Hanoi Opera House (Nhà hát Lớn Hà Nội) stands at 1 Trang Tien Street, Cua Nam Ward, in the heart of the city. One update matters before you plan a visit. The opera house has been closed since 31 January 2026 for a restoration expected to last about two years. Guided tours and indoor performances are paused, so there is no entrance fee to pay right now. The exterior can still be viewed and photographed free of charge, at any hour, from August Revolution Square. This guide covers the latest closure news, the tour prices and timings that applied before the closure, the dress code, address, map and directions, what the inside looks like, and where Indian travellers can watch a show in Hanoi in 2026.
Hanoi Opera House at a glance (updated November 2026)
- Status: Closed for restoration since 31 January 2026. No official reopening date had been announced as of November 2026.
- Entrance fee now: Free to view and photograph from outside. There is no interior access.
- Tour fee before the closure: 120,000 VND (about ₹440) for a 70-minute guided tour, or 400,000 VND (about ₹1,465) for a tour with an art show.
- Timings before the closure: Tours ran from 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM, and evening shows usually began at 7:30 PM.
- Address: 1 Trang Tien, Cua Nam Ward, Hanoi, on August Revolution Square. It is about 500 m from Hoan Kiem Lake.
- Dress code: Smart casual for shows. Avoid shorts, flip-flops and sleeveless tops.
- Time needed: 15–20 minutes for photos outside, or about 1.5 hours when tours run.
Is the Hanoi Opera House Open in 2026? Closure Update
No, the Hanoi Opera House is not open to visitors in 2026. The theatre closed to the public on 31 January 2026 for a major restoration expected to take about two years. It was the building’s first large-scale works since the 1990s. Before it closed, the theatre held a farewell exhibition, “115 Years – The Theatre Tells Its Story”, which ran from late November 2025 to the end of January 2026.
The restoration covers:
- the stage machinery and technical systems
- the auditorium seating
- the building’s infrastructure
- the gardens on both sides
Architect Ho Thieu Tri, who led the 1995–1997 restoration, was invited back to advise on the project.
The building has not been announced as reopening on any particular date. Online estimates of late 2027 or 2028 are unofficial.
What this means for your trip:
- You can still see it from outside. The facade, the front steps and August Revolution Square remain one of Hanoi’s best photo spots. Parts of the building may be behind construction hoardings.
- You cannot go inside. Guided tours, the tour and show combo, and indoor concerts are all suspended.
- Be wary of old listings. Ignore any website or reseller that still sells “Hanoi Opera House tour tickets” for 2026 dates.
Hanoi Opera House Entrance Fee and Tour Tickets
There is no entrance fee in 2026, because the inside is closed and viewing the exterior is free. For reference, here are the official tour prices that applied until the closure. Expect similar formats when the theatre reopens, although prices may be revised.
| Option | Price (before closure) | Duration | Group size | Status in 2026 |
| Viewing the exterior and August Revolution Square | Free | 15–20 minutes | Any size | Available |
| Hanoi Opera House guided tour | 120,000 VND (about ₹440) | 70 minutes | Up to 20 people | Suspended |
| Tour and traditional art show (Hon Viet programme) | 400,000 VND (about ₹1,465) | 90 minutes | Up to 250 people | Suspended |
| Evening concert, opera or ballet ticket | From about 300,000 VND (about ₹1,100); premium seats cost 1,500,000 VND or more | About 2 hours | About 600 seats | Suspended (moved to other venues) |
When the tours ran, they were guided in Vietnamese and English. French, Italian, Russian and Japanese were available on request. Children under 6 were not admitted to tours.
Hanoi Opera House Opening Hours and Timings
In 2026 the building has no visiting hours, because the interior is closed. The square in front is a public space, so you can view the outside at any time of day.
- Best time for photos:
- 7:00–9:00 AM, for soft light and light traffic.
- 5:30–7:00 PM, when the facade lights come on.
- Tour timings before the closure: 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM. Sources disagree on which days the tours ran. Most listed the standard tour on most days of the week and the tour and show combo on selected weekdays, usually Monday and Thursday.
