Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital has a slow and pleasant pace, unlike most cities of the region. An amazing example of the ever changing faces of Vietnam, Hanoi reveals its past, whilst pushing towards a 21st century future.

The Old Quarter at Hanoi’s heart has 36 streets of traders dating back some 2000 years. While in contrast, Central Hanoi has modern skyscrapers and cafes, full of sharply dressed locals sipping cappuccinos and talking into mobile phones.

Ho Chi Minh, to some the liberator of the Vietnamese people from colonialism, is to others a reminder of their entrance into a communist state. Whatever your political views the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum with its guards in bleached-white uniforms, and the Presidential Palace are places of great interest.

The Temple of Literature, Vietnam's first university, founded in 1070 by Emperor Ly Thanh Tong, is a fine illustration of traditional Vietnamese architecture. With five courtyards, representing the five essential elements of nature, the temple must have afforded the perfect ambiance from which to seek knowledge.

Ninth century stone sculpture and contemporary paintings adorn the Fine Arts museum, showing another view of the balance between Vietnam’s past and present.