HANOI OPERA HOUSE – HANOI’S HISTORICAL & ARCHITECTURAL LANDMARK

OVERVIEW

Address & Capacity:

• • Address: 1 Trang Tien Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi
    • Distance from Silk Path Boutique Hanoi: 600m
    • Distance from Silk Path Hotel Hanoi: 1.8km

• Seating capacity: 598
• Visit duration: 1 – 3 hours

Ticket prices:

• Visiting tour:
  • VND 120,000/ person
• Performance tour:
  • Adults: VND 400,000/ person
  • Students: VND 200,000/ person (with student card)

HISTORY OF HANOI OPERA HOUSE

After the first step in Hanoi in 1883, the French authorities intended to build an art and cultural center, bringing out their flamboyant lifestyle and the most luxurious academic art space in Indochina.

In 1911, after ten years of construction, the building was finally completed and resembled the Opéra Palais Garnier in Paris since its creators – Broyer and V. Harley were both French. Many ballet shows, concerts, and pantomimes have been organized here, introducing French culture to Vietnamese people. After 1945, the Hanoi Opera House became a governmental meeting venue. After the French withdrew from Hanoi in 1954, the Vietnamese government continued to preserve the Opera House. At the end of the 20th century, after 80 years, the Hanoi Opera House was in a somewhat dilapidated condition. The Vietnamese government decided to renovate it under the supervision of the French Vietnamese architect Ho Thieu Tri.

Today, the Hanoi Opera House is one of the largest opera houses in Vietnam, which has been hosting numerous academic art shows and is also a tourist magnet in the city.

FACTS & FIGURES

• 1945 (August 17): A meeting was held in front of the Opera House to celebrate the establishment of Vien Minh (National Liberation Front. A red flag with a gold star was installed on the 2nd-floor balcony.
• 1946 (March 5): The National Assembly of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam held its first meeting under the roof of the Hanoi Opera House.
• 1946 (September 2): The first-anniversary meeting of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and the first day President Ho Chi Minh set foot in the Opera House.
• 1946 (October 28 – November 9): The second meeting of the National Assembly adopted the Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam
• 1995: The Opera was under restoration, with estimated 14 million US dollars in budget from the government.
• 2011 (December 9): Its 100th birthday, also the day the Hanoi Opera House was acclaimed as National Relic.

UNIQUE ARCHITECTURE OF HANOI OPERA HOUSE

With a total area of 2600 square meters, 87-meter length, 30-meter width, the Opera House has 3 sites including the front hall, mirror chamber, and performance hall. All areas are decorated with French-style classical chandeliers. The French architectural style from the 19th century strongly influences its design. The front facade impresses passersby with French neo-classical design shuttered windows, wrought iron balconies, and tiled friezes. The interior design of the Hanoi Opera overwhelms visitors with a T-shaped white marble staircase centered with red carpet, crystal chandeliers, large wall mirrors, Corinthian columns, and a colorful dome with colorful murals and reliefs.

The front hall is used to welcome guests, with a T-shaped staircase leading to the second floor. The floor of this area is tiled with stones, while the walls and columns are decorated with luxurious classical patterns.

The auditorium is 24 x 24 meters with three-seat floors that include 589 velvet seats. The second and third floors are dedicated to private box seats. The building also has one meeting room called the ‘Mirror Room’, 18 make-up rooms, two rooms for voice training, and a library in the back.

The mirror chamber is on the second floor, which has hosted many important ceremonies. The floor of this chamber is tiled with stones imported from Italy. Large mirrors are installed between doors and windows, and crystal chandeliers are hung.

Photo sources: Wikipedia, Hanoi Opera House