Hanoi

Hanoi is the capital of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, and is the political, economic and cultural centre of the country. While Hanoi is an ancient city that will be celebrating its 1000th year of existence in 2010, archaeological evidence indicates that human habitation on the site of present-day Hanoi dates back 10,000 years. Hanoi's fabric has been shaped by a variety of influences, including a thousand years of Chinese rule, indigenous Vietnamese rule, French colonial rule, the American War, the Soviet era, and the current Doi Moi period. Hanoi has a population of 3.1 million people, and the Hanoi General Master Plan aims to develop the economy and society of the city with a view to being competitive with other large cities in Asia. The plan aims to encourage foreign investment, make effective use of capital resources, and improve economic conditions in the city. While governed by Communist structures, with People's Committees managing the political affairs of Hanoi metropolitan area, its Districts and Wards, the economy has reflected significant transformations where the policy of Doi Moi signalled the opening up of the economy. Also significant is the recent shift from top-down Master Planning to a more Strategic approach to Hanoi's planning and urban management.