The Red River is the cradle of Vietnamese civilization, when culture was born more than 4,000 years ago. Situated here is the capital city of Hanoi, which means ‘the city within the bend of the river.’ This shot was taken from the Long Bien Bridge.
This river is busy with thousands of boats traveling on them each day. Sampans (long narrow boats) are the Vietnamese’ main form of transportation. These are used for fishing, transport and taking produce to markets.
The Red River carries a large quantity of silt, rich in iron oxide, that gives it a red color. The river has an irregular flow and is subject to frequent flooding especially during the June-October high water period. At some places, the mark of floods is 14meters above the surrounding countryside. An extensive system of dikes and canals has been built to contain the Red River and to irrigate the rich rice-growing delta.
The people here respect the river and it’s ferocious powers. Some have developed traditional crafts like pottery, papermaking, basketry and lacquerware products.