- Show timings before the closure: Most evening performances started at 7:30 PM. Doors could close about 15 minutes after the start, so latecomers were sometimes refused entry.
- Interior access: Even before 2026, there was never free walk-in entry. The inside could only be seen on a guided tour or with a show ticket.
Hanoi Opera House Shows in 2026: Where to Watch Instead
No public shows are being held inside the Hanoi Opera House in 2026. The weekly tourist show and the large concerts have moved elsewhere. If live performance is on your Hanoi wish list, these are the best alternatives this year:
- Ho Guom Theatre (Nhà hát Hồ Gươm), 40–40A Hang Bai Street. This modern venue opened in July 2023, about 1.2 km from the Opera House. It has a 900-seat main hall and a 500-seat small hall, and now hosts many of the city’s big classical events. One example is the Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra’s Toyota Concert in August 2026, with tickets at 500,000–800,000 VND (about ₹1,830–2,930).
- Water puppet shows. Hanoi’s most famous traditional art form plays several times a day beside Hoan Kiem Lake. See our guide to the thang long water puppet theater for show times and ticket prices.
- Hanoi Theatre Festival and seasonal concerts. Check Ticketbox and the venues’ Facebook pages two to three weeks ahead. Popular dates sell out fast.
When the Hanoi Opera House reopens, its programme should again include symphony concerts, opera, ballet such as Swan Lake, chamber music and traditional Vietnamese performances. Tickets have usually been sold through the official website, hanoioperahouse.org.vn, and through Ticketbox.
Hanoi Opera House Dress Code
There is no strict written dress code, but the Hanoi Opera House is a formal venue. Most audiences dress smart casual or better.
- For evening shows:
- Men can wear trousers, a shirt or kurta, and closed shoes.
- Women can wear a dress, a saree, salwar kameez or smart trousers.
- A light shawl helps, because the air-conditioning is strong.
- Avoid: shorts, flip-flops, sleeveless vests and sportswear.
- For guided tours (when they resume): Neat day clothes are fine. Follow the same no-shorts, no-flip-flops rule.
- For photos outside in 2026: There is no dress rule. Many visitors wear an ao dai or Indian festive outfit for a classic shot on the steps.
Hanoi Opera House Address, Location and Map
Address: 1 Trang Tien Street, Cua Nam Ward, Hanoi. Before the July 2025 administrative reform, the address was Phan Chu Trinh Ward, Hoan Kiem District.
The opera house faces August Revolution Square (Quảng trường Cách mạng Tháng Tám), where Trang Tien, Trang Thi, Le Thanh Tong and Phan Chu Trinh streets meet. You can open the location in Google Maps.
| From | Distance | Typical time |
| Hoan Kiem Lake (south-east shore) | About 500 m | 7–10 minutes on foot |
| Hanoi Old Quarter (Hang Dao area) | About 1.5 km | 20 minutes on foot or 5 minutes by car |
| Hoa Lo Prison | About 1.4 km | 5 minutes by car |
| West Lake (south shore) | About 4–5 km | 15–20 minutes by car |
| Noi Bai International Airport | About 28 km | 40–50 minutes by car |
How to Get to Hanoi Opera House: Directions
- On foot:
- From Hoan Kiem Lake, walk east along Trang Tien Street, Hanoi’s famous ice-cream street. The opera house is at the end of the street.
- From the Old Quarter, follow Hang Bai or Dinh Tien Hoang Street south and turn left onto Trang Tien.
- By taxi or ride-hailing: Grab, Xanh SM and Be all serve the area. Set the drop-off as “Nhà hát Lớn Hà Nội”. A short ride from the Old Quarter usually costs 30,000–60,000 VND (about ₹110–220).
- From Noi Bai Airport:
- A metered taxi costs about 300,000–350,000 VND (about ₹1,100–1,280).
- Ride-hailing apps cost 180,000–300,000 VND.
