The Hanoi Opera House, better known as the Grand Opera House is located at No. 01 Trang Tien street, Hoan Kiem district - about 1.7km from Hoan Kiem lake, 1.5km from Hoa Lo prison. It was constructed in 1901 under French administration with the original purpose of serving the French mandarins, the upper classes, and some Vietnamese bourgeois, and was completed in 1911.
Hanoi Opera House in the past - Source: Vietravel
This opera house in Hanoi plays a critical role in terms of history, architecture, and aesthetic values, which is historical evidence of the social and cultural development of Vietnam in general and Hanoi in particular, and also a relic of a period of architectural development in Vietnam at the end of 19th century and the beginning of 20th. It has existed for more than a century, overcoming many ups and downs of history with the capital, but still seems to retain the classic and luxurious beauty that it has inherently possessed.
I - Hanoi Opera House events & performances
The opera house is considered a cultural center of Hanoi, which holds numerous art shows, concerts, and dance performances from national to international scale. This is also the place where the Vietnamese Orchestra performs regularly with famous artists all over the globe. A variety of art events in different genres from the traditional ones to trendy pop music, which is performed by reputational singers.
Performing arts at The Opera House - Source: Hanoioperahouse
Toyota Concert and Hennessy Classical Concert are the most impressive classical concerts performed annually, catching a large number of visitors. Tourists that love exploring Vietnamese culture should not miss the show “My village Hanoi Opera House” at the Opera House. The impressive showcase combines acrobatics, traditional dance, and music.
Besides that, several famous performances that have been held in this opera house can be mentioned as "Nguoi Tac Tuong" (October 5, 2019), the dance "swan lake" (October 7, 2019), Trinh Cong Son music nights, the classic opera La Bohème performed by artists of Australian Theater and Sydney Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra (April 10, 2016), etc.
Opening hours: 10:30am - 12pm (Monday - Friday)
Booking for Hanoi Opera House tickets
- Via hotline: +84 961 669 988
- Website: http://hanoioperahouse.org.vn/vi
- Directly at No.01 Trang Tien Street, Hoan Kiem District
- Art performances fee: 500,000 - 4,000,000 VND / ticket ($21.5 - 173)
Note:
- The programs are not suitable for children under 6 years old
- This opera house is not for sightseeing but for guests to enjoy the performances
II - Hanoi Opera House architecture
The Hanoi Opera House architecture - Source: Hanoi TV
The opera house was inspired by the ancient Greek architecture of the Gothic style, the architecture of the Tuylory castle, and the Opera de Paris with three principal parts: the lobby, the mirror room, and the main performance room. The very first part is the main lobby decorated with the most lavish chandelier system including small beams on both sides plated with copper and the large chandelier in the center elaborately gold-plated.
The entrance to the Hanoi Opera House Vietnam is characterized by classic French art with intricate and sophisticated carvings. Inside is the place where the reception activities take place, including a large T-shaped staircase in the middle of the lobby leading to the 2nd floor, covered with red carpet embroidered with luxurious classical patterns. The second floor of the opera house is the mirror room - where important events such as signing ceremonies or receptions of senior figures take place. The floor of the room is made of Italian stone using the Mosaic technique. Surrounding the room are large mirrors interposed with doors. The ceiling is decorated with gold-plated chandeliers and suspension lamps, all of which illustrate the elegance, splendor and reflect the classic French features.
The French Opera House Hanoi's main performance room is located on the 3rd floor with a capacity of 598 seats, including a large stage in which 3 floors of chairs are designed in a classic French style and the floor is luxuriously tiled and carpeted. The room was elaborately decorated with Corinthian columns supporting a large arch and colorful frescoes, alternated with embossed reliefs and a large crystal chandelier inlaid with gold.
III - Other information
1 - Top restaurants near Hanoi Opera House
Seafood restaurant
- Address: No.01 Trang Tien Street, Phan Chu Trinh Ward, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi
- Signature dishes: fresh seafood
- Price: updating
- Opening hours: all-day
Soba Cafe
- Address: No.01 Pham Ngu Lao Street, Phan Chu Trinh Ward, Hoan Kiem District, 220m from the Opera House Hanoi
- Signature dishes: Soba noodles, coffee, beefsteak
- Price: 50,000 - 100,000 VND/ dish ($2.2 - 4.4)
- Opening hours: 7am - 10pm
Lac Thai Trang Tien restaurant
- Address: No.33 Trang Tien Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi
- Signature dishes: Thais hotpot, Tomyum soup
- Price: 150,000 - 400,000 VND/ serving ($6.6 - 17.6)
- Opening hours: 7:30am - 10:30pm
2 - Hotels near Hanoi Opera House
There is a myriad of grand five-star hotels in the Hanoi old quarter near the opera house that is highly recommended for you such as Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi Hotel, Hilton Hanoi Opera Hotel, and Hotel de l'Opera Hanoi - MGallery, etc.
Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi
Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi - Source: Vietnamplus
This is one of the most luxurious hotels in Hanoi. Metropole Hanoi is regarded as a historic symbol of Hanoi, which welcomes famous ambassadors and heads of state from all over the world to come. In 2019, the summit between the US and North Korea was also held here.
Address: No.15 Ngo Quyen Street, Hang Bai Ward, Hoan Kiem District, 500m from the Opera House Hanoi
- Room rate: 4,000,000 VND ($173)/ room/ night
- Contact: +84 243 826 6919
- Website: https://www.sofitel-legend-metropole-hanoi.com/vi/
Hilton Hanoi Opera Hotel
The hotel features unique architecture inspired by the opera house and used to be evaluated as the leading hotel in Vietnam in five continuous years from 2004 to 2008 with full of modern facilities such as Opera House - view outdoor swimming pools, gyms, spa, and sauna, bars, dance room, and meeting rooms.
Hilton Hanoi Opera - Source: Hilton
- Address: No.01 Le Thanh Tong Street, Phan Chu Trinh Ward, Hoan Kiem District, 180m from Hanoi Opera House
- Room rate: 2,000,000 VND/ room/ night ($87)
- Contact: +84 243 933 0500
- Website: https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/hanhitw-hilton-hanoi-opera/
Hotel de l'Opera Hanoi - MGallery
This glamorous 5-star hotel was voted as the Best Boutique Hotel in Asia in 2015 by Smart Travel Asia, featuring the French colonial architecture with well-equipped 107 rooms, an indoor pool, a sauna, and a fitness center. It also includes a business center and conference space, serving business activities as well.
Hotel de l'Opera Hanoi - MGallery - Source: All.accor
- Address: No.29 Trang Tien Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi, 180m from the opera house
- Room rate: from 2,000,000 VND/ room/ night ($87)
- Phone: +84 24 6282 5555
- Website: http://hoteldelopera.com/
3 - Hanoi Opera House map
The Hanoi Opera House is a one-of-a-kind architectural work that is of great importance in historical, cultural, and aesthetic values, which contributes to creating the necessary preconditions for cultural exchange expansion between Vietnam and other countries all over the world.
— Quan Nguyen
