Hanoi Opera House
A grand French-era theatre at the end of Trang Tien Street, inspired by the Palais Garnier and still Hanoi’s top stage for music and ballet.
- Hanoi
- Included in 8 tours
- Tours from $25
- Updated October 2026
About the Hanoi Opera House
The Hanoi Opera House (Nha Hat Lon Ha Noi, the “Big Theatre”) is the most elegant building of the French colonial period and the centrepiece of the French Quarter. It stands at the eastern end of Trang Tien Street, about 500 metres from Hoan Kiem Lake, facing a small square and a busy roundabout.
Construction began in 1901 and the theatre opened in 1911. Its architects took inspiration from the Palais Garnier in Paris: a neo-classical façade with columns, balconies, wrought iron and a high domed roof. Inside are a marble staircase, a mirror hall and a horseshoe-shaped auditorium of about 600 seats. Building it on the soft ground near the Red River was a challenge, and thousands of bamboo piles were sunk into the earth for the foundations.
A stage for history: August Revolution Square
The Opera House is not only about music. In August 1945 the square in front of it was the scene of a huge rally that helped launch the August Revolution, when the Viet Minh took power in Hanoi. The square is now called August Revolution Square (Quang truong Cach mang Thang Tam), and the building’s balcony has been the stage for some of the most important speeches in Vietnam’s modern history.
After years of wear, the theatre was carefully restored in the 1990s and reopened in 1997. Today it hosts symphony concerts, ballet, opera, traditional music and state events.
Visiting the Hanoi Opera House
Most visitors admire the Opera House from the outside, which is free and beautiful at any time, especially when the façade is lit at night. To see the interior, you can book a guided tour (when offered) or, better still, buy a ticket for a performance. Several of our city tours ride past the Opera House, and our half-day electric scooter and female-rider tours can start right in front of it.
Is the Hanoi Opera House worth visiting?
The façade alone is worth the short walk from Hoan Kiem Lake, and admiring it from August Revolution Square is free and beautiful day or night. To see the marble staircase, mirror hall and horseshoe auditorium inside, book a guided tour when offered or, better, a performance. It is the centrepiece of the French Quarter and a stage for some of the most important moments in Vietnam’s modern history.
Worth it?
Why visit Hanoi Opera House?
- French colonial masterpieceCompleted in 1911 and inspired by the Palais Garnier — the grandest building of French Hanoi.
- Live performancesSymphony, ballet, opera and Vietnamese traditional music in an intimate auditorium.
- Guided interior toursWhen available, a guide shows you the mirror hall, the staircase and the auditorium.
- August Revolution SquareThe 1945 rally here was a turning point in Vietnam’s history.
- Lit up at nightThe façade glows after dark and looks best from the square or a nearby rooftop.
- At the end of Trang Tien StreetEasily combined with Hoan Kiem Lake, the Metropole and the History Museum.
Make the most of it
Things to do at the Hanoi Opera House
See a performance
The Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra, ballet companies and visiting artists perform here. Tickets usually cost about 300,000–1,500,000 VND or more depending on the show and seat. Shows usually start around 19:30–20:00.
Take a guided tour of the interior
The Opera House has run daytime guided tours of the auditorium, mirror hall and exhibition rooms, for about 120,000 VND and roughly an hour, with a longer version that includes a short performance. Schedules change, so ask at the box office or check the official channels before you go.
Admire the façade from August Revolution Square
Walk around the building to see the columns, balconies and roof details. Free and open all day.
Watch the building at night
After sunset the façade is lit in warm gold — one of Hanoi’s classic night views.
Visit the National Museum of Vietnamese History
Just behind the Opera House, in a 1930s building that mixes French and Asian styles. Allow about an hour.
Have a drink at the Metropole
The Sofitel Legend Metropole is a two-minute walk away on Ngo Quyen street.
Walk Trang Tien Street to the lake
Ten minutes west past bookshops, galleries and the famous Trang Tien ice cream shop.
Start your tour here
Our half-day electric scooter and female-rider tours can meet at the Opera House, and our jeep, scooter, e-bike and Instagram tours ride past it.
