Hanoi is the capital of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, is situated in the Red River Delta in the middle of North Vietnam, and serves as the hub for the nation's trade, politics, economy, and culture. Throughout the thousand years of its eventful history, marked by destruction, wars, and natural calamities, Hà Nội still preserves many ancient architectural works including the Old Quarter and over 600 pagodas and temples. Famous sites include the One Pillar Pagoda (built in 1049), the Confucius Temple (built in 1070), Thang Long Citadel, Hà Nội Opera House, President Hồ Chí Minh's Mausoleum, and so on.