Located in northern Vietnam, Hanoi is a nostalgia-boosting city with a relaxing atmosphere of shady boulevards, yellow-painted French style building and lakeside Chinese temples. Hanoi's trademark is green parks and tranquil lakes. The city is divided into districts, many of which take their name from a lake within the district's boundaries. Each district has its own charms.

At times in Hanoi, you could be setting in a café sipping excellent coffee, eating great pastry, chatting in French to an old beret clad gentleman, whilst as you look out the window you can see the great French style buildings, ancient pagodas in the shadows of fig trees or you just walk in the Hanoi’s Old Quarter.

In the Old Quarter Hanoi’s rich past comes to life. Stroll down the ancient guild streets, where the wares on offer have remained unchanged for centuries: traditional medicines and herbs, brightly colored votive paper, bolts of finely spun silk, silver and jade jewelers. Ten centuries of culture and commerce are layered like paint, creating a vibrant mural of past and present. Here you will see the life of Hanoi “the women who pad past with baskets of bread perched on their heads” the flower vendors wheeling bicycles festooned with fresh - cut roses, mums and lilies” the brown-robed monks on their way to the pagoda.

Weather

In Hanoi there are four distinct seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. But it is possible to divide the climate here into two main seasons: the rainy season from May to September (it’s hot, heavy rain), and the dry season from October to April (it’s cold, little rainfall). The annual average temperature is 23.2C, but in Winter the average temperature is 17.2C. The lowest temperature ever recorded was 2.7C in 1955. The average summer temperature is 29.2C, with the highest ever recorded being 42.8C in 1926. On average, there are 114 rainy days a year with around 1,800 mm of rainfall.

Currency

The currency issued by the Vietnam State Bank is the dong (abbreviated "d" or VND) which is used uniformly throughout the country. Bank notes in domination of are presently in circulation.

Traveller's cheques and credit cards (American Express, Visa, Mastercard) are exchanged for Vietnamese dong in banks. Cards can be used in travel agencies, hotels, and major restaurants. US currency is exchanged for Vietnamese dong and treasury notes in banks, exchange bureaus, hotels, and jewellery shops. The exchange rate always changes. When leaving the country, remaining Vietnamese currency can be exchanged for US dollars at the exchange bureau at the airport.

Recommended weblinks on Hanoi
Travel to Vietnam.com - http://www.traveltovietnam.com

Vietnam TravelMart - http://www.vietnamtravelmart.com

Vietnam Adventures - http://www.vietnamadventures.com

VietTour.com.vn - http://www.viettour.com.vn/tours.php?cat=1#hanoi

Hanoi on Yahoo! Travel - http://travel.yahoo.com/p/travelguide/191501673