Planning a trip
Hearing music in Vietnam
The Opera House is a Renaissance Revival building, opened in 1911, with an interior that is still intact. Programming includes the Vietnamese National Opera and Ballet, the Vietnam National Symphony and traditional-instrument ensembles. The notes say the traditional-music and ballet evenings, held on Tuesdays and Fridays, are more interesting than the tourist-targeted shows on Saturdays. For the best sound, sit close to the front of the upper stalls.
The dry season, October to April, is the best time to visit, and the notes advise avoiding the rainy season from June to September. Performances run most evenings, typically starting at 20:00. The box office is open daily from 09:00 to 17:00, and the house closes for Tet, the Lunar New Year, week. Book through the box office rather than an agency.
The building stands in the Old Quarter area, on August Revolution Square. From Hoan Kiem Lake it is a ten-minute walk south, and the building dominates the square. From Noi Bai airport allow 45 minutes by taxi or shuttle. It is the atlas's colonial-heritage entry for Vietnam, a room whose acoustic has held up for over a century.
FAQ
Questions people ask
What is the best time to see a show at Hanoi Opera House?
The dry season, October to April. Traditional Vietnamese music and ballet run year-round on Tuesday and Friday evenings, with tourist-targeted shows on Saturdays. Avoid the rainy season, June to September, and Tet week, when the house closes.
How do you get to Hanoi Opera House?
The opera house stands on August Revolution Square, a ten-minute walk south of Hoan Kiem Lake. From Noi Bai airport it takes about 45 minutes by taxi or shuttle.
Where should you buy tickets for Hanoi Opera House?
Book through the box office rather than an agency. It is open daily from 09:00 to 17:00. Evening performances typically start at 20:00, and the cheaper traditional-music programming is more frequent than gala nights.