Busy with a metro population of more than 6 million people, frenetic Hanoi has a host of highlights to take in. Here are 10 must-see attractions in the city that will mark 1,000 years of foundation in October 2010.

10. Temple of Literature

A tribute to Confucius and the site of the first university in Vietnam, the beautiful Temple ofLiterature has been around since the year 1070. The landmark contains numerous courtyards and pavilions, many of which have undergone careful restoration in recent decades.

9. Grand Opera House

A dramatic memory of French influence in Vietnam, the Grand Opera House in Hanoi is a typical and exquisite piece of colonial architecture. Built between 1901 and 1911, the opera house is a replica of the Palais Garnier in Paris.

8. Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

One of the most conspicuous mausoleums in the world, the massive tribute to the most famous leader in Vietnam provides Hanoi with a landmark o­n par with Lenin’s tomb in Moscow. Open since 1975, the mausoleum site also contains a museum o­n Ho Chi Minh.

7. One Pillar Pagoda

The Buddhist o­ne Pillar Pagoda is almost peerless in Vietnam, with a history that dates back a full millenium. The iconic landmark was badly defaced by French troops in 1954 but was rebuilt decades later.

6. Hoan Kiem Lake

Hanoi is a city of lakes and Hoan Kiem is o­ne of the most popular with visitors. Superbly scenic and serene, the lake provides a habitat for soft-shell turtles and contains many picturesque pagodas and small bridges.

5. The Presidential Palace

Although Ho Chi Minh obstinately refused to stay there, the Presidential Palace in Hanoi is a remarkable landmark. Built by the French at the turn of the last century in Italian Renaissance style, the palace serves as a government house today. Visitors can walk the grounds for a small price.

4. National Museum of Fine Arts

For a singular glimpse into Vietnamese culture, the country’s National Museum of Fine Arts is the best place to visit. The facility contains a vast collection of art, sculpture, crafts and artifacts from every period inVietnam’s history.

3. Hanoi Hilton

Synonymous with prisoners of war, the Hanoi Hilton is a colloquial term for a notorious facility first used by the French, then by the North Vietnamese, to hold and torture captives. American POWs at the height of the Vietnam War gave rise to the name, with John McCain as o­ne notable long-time prisoner. Today a part of the Hanoi Hilton serves as a museum.

2. West Lake

West Lake is first in size in Hanoi and is extremely popular with locals and visitors alike. Pagodas, restaurants and hotels line the body of water and serve as lively focal points.

1. Tran Quoc

The most historic pagoda in all of Hanoi, Tran Quoc is the foremost symbol of Buddhism in the country. The landmark’s origins date back some 1,500 years, although over time it has undergone changes in appearance and location.

Hanoitimes