Ha Noi, the capital of Viet Nam, will celebrate its 1,000th anniversary in 2010. Viet Nam's official historical documents say that after his accession to the throne, King Ly Thai To moved the country's capital to Thang Long (Soaring Dragon), the present site of Ha Noi, in autumn 1010.
However, the history of the capital can be traced back to a much earlier date.
Thang Long lies in the rich, prosperous delta of the Red River. In 229 BC, in the history of Viet Nam, King An Duong Vuong moved his capital from "Ke Chu" (Phu Tho Province) to "Co Loa". And so, Co Loa, part of Ha Noi today, became the capital 2,226 years ago. The citadel and fortresses of Co Loa were built on an area of 400 ha and thus ancient Co Loa has gone into the history of the nation since the foundation of the state, the struggles against foreign invaders and expansion of the territory.
After many centuries of wars and northern domination, national hero Ngo Quyen led an uprising and won a durable independence for the nation in 938. He brought his army to Loa Thanh, putting up a system of defence works to safeguard the burgeoning independence of the Vietnamese nation. Once again, Co Loa was chosen as the capital of the country.
Then King Ngo Quyen passed away. The independent State fell into a state of chaotic confusion, with the territory split into 12 regions ruled by warlords. The capital was moved to Hoa Lu, 100 km south of Co Loa. This is an important region with difficult access, advantageous for national defence but disadvantageous for national administration. However, when Ly Cong Uan, founder of the Ly Dynasty, mounted the throne with the regal name of Ly Thai To, the nation was about to embark on a time of great peace and prosperity. The King established a reign of prosperity that lasted 200 years and he looked to Thang Long in the delta to establish his capital.
As the legend goes, one night during his inspection tour, the Ly King dreamt of a holy dragon looming in the region with a bright aura dawning upon the nation and then soaring up into eternity. The King came to understand this auspicious omen as Heaven and Earth. He decided to stop, having his boats anchored and army tents put up to survey the location. Later he had a fortress and system of defence works built, and then moved the capital there.
Such was the legend, but in fact, King Ly Thai To was farsighted enough to rule with a status of a "founding a nation and helping the world" monarch, with a long-range vision for national defence, economic development and further expansion. In his imperial decree for the establishment of the capital, the King said in clear terms: "Thang Long stands in the heart of the land, in the position of a coiling dragon or a seated tiger at the centre, surrounded by mountains and rivers on the four sides, an area with beautiful scenery, converging point, the best capital city indeed!". The year 1010 was the historical landmark of the removal of the capital to Thang Long.
The ancient capital of Thang Long was divided into various sections: the Imperial Citadel for the King and the royal family; the Forbidden City--the heart of the Imperial Citadel, for the King, the Queen, and the ladies-in-waiting; Dai La Fortress, with Dai La Walls surrounding the outer belt with populated streets and guilds. Today, the old names remain on the relics of the ancient ruins. During the years of prosperity of the Ly Dynasty, Thang Long was, in fact, a capital of certain caliber, worthy of the powerful Dai Viet Kingdom. The historical records and documents written by ambassadors and messengers, as well as traders and merchants, described the capital of Thang Long as a bustling and animated city, stocked with foods and rarities, delicacies and spices all on display and on sale in its streets. Thang Long was at the same time a well-defended capital with a system of strong defence works built on the foundations of the ancient Dai La Citadel.
The Ly Dynasty declined, the Ho succeeded to the throne, changing the name of the capital to Dong Do. When King Le Thai To (alias Le loi) defeated the northern Ming invaders, the capital was renamed as Dong Kinh (1430).
During the period of King Le - Lord Trinh (1749), eight gateways were built to connect the citadel with the outside neighborhoods and the capital city was renamed Dai Do (Grand Capital City). In this period of a division of power between the Le and the Trinh, the chancery of the Trinh Lords was built with all pomp and elegance in the southern suburbs of the Imperial Citadel. Unfortunately, a great fire in the 18th century reduced the works of magnificent architecture to ashes. In the 19th century, Thang Long was changed into Bac Thanh (the Northern Citadel) by King Quang Trung.
Under the Nguyen Dynasty, the capital was in Hue. King Minh Mang rearranged the bureaucracy, with Thang Long renamed as Ha Noi province, including the ancient Imperial Citadel and a few adjoining suburban districts such as Thuong Tin, Ung Hoa, Ly Nhan, Tho Xuong and Vinh Thuan. The walls of Thang Long were ordered by the King to be lowered by 0.72m, so that they were lower than those in Hue.
In August, 1945, after the triumph of the Revolution against the French and the seizure of power, the revolutionary Government and the First Legislature of the Democratic Republic of Viet Nam decided to make Ha Noi the capital of Viet Nam, its political, economic and cultural seat.
Since the achievement of national independence (August 1945), quite a few fateful, political events have taken place in Ha Noi. After seizing power in the revolution (August 19, 1945), President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence. On October 10, 1954, Ha Noi was liberated after nine years of resistance war against the French colonialists, welcoming the Government to take over the capital city. Ha Noi has also hosted quite a few major international conferences and witnessed radical changes in the socio-economic and cultural life.
Today, the capital of Ha Noi covers an area of 927.4 sq.km, and has a population of 2,268 million. Its administrative units include seven urban districts, namely Ba Dinh, Hoan Kiem, Hai Ba Trung, Dong Da, Tay Ho, Thanh Xuan and Cau Giay, and five suburban districts, namely Soc Son, Dong Anh, Gia Lam, Tu Liem and Thanh Tri.
In the course of modernization of the capital city. Ha Noi has a master plan with industrial parks, areas for trading operations, sport and cultural activities and others to be worthy of the capital city of an industrialized and modernized Viet Nam while preserving the cultural identity of the thousand-year-old capital city.