Hanoi is the capital and second-largest city of Vietnam with an estimated population of nearly 6.5 million (2009). The city is located on the right bank of the Red River roughly 1,760 km north of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam's largest city.

Hanoi has been inhabited since at least 3000 BC. From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political centre of Vietnam. It served as the capital of French Indochina from 1902 to 1954 and was subsequently the capital of North Vietnam (1954 to 1976). It has experienced rapid economic growth in recent years and according to a recent ranking by PricewaterhouseCoopers, Hanoi will be the fastest growing city in the world in term of GDP growth from 2008 to 2025.

French colonial rule greatly influenced the architectural style of Hanoi and many fine examples can be seen today: the tree-lined boulevards, Grand Opera House, State Bank of Vietnam, Presidential Palace, Saint Joseph Cathedral, and the historic Hotel Metropole. Hanoi hosts more cultural sites than any city in Vietnam, including over 600 pagodas and temples. The city was named by Frommer's travel guide as one of the world's "Top Destinations 2010".