Admiring French architecture in the heart of Ha Noi

HANOI OPERA HOUSE

With its location at 1A Trang Tien street, Hoan Kiem district, the Hanoi Opera House is one of the mustvisit attractions for foreign tourists. The construction started in 1901 and took 10 years to complete. The Opera House possesses sophisticated architecture imbued with Southern French culture, a great representation of European theaters from the 20^th century. Ha Noi is blessed to have many outstanding French architectural works, but the Opera Hanoi House, with its neoclassical beauty, with the golden walls and the black tiled roof, and the fact that the Opera House is designed and built with so much delicacy and meticulousness, has made it stand out among others. Right after its inauguration, the Hanoi Opera House has become a major cultural center here in the capital.

LONG BIEN BRIDGE

Long Bien bridge, as an important part of Ha Noi’s history, has stood there through many ups and downs in the tragic and heroic journey of this nation that lasted for years. This French architecture is the first ever steel bridge that crosses the Red River with a length of 2,290m. Like a silk strip crossing the Red River, Long Bien bridge is always a popular go-to spot for both foreign visitors and locals.

ST. JOSEPH’S CATHEDRAL

Located on Nha Chung street, the magnificent cathedral impresses visitors with its astonishing medieval European Gothic Revival architecture. For the locals here, the cathedral is not only a place for religious retreat but also a cultural symbol. The cathedral was built from 1884 to 1888, and this French architectural work has the striking beauty of the Western architectural style, with its wide, curved arches pointing towards the sky. In front of the church are the twin bell towers on both sides. In the middle is a statue of the Cross and a large medieval clock that has been a part of Ha Noi’s history for many years.

VIETNAM HISTORICAL MUSEUM

The Vietnam History Museum is one of the most famous in Viet Nam, located on Trang Tien street right behind the Opera House. With its historical beauty, the museum is home to many artifacts of great historical value during the period of national construction and defense of Viet Nam. From 1925, when it was built by architects C. Batteur and E. Hébrard, until this day, the Vietnam Historical Museum is still one of the hottest attractions in Ha Noi.

HA NOI STATION

Ha Noi station, also known as Hang Co station, is a work that was heavily influenced by Western culture in the 20th century. Started working in 1902, Ha Noi station still provides routes from the North to the South of Viet Nam, taking tourists and locals to anywhere in the country. After many restorations, Ha Noi station still has its French beauty with the main curtain and the sophisticated windows in the main building. On the front, you can see the station’s name in bright red, and the interior of the building has now been modernized to provide guests with more convenience while still maintaining its beauty. Entering the platform, the sight of the old, iconic Thong Nhat will help you truly understand the historical value of this old French architecture in the heart of the capital.

Thao Anh

(Source: Vietnam Today 1.2022)