Hoàn Kiếm Lake in the centre of Hanoi, with the streets of the old town in the background (1999)

Hanoi (Vietnamese: Hà Nội, Hán Tự: 河内) pronunciation (help·info), estimated population 3,145,300 (2005), is the capital of Vietnam. From 1010 until 1802, it was the political centre of an independent Vietnam with a few brief interruptions. It was eclipsed by Huế during the Nguyen Dynasty as the capital of Vietnam, but served as the capital of French Indochina from 1887 to 1954. From 1954 to 1976, it was the capital of North Vietnam.

The city is located on the right bank of the Red River. Hanoi is located at 21°2' North, 105°51' East, 1760 km (1094 mi) north of Saigon.