Trip to Vietnam By Jacquelyn Wong
Ha Noi Capital Da Nang City Ho Chi Minh City
Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam and the country's second largest city. Its population in 2009 was estimated at 2.6 million for urban districts, 6.5 million for the metropolitan jurisdiction. From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political center of Vietnam. Hanoi is a very picturesque city, the leafy metropolis sometimes dubbed the "Paris of Asia". With its tree-fringed boulevards, more than two dozen lakes and thousands of French colonial-era buildings, Hanoi is a popular tourist attraction and one of only a few Asian capitals to retain its historic charm amid rapid modernization and population growth.
The tourism sector is a vital component of Da Nang's economy. Its status as a transportation hub for Central Vietnam and its proximity to several UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Imperial City of Hu ế, the Old Town of H ộ i An, and the M ỹ S ơ n ruins fuels much of its tourist activity.
The majority of these tourist spots are located in District 1 and are a short leisurely distance from each other Today, the city's core is still adorned with wide elegant boulevards and historic French colonial buildings.