Once known as Thang Long, the “City of the Rising Dragon,” Hanoi officially became Vietnam’s capital in 1954 under the Geneva agreement. Ravaged by American bombings during the Vietnam War, it retreated from global engagement until the 1990s when the Doi Moi economic reforms breathed new life into its international relations. Today, Hanoi stands as a captivating capital, blending tradition with legend, adorned with lakes, leafy boulevards, and verdant parks.