Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam. Its name Hanoi has existed since 1831 until present. This area was chosen as the capital of Vietnam by the King Ly Thai To.
Originally the area was called Dai La. The name was changed to Thang Long in 1010. According to legend, on the arrival of King Ly's Dragon Boat on the Red River at Dai La, there was a sudden appearance of a dragon. The King then named this land as Thang Long - The Ascendance of Dragon. It has been nearly a thousand year since then, and, this serene land has been called by many different names: Thang Long, Dong Kinh, Dong Do and today, Hanoi.