Hanoi is the center of government. It is the place where policy and important decisions are made. It is also the second largest city in Vietnam. That’s why, in 2012, Indochine Counsel opened an office in Hanoi.

Over a thousand years ago Ly Thai To founded the city of Thang Long, placing the capital of his empire in the valley of the Red River. For centuries Thang Long served as the center of the Dai Viet universe, home to the emperor, his court and all the knowledge of the world.

While the city itself has changed names half a dozen times throughout its history, it has remained inhabited for a Millennium. Named Hanoi under the Nguyen Dynasty in the early nineteenth century, it served as the colonial capital under the French. Finally, in 1954, when the French were defeated, it became once again the independent capital of Vietnam under the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

Today, Hanoi is a beautiful city rich in heritage and history. It is one of the few places where colonial structures remain intact and an entire section of the city is preserved for future generations. The old walls of Thang Long itself were unearthed only a few years ago. And the National Archives and museums are located amidst the splendor.