Hanoi Opera House to close for renovation

Hanoi, The Gulf Observer: Hanoi Opera House, the iconic landmark of the capital city, will be closed one year for renovation, according to its director Nguyen Thi Minh Nguyet.

This project will receive investment from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Architect Ho Thieu Tri, who participated in the renovation of the building in 1997, along with Institute of Monuments Conservation, are invited to advise on the project.

“After 25 years, architect Ho Thieu Tri is very enthusiastic when participating in this renovation project,” the director said.

This project, which is expected to be implemented and finished in 2024, will focus on improving the stage, equipment and furniture that are in need of repair. The garden surrounding the opera house will also be embellished.

The Hanoi Opera House is an architectural jewel built by the French in 1901 and completed in 1911, based on the Opéra Garnier Theatre in Paris but smaller in stature, with unique architecture and materials suitable for the local climate.

It was recognised as a national relic in 2011.The 589-seater theatre is a “sacred” site, and has been witness to Vietnam’s most important historical and revolutionary events, such as the first meeting of National Assembly of the Democratic Republic of Việt Nam on May 5, 1945 and the meeting of the National Assembly to sign the 1946 Constitution.

It is also the birthplace of Vietnamese opera and theatre. The Mirror Room on the 2nd floor of the theatre used to receive heads of state and influential figures in the world such as former US President Bill Clinton, the King and Queen of Sweden, and Microsoft President Bill Gates.