In the process of national renovation and development, Ha Noi has attracted much investment, contributing to the development of the national economy in general, and of the North Delta Region (Ha Noi-Hai Phong-Quang Ninh) in particular.

1. Natural Conditions

1.1. Geographical Location

Ha Noi borders Bac Thai, Vinh Phu and Ha Bac provinces to the north, Ha Tay to the south, Hai Hung to the south east. The Red River runs through the city and the metropolitan area of the city lies on the southern bank of the river.

1.2. Topography

The city's topography gradually lowers from north to south and is divided into 3 regions: the upper region includes Soc Son district, adjacent to Tam Dao Mountain Range with an average height of 8-12m; the middle region with Dong Anh, Gia Lam and Tu Liem districts, and the urban area with an average height of 5-10m; the lower land in Thanh Tri district with an average elevation of 3-4m.

1.3. Area and population

1.4. Water resources

Apart from two large rivers - the Red River and the Duong River, the other that run through Hanoi City are Calo, Nhue, and Kim Nguu. Hanoi has a series of 17 large and small lakes. The largest one is the West Lake at Ba Dinh district. The water of the Red and Duong rivers contains a high level of alluvium.

When Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant on Da River is operational, the water levels in the Red and Duong rivers change dramatically. In flood season, the levels decrease by 1 - 1.5 m while the current flow increases by 165 - 285 cu. m. The volume of water running on the surface and in underground is fairly abundant. The underground water is of good quality, meeting the demand for human consumption and industrial use.

1.5. Climate - Weather

The climate of Ha Noi is influenced by the tropical monsoon pattern. The rain season falls between April and October with occasional storms and typhoons. The dry season, between October and April, is often accompanied by cold north-eastern monsoon wind. Drizzles occur between the two seasons. Spring and autumn in Ha Noi are flavoured with cool weather.

The annual average temperature is 23.6 oC with its minimum of 4oC and maximum 39.4 oC. Ha Noi daily temperature fluctuates by 6.1oC.

The annual average rainfall is 1,66. 80-85% of rainfall concentrates between May and October. The annual average number of rainy days is 141. In a heaviest rainy day, the rainfall level reaches 100 mm. Wind blows in two main seasons, dry north-eastern wind in the winter and cool south-eastern wind accompanied by rain in the summer. Each year, approximately 22 monsoon wind periods occurs with an average wind speed of 1.5 m/sec-2.5 m/sec (the highest speed is 34 m/sec in a 20 year cycle). The humidity level averages at 82%.

2. Infrastructure

2.1. Electric Power

The power sources for Ha Noi are supplied through the North Electric Grid. Its daily average consumption is 5 million kwh, accounting for 26.8% of electric power output of the entire region. The average per capita electric consumption is around 465 kwh/year, four times the average figure of the whole country. Hanoi enjoys the most favourable electricity supply for both production and domestic consumption. Ha Noi power grid has been renovated, ensuring its stable voltage and consistent daily supply.

2.2. Water supply and sewerage

Water supply

The total drinking water capacity provided by 13 municipal plants and stations is 330,000 cu.m/day. Ha Noi's water supply system is made up of a dual, new and old network of water pipes which spreads over 130 km. 46% of the water volume is pumped through the new pipe network, and 56% through the old one.

Despite the latest water-works renovation, the water supply system in Ha Noi has yet to meet the demand, especially in the summer and hot days, when some locations of the city do not have sufficient drinking water.

Sewerage

The drainage system of Ha Noi consists of a network of sewerage pipes totalling 135 km, the pipe diameters are between 300-2000 mm, of which 60% are of medium and small sizes of 400-600 mm. Of the total 135 km of sewerage pipes, 85 km runs through the old quarters of Ha Noi. The remaining 50 km serves the expanded central area. Ha Noi now has 235 km of main streets. Yet, only 50% of them have sewerage pipes.

Ha Noi drainage system is further assisted by a system of 38.13 km of canals, 36.8 km of rivers and 17 large and small lakes.

Almost all sewerage water in Ha Noi is not treated, causing environmental pollution and affecting the quality of life of urban inhabitants. Over 40 spots around the city become little ponds when heavy rain falls. The renovation and reconstruction of the entire Ha Noi sewerage system or selected industrial and residential areas are a major concern and require efficient investment.

2.3. Transportation

Roads and bridges

In Ha Noi, there are 1,427 km of roads with 21.2% asphalt and 39% low grade asphalt roads, 14% gravel and 25.8% earth roads.

The national routes running through the city are Routes No. 1 and 5 -linking Ha Noi to Hai Phong- and Routes No. 3, 2, 4 and 32.

To prevent Ha Noi-bound inter-provincial lorries from going through densely populated streets, the alternative By-Passes I and II have been constructed.

The main outward roads from Ha Noi, which have been upgraded and widened, are the southward-bound Giai Phong Road, northward and Hai Phong-bound Nguyen Van Cu Road. The Southern Thang Long-Noi Bai Express Way linking Ha Noi to Noi Bai International Airport of 14.6 km long has been recently put into operation. The city has a total of 580 transport focal points, its metropolitan area alone has 496 points.

