Hanoi Opera House

The Hanoi Opera House at 1 Trang Tien Street in Hoan Kiem District is the finest example of French colonial architecture in the Vietnamese capital. Opened in 1911 after a decade of construction, it was modelled on the Palais Garnier in Paris, though on a smaller scale, and combines neoclassical and Beaux-Arts elements with a yellow-and-white facade, columns, wrought-iron balconies and a green dome. The theatre seats around 600 in its main hall, which has a lavish interior of gilded plasterwork, a painted ceiling and a sweeping staircase. Its history is intertwined with Vietnamese politics: in August 1945 it was the site of a key gathering during the August Revolution, and the National Assembly met here for a period. Visitors typically admire the building from the outside, since the interior is generally open only for performances, guided visits or special events. The wide plaza and steps at the front, at the end of Trang Tien Street, are a favourite spot for photographs, wedding portraits and people-watching, especially at dusk when the facade is lit. Performances range from classical concerts, ballet and opera to traditional Vietnamese music, with tickets typically costing about 300,000 to 1,500,000 VND depending on the event and seat. Attending a show is the best way to see the interior and takes about two hours. A quick exterior visit takes 30 minutes. The area around the opera house, including the Vietnam National Museum of History next door and Trang Tien Plaza, makes a pleasant walk, and Tuesday-Sunday museum hours can be combined with an evening show. The plaza is busiest in the evening and on weekends, while early mornings are quiet and ideal for photography without crowds. The theatre lies about a ten-minute walk south-east of Hoan Kiem Lake.