These periods of building brought in many artisans and craftspeople to Hanoi and many of these stayed on after their employment, either inside or outside of the guild system, while the growth in bureaucracy and government meant a great increase in military and administrative personnel. These increases were matched by a growth of economic activity in both quantity and quality that have enabled Hanoi to remain a vibrant city until the present time. Most cities in the world that have lasted for a substantial period of time wax and wane over the centuries. Hanoi is unusual in that both the political and economic bases to sustain a city have remained strong over a lengthy period of time. Judging by the energy and determination of its people now, it seems likely that Hanoi will continue to thrive for the foreseeable future.
Hy, Nguyen Thua, Economic History of Hanoi in the 17th, 18th and 19th Centuries (Hanoi: National Political Publishing House, 2002), translated and edited by Barbara Cohen.
A useful website with some nice pictures of Hanoi is available at: http://www.vietscape.com/travel/hanoi/
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