The city has 2 interprovincial bus stations. The station for northern provinces is located in Gia Lam district, the other for southern provinces at Giai Phong Road. Taxis of the city are available all day long, taxi-ranks are allocated quite rationally. In addition, there are other bus stations in Kim Ma, Thanh Xuan, and Kim Lien.

The annual volume of goods and passengers passing through the stations around Ha Noi is 6,610 tonnes and 11,445 passengers respectively. Hanoi has 54 km of railway transporting 1.60 million tonnes of goods and 3.25 million passengers each year. Its central railway station is allocated at the center of the city (Hang Co Railway Station). The quality of customer-services is getting better.

Bridges

Ha Noi's great bridges over the Red River are: Long Bien Bridge for trains and bicycles; the double-decked Chuong Duong Bridge for trains, motor vehicles and others.

Ports

Ha Noi has 2 river ports: Khuyen Luong and Pha Den. Their annual capacity is 591,600 tonnes of goods. The Chuong Duong River Wharf serves 280,000 passengers annually.

Airports

Ha Noi has 2 airports. The Noi Bai International Airport each year cater 400-500,000 passengers to 17 domestic and international destinations. Gia Lam Airport is to be upgraded to cater domestic flights.

2.4. Communications

The post and telecommunication network of Ha Noi City is under expansion and modernization.

The present telephone operation centres are capable to cater 82,000 subscribers and the number will soon reach 120,000. The centres are equipped with a E1045 switchboard system with 45.500 numbers, Siements system 18,000, Neel system 17,000, and a GMS system catering 400 mobile phones. The rural areas are served by a telecommunication network with 480 numbers.

The total number of subscribed telephones is 55,000 sets. It is estimated the figure will be 80,000 by the end of 1994. The number of household subscribers is to further increase. Public telephone boxes are allocated in high density residential areas.

3. Socio-economic Situation

3.1. Social Situation

Administrative Structure

Ha Noi City consists of 9 urban and suburb districts. Urban districts are Ba Dinh, Hoan Kiem, Dong Da, Hai Ba Trung; 5 suburb districts are Gia Lam, Thanh Tri, Tu Liem, Dong Anh and Soc Son.

Governmental institutions, embassies, international organizations, commercial transaction and services centres, hotels and other institutions are concentrated in the two districts of Ba Dinh and Hoan Kiem.

Labor

Ha Noi is the second most populated city of Vietnam, after HCMC. Urban residents occupy 33.6%, rural residents 55.4%. The working age people represent 57.6%. The urbanization process is oriented towards the development of industry and services. The scientists and technicians of Ha Noi make up the greatest force of intellectuals of the whole country with over 6,050 post-graduates, 20,000 graduates and 110,000 secondary technicians. With technical workers added, the number will reach 40% of the total labor force.

In the process of urbanization, the population in Ha Noi's agriculture sector is decreasing while migration into the city is on the rise, causing a labour surplus. Ha Noi urgently requires investment projects to absorb over 500,000 unemployed laborers.

Family handicraftsmen are now accounted for over 110,000 people.

Education and training

Education and training programmes in Ha Noi are of the most developed in Vietnam. They are now under further consolidation and expansion. Methods of training are increasingly diversified.

In 1993, the city had 377 kindergardens with 20,000 children; 265 pre-schools with 30,000 children; 414 primary and elementary schools with 30,000 pupils; 39 secondary schools with 4,500 pupils; 27 technical and vocational secondary schools with 10,000 students; 32 colleges and universities with over 30,000 students.

Public Health

The city has 40 hospitals (26 under central management and 14 locally managed) with 9,370 beds, 4 maternity hospitals with 200 beds, and a leprosy treatment centre with 100 beds.

The city has 5,800 medical workers with over 35% of graduates and post-graduates, 30% of highly qualified specialists, and several leading experts in various medical fields.

Ha Noi also has 1,204 local health centers and 960 registered private pharmacies. Despite of certain constraints, Ha Noi has gained considerable achievements in primary health care for the people.

Culture

Ha Noi is a city of history and culture with thousands of architectural monuments, pagodas, churches, relics, inscription-tablets etc..

Ha Noi has numerous historical relics associated with the foundation and national defence of the country (Co Loa Citadel, etc..). In the present age of changes and development, Ha Noi municipal authorities and scientists have formulated guidelines for the preservation of Ha Noi's Old Quarters.

4.1. Tourism.

The forecast for the year 2000 is 1.5 million tourists (including 1 million foreigners), and by 2010 the figure will be 3.5 - 4 million (3 million foreigners). Ha Noi will then need 9,000 hotel rooms and 12,000 employees to serve the incoming tourists in 2000, and 22-23,000 rooms and 30-35,000 employees in 2010.

Tourism companies of Ha Noi pay much attention to the development of international travel routes, linking Ha Noi to regional countries and others.

4.2. Agro-forestry

The increase in product value per area unit will be the main target in agro-forestry production. Foodstuff production, crops and commercial plants are to be further invested for both domestic consumption and export.

A forecast of agricultural structure development (%)