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A print of the front of the Hà Nội Opera House: an ochre facade of columns and tall arched windows, a green dome with a yellow flag above it, and indigo doorways along the base.A photograph of the front of the Hà Nội Opera House: an ochre facade of columns and tall arched windows, a green dome with a yellow flag above it, and indigo doorways along the base.

Nhà hát Lớn

The opera houseOchre, Shutter green, Indigo, key blockHà Nội Opera House, Hoàn KiếmLine drawn by FLUX.2 [klein] 4B, an image model, after a photograph by Richard Mortel, Photograph by Richard Mortel, CC BY 2.0. Cropped for this site.

Hoàn Kiếm

Hoàn Kiếm and the French Quarter

A lake at the centre, and wide streets laid out around it.

What it is

Hoàn Kiếm is the lake at the centre of the city. The path round it is about 1.7 km, and at five in the morning it is the busiest room in Hanoi: tai chi in rows, a dance class, two men playing badminton without a net.

South and east of the lake is the French Quarter, laid out in colonial times with wide streets and large buildings. The Opera House, in its middle, was built between 1901 and 1911.

When to go

Dawn, for the lake. From Friday evening to midnight on Sunday the streets round the lake are closed to traffic, and the whole district walks; the hours change around holidays, and we found no official notice for 2026.

How to behave

The path is a track for people exercising. Walk on the outside, do not stop in the middle of a group, and ask before photographing anyone. Ngọc Sơn is a temple in use: cover your shoulders and knees.

Things to do

  • The loop

    About 1.7 km, and an hour if you look.

  • Ngọc Sơn temple

    On an island in the lake, reached by a red wooden bridge.

  • The Opera House

    Cream and yellow, and best seen from the steps on a quiet morning.

  • The weekend walking streets

    Friday evening to Sunday midnight, hours changing round holidays.

  • A cup of egg coffee

    The story goes that it began in 1946, when there was no milk.

Walk it with us

A print of the lake path under old trees: pink branches leaning out over green water, a pink paved path and a few early walkers.A photograph of the lake path under old trees: pink branches leaning out over green water, a pink paved path and a few early walkers.

Before the city wakes

Hoàn Kiếm at dawn, then phở for breakfast.

Length
3 hours
Starts
05:15
Group
Up to 8
From
USD 45
A print of coffee dripping through a steel phin filter set on a glass, on a white saucer with two slices of lemon: the filter and the saucer's shadow in ochre, the coffee in clay brown, all in black line.A photograph of coffee dripping through a steel phin filter set on a glass, on a white saucer with two slices of lemon: the filter and the saucer's shadow in ochre, the coffee in clay brown, all in black line.

Coffee, five ways

Phin, egg, coconut, yoghurt, and a roaster.

Length
2.5 hours
Starts
09:00
Group
Up to 8
From
USD 35
A print of a water puppet standing in dark indigo water: a pale face with red lips under a gold lotus headdress, a red tunic and an ochre sash.A photograph of a water puppet standing in dark indigo water: a pale face with red lips under a gold lotus headdress, a red tunic and an ochre sash.

Puppets on the water

A water puppet performance, after a talk on how the puppeteers work from behind the screen.

Length
2 hours
Starts
17:00
Group
Up to 8
From
USD 30

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