What are the differences between north and south?
Hanoi is the seat of government and in part, the city reflects this but the old centre is like an overgrown village, teeming with everyday life. Outside Hanoi there is a more obvious Chinese influence in the culture, particularly in the architecture. As you get nearer to the Chinese border the landscape becomes more mountainous and can be cold in winter; the hill peoples are ethnically different from those found elsewhere in Vietnam. The south is more of a racial melting pot and Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) has a brasher atmosphere than Hanoi, partly because of its history. People from Ho Chi Minh City have the reputation of making more money and spending it more quickly. It is the bigger of the two cities and you will see higher rise hotels, etc.
