Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam and is in the northern part of the country. It was the capital of French Indochina between 1887 and 1954 when it was a French colony. There is still a large influence of the French architecture. There are numerous sites to visit in Hanoi including numerous sites commemorating Ho Chi Minh, other sites are: One-Pillar Pagoda, which was built in 1049, The Goddess of Mercy. The Temple of Literature is a beautiful example of both Chinese and Vietnamese architecture. First founded in 1070 to honor Confucius became the countries first university in 1076. Vietnam Museum of Ethnology is dedicated to the 53 different peoples who live in Vietnam. Cuc Phong National Park is the largest national park in Vietnam and is a quick trip from Hanoi.