- Airport bus 86 passes the Opera House on its way to Hanoi Railway Station. It costs about 45,000 VND (about ₹165) and runs every 25–30 minutes from early morning to about 10 PM.
- By city bus:
- Routes such as 02, 35A, 43 and 86CT stop near the Opera House.
- From the West Lake area, the 02 and E02 lines are commonly listed.
- Routes change from time to time, so check Google Maps or the Transerco app before you travel.
- With a guided city tour: The easiest option for families and first-timers. On a vietnam trip from india with us, the Opera House is usually a photo stop on the Hanoi city tour, together with Hoan Kiem Lake and the French Quarter.
Inside the Hanoi Opera House: Architecture Floor by Floor
The building blends French neoclassical and Renaissance styles. It is about 87 m long, 30 m wide and 34 m high, and covers about 2,600 m². Because Hanoi’s ground is soft and marshy, the foundations were laid on tens of thousands of bamboo piles. Sources put the number at around 30,000–35,000. Here is what visitors saw inside when tours were running.
Ground Floor: The Grand Lobby and Staircase
Through the main doors is the grand lobby. A T-shaped stone staircase rises to the upper floor, the floor is laid with white Italian stone, and a red carpet runs down the centre. Gilded and bronze light fittings line the walls. The space was designed to impress arriving guests and still sets the tone for the whole building.
Second Floor: The Mirror Room
The Mirror Room, or Mirror Chamber, has tall mirrors between the doors and windows, crystal chandeliers and red velvet furniture. It is used to receive state guests and high-ranking delegations, and for ceremonies, press conferences and small chamber performances. It was the highlight of the guided tour.
The Auditorium and Stage
The heart of the building is a horseshoe-shaped auditorium with three levels of seating, gilded balconies and Greco-Roman columns. In its normal layout it seats about 600 people, and it can hold up to about 870 at full capacity. Behind the stage are rehearsal rooms, dressing rooms, meeting rooms and a library. The current restoration focuses on upgrading the stage technology and seating while keeping the historic decoration.
History of the Hanoi Opera House
| Year | Milestone |
| 1901–1911 | Built by the French. Construction began on 7 June 1901. The architects Harlay and Broyer took inspiration from the Palais Garnier in Paris. The first performance was held on 9 December 1911. |
| 1940 | Vietnamese troupes were allowed to rent the theatre. Until then it had mainly served French audiences. |
| 19 August 1945 | A huge rally in the square in front marked the start of the August Revolution in Hanoi. The square was later named after it. |
| 2 March 1946 | The First National Assembly of Vietnam held its first session in the building. |
| 1995–1997 | A major restoration was led by French-Vietnamese architect Ho Thieu Tri, with support from France. |
| 2011 | The theatre turned 100 and was ranked a National Relic. |
| 2026 | The theatre closed on 31 January for a restoration of about two years. |
For more than a century the Hanoi Opera House has hosted symphony orchestras, opera, ballet, state ceremonies and international artists. It is one of the most important cultural landmarks in Vietnam, and it remains one of the best surviving examples of French colonial architecture in Asia.
Hanoi Opera House vs the New Opera House at West Lake
Many travellers search for the “Hanoi Opera House West Lake” and mix up two different buildings. The historic Hanoi Opera House at 1 Trang Tien is the one described in this guide.
The new Hanoi Opera House is a separate, brand-new project on the Quang An peninsula, beside the Dam Tri lagoon on hanoi west lake.
- It was designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano and is being built by Sun Group.
- Work began on 5 October 2025, with an investment of more than 12,700 billion VND.
- The main opera hall will seat about 1,800 people.
- Completion is targeted for 2027.
- As of early 2026 the foundations were finished and the main structure was rising. It is not open to visitors yet.
Nearby Attractions and Museums to Pair With Your Visit
A photo stop at the opera house fits easily into a half day in the French Quarter. These are the best places to add:
- Hoan Kiem Lake, about 500 m away. Walk around the lake to Ngoc Son Temple and The Huc Bridge.
