Hà Nội's natural conditions

Most of the deltaic land lies on both sides of the Red River and its tributaries (Đuống, Đáy rivers, etc.). The mid-land region comprises Sóc Sơn District and a part of Đông Anh District, a prolongation of the Tam Đảo mountainous mass stretching towards the Delta which is 7-10 meters or sometimes even hundreds of meters above the sea level.

This is why Hà Nội’s topography has an inclination in the direction North-South (from Sóc Sơn-Đông Anh to Thanh Trì). Hà Nội lies at the center of the triangular basin of the Red River.

In Hà Nội region, the chain of Sóc Sơn (Sóc Mount) is a prolongation of the Tam Đảo mountainous mass which culminates at a height of 308m. This chain has different appellations: Mã Mount, or Temple (Đền) Mount (because there is a temple on the summit of the mountain, called Sóc Temple), or Vệ Linh Mount. Sóc Mount is situated in the commune of Phù Linh, Sóc Sơn District. Besides, Hà Nội has other hills and mountains rising above the flat ground: Sái Mount (Thụy Lâm Commune, Đông Anh District), Phước Tường Mount (Cổ Bi Commune, Gia Lâm District) and at the center of Hà Nội, above the area of the old Botanical Garden stands the Nùng Mount, also called Long Đỗ or Khán Mount, giving more picturesqueness to the configuration of Thăng Long.

Many rivers flow through Hà Nội. Firstly, is the 1,183km-long Red River flowing from its source in Yunnan (China). The section flowing through Hà Nội from Đông Anh District to Thanh Trì District is 40km long. The Đuống, the second largest river in Hà Nội, separates from the Red River at Xuân Canh (Xuân Canh Commune, Đông Anh) then flows through Ngọc Thụy and Yên Thượng Communes then cuts National Highway 1A at the Đuống Bridge before passing through the territory of Bắc Ninh Province to empty itself into the Thái Bình River. Besides these two rivers, Hà Nội has many other waterways which, although smaller and shorter, are associated to the long-standing history of Hà Nội. For instance, the Tô Lịch River has been linked to the development of Hà Nội for 1,500 years, its junction with the Red River (at the beginning of Chợ Gạo Street) being filled in at the end of the last century. There now only exits the section flowing between the two streets, Thụy Khuê-Hoàng Hoa Thám and Bưởi market, running through Ngã Tư Sở towards the Bươu Bridge before joining the Nhuệ River. There are also the Thiên Đức, Nghĩa Trụ, Cheo Reo, Ngư Huyện Giang and Kim Ngưu Rivers. Ponds and lakes are also numerous in Hà Nội. There are large ones like West Lake, small ones such as Hoàn Kiếm Lake, Thủ Lệ Lake, Kim Liên Lake, Linh Đàm Lake and Vân Trì Pond.

Hà Nội region, lying in a plain, far from sea, belongs to the hot climatic zone under the influence of the South and Northeast monsoons. Winter is cold and dry; and from February to March, drizzles and the Northeast monsoon are frequent. It is hot from April to June, but from July to September, there are heavy rains and floods followed by Autumn which is the most beautiful season in Hà Nội. Annual average rainfall in Hà Nội is 1,678 mm. Temperature in January is 16⁰C, in June 28⁰C (sometimes reaching 36⁰-38⁰C). This gives an annual temperature variation from 8⁰C to 40⁰C.

From Hà Nội, we can reach every part of the country thanks to a convenient communication system. You can fly from Nội Bài International Airport (Sóc Sơn District, 40km from the center of Hà Nội) or Gia Lâm Airport (8km from Hà Nội) which was the principal airport of Hà Nội before 1970, now being used for tourist helicopter flights to place of scenic beauty. Hà Nội is also a railway junction for both domestic and international lines with routes to Beijing (China) and Europe. It is also a point where land and shipping routes converge. It is said, "all roads lead to Hà Nội".

In late 2008, Hà Nội had about 6.5 million inhabitants including those living the central area and the suburbs. In the suburban districts and also a part of Tây Hồ District, most of inhabitants are natives of Hà Nội, whereas in the central districts, the inhabitants came from all corners of the country to earn their living and have settled there. Hà Nội’s inhabitants are essentially the Việt but we can also notice the presence of other ethnic groups.