Story: Vinh Dav

Hanoi is often described as a peaceful city with a rich cultural heritage. Today, Hanoi still maintains its familiar charm, its bustling ancient streets interwoven with inherently tranquil places. However, for those who are closely watching, Hanoi is undergoing a dramatic transformation.

In less than a decade, numerous skyscrapers have risen all over the city, modern residential areas have sprung up, new boulevards and elevated roads have been built, an inner-city railway system has been established, and new bridges span the Red River. A new image of Hanoi has emerged – that of a dynamic metropolis reaching to become an advanced and modern capital.

If you take a moment to observe, you’ll notice that life here never stops, from early morning until late at night. As an architectural and landscape photographer, I love to see Hanoi in the vibrant light of modern life, where you can observe and deeply feel the colors and lights of a city. The two most important factors for this are choosing the right time and location for observation.

The best time to witness this transformation is during the “golden hour,” a period just after sunset when the sky displays hues of red and gold, transitioning into the “blue hour” when the sky turns a light shade of blue, visible to the naked eye as well as through photography equipment.

From elevated positions, you can observe the moment when the sun gradually disappears below the horizon, marking the transition from day to night. This is characterized by the interplay of warm evening sunrays with the blue sky and the glittering lights of the city. Electric lights shine from the streets, intersections, signs, bustling shopping centers, and the windows of late-working offices in towering buildings. Even from a distance, you can vividly imagine lively scenes of traffic dissipating and the somewhat hurried pace of life at this moment. Although the sky is getting darker, it still offers enough light to illuminate the people moving in the streets, the green of the trees, or the silhouette of people exercising in parks. Therefore, it can be said that this is the best time of day to pause for a moment and enjoy Hanoi, a city that is both modern and familiar.

The journey begins from Hoan Kiem District, the center of Hanoi. This area preserves many ancient beauties with its charming old streets and numerous historical and cultural landmarks. Around Hoan Kiem Lake, there are many rooftop cafes, and from here, you can see the contrast between the serenity of the Old Quarter and the modernity of the high-rise buildings in the distance toward the west side of the city, illuminated by the setting sun.

Walking under the shade of trees along Phan Dinh Phung Street to the northwest leads to Ba Dinh District, with spacious tree-lined avenues. Thanh Nien Road runs along with West Lake on one side and Truc Bach Lake on the other, both serene and picturesque. From a high vantage point, you can see rows of high-rise buildings and new urban areas in the Tay Ho and Tu Liem districts, casting their bright reflections on the vast lake. In the distance, Nhat Tan Bridge stands out as a modern highlight against the colorful evening sky of the north.

Heading southeast along Vo Chi Cong Street, this wide road leads to Ring Road 2 and connects to Ring Road 3, passing through the rapidly developing infrastructure and impressive constructions of Cau Giay and Nam Tu Liem districts.

Continuing eastward on Ring Road 3 takes you to Thanh Xuan District. This area is also developing quickly, especially along Le Van Luong Street. Ring Road 3 then leads to Hoang Mai District, where you can take in the entire western part of the city in one panoramic view, from the bustling interchange at Phap Van to the Linh Dam Peninsula, adorned with tall and short buildings in the distance.

The Ring Road passes over Thanh Tri Bridge into new residential areas in Gia Lam District. From here, continue northwest on the Hanoi-Hai Phong expressway and you will reach Long Bien District. Along the way, you pass major shopping centers and well-planned residential areas, all neatly arranged when viewed from above. This journey ultimately brings you back to your starting point after crossing the iconic Long Bien Bridge, which represents Hanoi’s culture and history.

Hanoi will continue to evolve in the future. Therefore, it will be a capital city that retains its deep tranquility and ancient charm while inhaling the modern air of a new era of bustling development.