HA NOI CAPITAL CITY

Hanoi (Vietnamese: Hà Nội, Hán Tự: 河内) pronunciation, estimated population 3,398,889 (2007), is the capital of Vietnam. From 1010 until 1802, it was the political centre of an independent Vietnam with a few brief interruptions. It was eclipsed by Huế during the Nguyen Dynasty as the capital of Vietnam, but served as the capital of French Indochina from 1887 to 1954. From 1954 to 1976, it was the capital of North Vietnam.

The city is located on the right bank of the Red River. Hanoi is located at 21°2' North, 105°51' East, 1760 km (1094 mi) north of Ho Chi Minh City.

On May 29 2008, it was decided that Ha Tay province, Vinh Phuc's Me Linh district and 3 communes of Luong Son district, Hoa Binh is merged into the metropolitan area of Hanoi from August 1 2008. Hanoi's total area will be increased three times to 334,470 hectares divided into 29 subdivisions. The new population is 6,232,940.

HUE CITY

Huế (化 in chữ Nôm) is the capital city of Thừa Thiên - Huế province, Vietnam. Between 1802 and 1945, it was the imperial capital of the Nguyễn Dynasty. As such, it is well known for its monuments and architecture. Its population stands at about 340,000 people.

History

Huế originally rose to prominence as the capital of the Nguyễn Lords, a feudal dynasty which dominated much of southern Vietnam from the 17th to the 19th century. In 1775 when Trịnh Sa captured it, it was known as Phú Xuân. In 1802, Nguyễn Phúc Ánh (later Emperor Gia Long) succeeded in establishing his control over the whole of Vietnam, thereby making Huế the national capital.

Huế was the national capital until 1945, when Emperor Bảo Đại abdicated and a Communist government was established in Hà Nội (Hanoi), in the north. While Bảo Đại was briefly proclaimed "Head of State" with the help of the returning French colonialists in 1949 (although not with recognition from the Communists and the full acceptance of the Vietnamese people), his new capital was Sài Gòn (Saigon), in the south.

In the Vietnam War, Huế's central position placed it very near the border between North Vietnam and South Vietnam. The city was located in the South. In the Tết Offensive of 1968, during the Battle of Hue, the city suffered considerable damage not only to its physical features, but its reputation as well, most of it from American firepower and bombings on the historical buildings as well as the now infamous massacre at Huế committed by the Communist forces. After the war's conclusion, many of the historic features of Huế were neglected, being seen by the victorious regime and some other Vietnamese as "relics from the feudal regime", but there has since been a change of policy, and some parts of the historic city have been restored.

HO CHI MINH CITY

Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnamese: Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh) is the largest city in Vietnam. Under the name Saigon (Vietnamese: Sài Gòn), it served as the capital of the independent state of South Vietnam from 1954 to 1975. In 1975, Saigon merged with the surrounding province of Gia Định and renamed Hồ Chí Minh City (although the name Sài Gòn is still commonly used.)

The city center is situated on the banks of the Saigon River, 60 kilometers (37 mi) from the South China Sea and 1,760 kilometers (1,094 mi) south of Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam.

The metropolitan area, which consists of Hồ Chí Minh City metro area, Thủ Dầu Một, Di An, Bien Hoa and surrounding towns, has more than 9 million people, making it the largest metropolitan area in Vietnam and Indochina. The Greater Ho Chi Minh City Metropolitan Area, a metropolitan area covering most part of Dong Nam Bo plus Tien Giang and Long An provinces under planning will have an area of 30,000 square kilometers with a population of 20 million inhabitants by 2020.

HA LONG CITY

Hạ Long (also known as Hong Gai) is a capital city of Quang Ninh Province, Vietnam. The city mainly lies on Bai Tu Long Bay, which is part of the Ha Long Bay. It is located at about 160km northeast of Hanoi. Area: 208.7 sq. km. Population (2001): 185,228 inhabitants.

Halong City consists of 20 wards and communes: Hà Khánh, Hà Lầm, Hà Trung, Hà Phong, Hà Tu, Hồng Hải, Cao Thắng, Cao Xanh, Yết Kiêu, Trần Hưng Ðạo, Bạch Ðằng, Hòn Gai, Bãi Cháy, Hồng Hà, Hà Khẩu, Giếng Ðáy; Communes: Hùng Thắng, Tuần Châu, Việt Hưng, Ðại Yên.