Asian Network of Major Cities 21

Hanoi is the capital of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the political, cultural, scientific and technical centre of the country. Hanoi is an ancient settlement of more than two millennia with more than 2000 historical and cultural remains. The long standing culture has been existing and developing together with the building and development of Vietnam. "Thang Long" became independent around the year 1010 and was the capital of many dynasties. Since achieving independence Hanoi became the capital city of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Nowadays, nearly 70% of Vietnam's universities are located in Hanoi. The GDP has been grown at yearly rate of 11.6% from 1991 to 2000. During the 1996-2000 period, the export turnover had been 14.91% per year. Hanoi has been step by step eliminating the poverty (the figure of 2000 is registered only by 5%). By the end of 1999, all children had access to the secondary school. The city has achieved the natural population growth rate by 1.09% in the year 2000.

Total area ：　3,345ｋm²

Natural environment ：　 Hanoi has favorable conditions in geography, situated in the key area in the North, leaning against the Ba-vi & Tam dao mountain, having the potential Hong river. Hanoi has good soil and canal system for agriculture.

Climate / annual average temperature / annual average precipitation ：　 Subtropical climate/23.4ºC/1,500mm

Urban problems ：　 Basic urban infrastructure such as water supply, drainage, sanitation and sewerage, transportation and solid waste collection and disposal. Other problems: unemployment (7.95%); housing (6 sq. m/person),; urban environmental pollution.

Urban planning ：　 Hanoi's physical development is guided by a Master Plan to the Year 2020, which approved by the Prime Minister in June 1998. Along with this plan, Hanoi also has socio-economic development plan for the period 2000-2010.

Ethnicity and language(s) ：　Kinh / Vietnamese

Population (2009)：　6,450,000

Outline：　 With an average growth rate of 16.6% during the 1991-2000 period and a continuous-increasing ratio of contribution for the GDP of Hanoi from 23.2% in 1990 to 26.8% in 1999, the industrial mechanism of the capital has been shifted to the field of export.

Major industry and main produce：　 Electronic, information technology, machinery, equipment, metallic products, food stuffs, beverages, textile products, leather products, wood products, chemical products, etc.