Good to know
Tickets: shows and tours at the Hanoi Opera House
| Guided interior tour | About 120,000 VND, roughly 60–70 minutes (when offered) |
|---|---|
| Tour with a short performance | About 400,000 VND on selected days (when offered) |
| Concert, ballet or opera | Usually from about 300,000 VND; premium seats over 1,500,000 VND |
| Where to buy | The box office at the building, or the official ticketing channels listed for each show |
| Show times | Mostly evenings, around 19:30–20:00 |
| Dress code for shows | Smart casual; no shorts, vests or flip-flops |
| Children | Some performances do not admit young children — check when booking |
Programmes are announced only a few weeks ahead and tour schedules change. Check the current programme and buy tickets directly from the Opera House or its official partners.
Timing
Best time to visit Hanoi Opera House
Quiet square and soft light; a good time for a guided tour if one is running.
Golden light on the façade and locals gathering on the square.
The building is lit up, and on show nights the steps fill with concert-goers.
Most major concerts and ballets are scheduled from about September to May; summer is quieter.
Map & directions
How to get to Hanoi Opera House
- From Hoan Kiem LakeAbout 10 minutes on foot east along Trang Tien Street.
- From the Old Quarter15–20 minutes’ walk, or about 15,000–30,000 VND by Grab motorbike.
- By taxi or GrabAsk for Nha Hat Lon. Drop-off is on the square side; traffic around the roundabout is heavy at rush hour.
- With a local guideOur half-day scooter and female-rider tours can start at the Opera House; other city tours include free hotel pickup.
Eat like a local
Where to eat near Hanoi Opera House
- Kem Trang Tien, 35 Trang TienHanoi’s classic ice cream, five minutes’ walk west.
- Le Club at the Sofitel Legend MetropoleAfternoon tea and drinks in a colonial setting, before or after a show.
- Quan An Ngon, 18 Phan Boi ChauVietnamese dishes from all over the country in a villa garden, about 15 minutes away.
- Bun Cha Huong Lien, 24 Le Van HuuHanoi’s most famous bun cha, a short Grab ride south.
For your camera
Best photo spots at Hanoi Opera House
- Centre of August Revolution SquareThe full symmetrical façade, best in late afternoon.
- Corner of Trang Tien and Phan Chu TrinhAn angle that shows the side of the building and the dome.
- Evening from across the roundaboutThe lit façade with light trails from the traffic.
- The grand staircaseInside, on a guided tour or before a show — ask before using a flash.
Local advice
Tips for visiting Hanoi Opera House
Do
- Check the programme a few weeks ahead
- Buy tickets from the box office or official partners
- Dress smartly for an evening performance
- Arrive 20–30 minutes before a show
- Combine your visit with Trang Tien Street and the Metropole
Don’t
- Buy show tickets from touts outside the building
- Wear shorts or flip-flops to a performance
- Take photos or videos during a performance
- Climb on the steps or railings for photos
- Expect the doors to be open to walk in without a ticket
Visit with a local
Tours that visit Hanoi Opera House
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Good to know
Hanoi Opera House: questions & answers
Can you go inside the Hanoi Opera House?
Yes, with a ticket for a performance or on a guided tour when one is offered. Without a ticket you can only see it from the outside.
How much are tickets for the Hanoi Opera House?
Show tickets usually start around 300,000 VND and can exceed 1,500,000 VND for top seats. Guided tours, when offered, cost about 120,000 VND.
Does the Hanoi Opera House have guided tours?
It has offered daytime guided tours of the auditorium, mirror hall and exhibition rooms. Schedules change, so ask at the box office before you plan your day.
When was the Hanoi Opera House built?
Construction began in 1901 and it opened in 1911. It was restored in the 1990s and reopened in 1997.
What is the dress code for the Hanoi Opera House?
Smart casual for performances: no shorts, vests or flip-flops. Some shows do not admit young children.
Where is the Hanoi Opera House?
At 1 Trang Tien street on August Revolution Square, about 10 minutes’ walk east of Hoan Kiem Lake.
Is the Hanoi Opera House worth visiting?
Yes. Even from the outside it is one of Hanoi’s most beautiful buildings, and seeing a concert inside is a memorable evening.
What can you see at the Hanoi Opera House?
From outside, a neo-classical façade inspired by the Palais Garnier in Paris, facing August Revolution Square. Inside (on a guided tour or with a show ticket) are a marble staircase, a mirror hall and a horseshoe-shaped auditorium of about 600 seats.
Is the Hanoi Opera House free to visit?
It is free to see and photograph from the outside. Guided tours of the interior cost about 120,000 VND when offered, and performance tickets start from about 300,000 VND.
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