lo Prison (Hanoi Hilton): A prison used for Vietnamese during French colonization and the Vietnam War that has now been turned into a museum.
• Hoan Kiem Lake: Meaning "Lake of the Restored Sword," this lakeside attracts Hanoi's residents for recreation and exercise.http://www.hoankiem-project.de/
• The Old Quarter: An area of Vietnam made of winding streets of vendors and shops.http://www.cnngo.com/play/walking-hanois-old-quarter-537235

• Kieu Chinh: Actresshttp://www.imdb.com/name/nm0157905/
• Tiana Alexandra: Actresshttp://www.imdb.com/name/nm0018837/
• Chi Le: Actresshttp://www.imdb.com/name/nm2251728/
• Minh Hô Quang: Directorhttp://www.imdb.com/name/nm0702872/
• Vuong Duc: Directorhttp://www.imdb.com/name/nm0239690/
• Minh Quan: Singerhttp://www.htv.org.vn/hanoitv/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=194:vietnamese-singer-to-attend-asean--3-concert-for-the-king&catid=81:events&Itemid=109