- Hanoi Old Quarter, about 1.5 km away. Its 36 guild streets are good for shopping, street food and coffee.
- hanoi walking street. The lakeside streets go traffic-free on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings.
- Vietnam National Museum of History, about 450 m away. Two French-era buildings sit just behind the opera house.
- Vietnamese Women’s Museum, about 700 m away on Ly Thuong Kiet Street. It is open from 8 AM to 5 PM, and entry costs about 40,000 VND (about ₹147).
- hoa lo prison, about 1.4 km away. This French-built prison is now a museum with a popular night tour.
If you enjoy history, plan a museum day. Our guide to museums in hanoi covers the best options. Don’t miss the new vietnam military history museum on Thang Long Avenue or the colourful vietnam museum of ethnology, which is great for families. For a half-day trip outside the centre, the ancient co loa citadel lies about 20 km to the north.
Travel Tips for Indian Visitors
- Combine it with Trang Tien Street. Try a cone or ice bar at Trang Tien ice cream, a Hanoi ritual.
- Mind the traffic. The square is a busy roundabout. Cross at the lights, and step onto the front steps only when there are no events or restrictions.
- Check for events. State ceremonies and restoration work can close off parts of the square at short notice.
- Vegetarian food nearby. Several Indian and vegetarian restaurants are a short ride away in the Old Quarter.
- Getting to Hanoi. There are direct flights to Vietnam from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad. Indian passport holders can apply online for an e-visa, which costs US$25 (about ₹2,375).
- Festive season. Hanoi is busy around Tet (Lunar New Year), which falls on 6 February 2027. Book hotels near Hoan Kiem Lake early.
Want a Hanoi itinerary with a vegetarian-friendly guide, private car and hotel near Hoan Kiem Lake? Send us your travel dates and our team in Hanoi and India will design the trip for you.
FAQs About Hanoi Opera House
Is Hanoi Opera House closed?
Yes. It has been closed to the public since 31 January 2026 for a restoration of about two years. As of November 2026, no official reopening date had been announced. You can still view and photograph the exterior.
What is the Hanoi Opera House entrance fee?
In 2026 it is free, because only the exterior can be visited. Before the closure, the guided tour cost 120,000 VND (about ₹440) and the tour with an art show cost 400,000 VND (about ₹1,465).
What are the Hanoi Opera House opening hours?
The interior has no opening hours during the restoration. The square outside is open all day. Before the closure, tours ran from 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM, and most shows started at 7:30 PM.
Is there a dress code at Hanoi Opera House?
There is no strict code, but smart casual is expected for performances. Avoid shorts, flip-flops and sleeveless tops. A saree, kurta, dress or shirt with trousers is perfect.
Can you go inside Hanoi Opera House?
Not in 2026. When it reopens, visitors should again be able to see the lobby, the Mirror Room and the auditorium on a guided tour or by buying a show ticket. There has never been free walk-in entry.
Where is Hanoi Opera House located?
It is at 1 Trang Tien Street, Cua Nam Ward, Hanoi, on August Revolution Square. That is about 500 m from Hoan Kiem Lake and 28 km from Noi Bai Airport.
Are there Hanoi Opera House shows in 2026?
No shows are being held inside in 2026. Classical concerts have moved to venues such as Ho Guom Theatre on Hang Bai Street. Water puppet theatres near Hoan Kiem Lake perform every day.
Is the Hanoi Opera House near West Lake?
No. The historic opera house is in the French Quarter, about 4–5 km from West Lake. The new opera house being built on West Lake’s Quang An peninsula is a separate project, due around 2027.
Closure status, ticket prices, timings and transport details were last checked in November 2026 and may change.
The Hanoi Opera House is closed for now, but it is still one of the most photogenic landmarks in Vietnam’s capital. It is well worth a stop on any Hanoi walk. Pair it with Hoan Kiem Lake, Trang Tien Street and a museum or two, and see more things to do in Hanoi to complete your plan. Have a wonderful trip to Vietnam!
OTHER ATTRACTIONS IN HANOI
