| What is special or unique about your city? |
| Hanoi is the perfect foil for the seething mass of humanity that is Ho Chi Minh City. With a population of four million and area of 920 square km. Hanoi is the cultural capital of Vietnam and its heart and soul.
Hanoi is now the country’s center of economy, politics, culture, and society.
Hanoi is also well known for typical tropical seasoned place of South East Asia with four seasons: fresh, green and cool in Spring, a bit hot in Summer, fine in Autumn, and cold in Winter. |
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| What are a newcomer's first impressions of your city? |
In 2010 Hanoi celebrated 1000 years of history and is packed with interesting little shops and lanes. When walking around the Old Quarter there is just so much street life going on at all times. |
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| Are these impressions likely to change? |
| Not really, the city is developing at a reasonable pace but every day you can spot or find something you have never noticed before. |
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| What is the local language? |
| Vietnamese. |
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| How easily could I live in this city without knowing this language? |
Most of Vietnamese people are friendly. However, a foreigner will sometimes find challenges to communicate with the Vietnamese people because of the language barriers. Day-to-day communication with Hanoi's locals should not be too difficult as with most languages, trying is appreciated and even a little will help you get by. Within Hanoi's expatriate community, English is widely spoken. |
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| What are good things to remember in order to avoid offending the other residents of this city? |
| The Vietnamese appreciate when foreigners show respect and interest in the local culture. It is also important to note that the Vietnamese are conservative in their dress. The less bare skin, the better -- particularly when visiting a culturally sensitive area such as a temple or pagoda. |
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| How might the local weather affect my daily life? |
| Hanoi has typical North Vietnam climate, with a cold and dry winter (when temperatures can drop to as low as 6°C – 7°C) and a hot and extremely humid summer (temperatures can climb up to a maximum of 35°C). Spring is characterized with light drizzles while the summers bring heavy rain.
The best weather is around September to November or from March to April. |
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| Is there anything else I should know about the overall character of your city or its people? |
It is important to pay attention to the way you address someone in Vietnam. This can vary, depending on age, relationship and social ranking. Titles go beyond "Mr." or "Mrs." Other ways to address a man and a woman include "ong", "chu", "anh", "em", "ba", "co" and "chi".
Crown Hanoi can answer specific questions about this topic, or even arrange language or intercultural training to help you make the most of your stay in Vietnam. |
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| Useful Links |
Vietnam Economic News
http://news.vneconomy.vn/
United States Embassy in Hanoi
http://vietnam.usembassy.gov/
British Embassy in Hanoi
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/find-an-embassy/asia-and-oceania/embassy-hanoi
The New Hanoian
http://newhanoian.xemzi.com/en/venue/show/2604/The-New-Hanoian |