Hanoi Breaks Ground on The Iconic Opera House by West Lake
On the morning of October 5, the Hanoi People’s Committee, in collaboration with Sun Group, held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Opera House project (also known as the Pearl Theater) and a themed cultural and art park at Dam Tri Lake, Quang An Peninsula, Tay Ho Ward. The Hanoi Westlake Opera House and the Themed Cultural and Art Park are landmark projects among a series of developments celebrating the 71st anniversary of the Capital’s Liberation Day (October 10, 1954 – October 10, 2025). The New Hanoi Opera House is expected to be completed in 2027.
The West Lake Opera House will have a capacity of over 2,000 seats
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Mr. Duong Duc Tuan – Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee – emphasized that the Hanoi Opera House and the Themed Cultural and Art Park are major cultural projects of the capital.
“This is a profoundly humanitarian project, aimed at serving the community, non-profit in nature, and funded through socialized investment – something very rare in the world, as most grand opera houses are financed or sponsored by the state.
Hanoi is committed to providing the best possible conditions, accompanying and fully supporting the project to ensure its timely, high-quality, and safe implementation,” Mr. Tuan stated.
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Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Nguyen Xuan Thang, Politburo member, President of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, and Chairman of the Central Theoretical Council, stated that once completed, the project will become a venue for world-renowned art troupes to perform.
At the same time, the opera house will also serve as a place to promote and showcase Vietnam’s traditional cultural values and the talents of its people to the world.
“We have high expectations for this project. It lays the foundation for developing more opera houses and modern cultural works, enabling Hanoi to truly deserve its status as a capital of civilization — a modern, green, and beautiful city worthy of global recognition.
I also hope that since Hanoi Westlake Opera House is located on the Quang An Peninsula, the access roads leading to it will be completed in time so that when the opera house comes into operation, all related infrastructure will also be ready. Only then can people fully enjoy the cultural and artistic values that the opera house will bring,” Mr. Thang said.
An Iconic Design
Westlake Opera House project, invested by Sun Group with a total capital of over VND 12.756 trillion, spans a land area of about 191,000 square meters at the center of the Quang An Peninsula. It is envisioned as a venue for major cultural and political events of the capital.
In addition, the themed cultural and art park will cater to the public’s needs for creativity, enjoyment, and recreation, while serving as a new landmark that attracts both domestic and international visitors.
The opera house features two main auditoriums:
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An opera hall with a capacity of 1,797 seats.
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A multi-functional hall equipped with a movable seating system, allowing flexible configuration for standing events such as concerts and live performances, accommodating around 1,430 standing guests and 216 balcony seats.
In addition to the main auditoriums, the complex will include various multi-purpose spaces such as a grand foyer, rehearsal and practice rooms, a museum, and an observation deck.
Once completed, Hanoi Westlake Opera House is expected not only to host a wide range of art forms — including symphonies, operas, ballets, Broadway musicals, gala shows, award ceremonies, and large-scale entertainment events — but also to become a vibrant cultural and artistic hub and a modern leisure destination for both locals and visitors.
A distinctive highlight of the opera house is its dome-shaped roof, inspired by the gentle ripples of West Lake. The roof features an ultra-thin, high-strength structure coated with mother-of-pearl–like material, creating a shimmering effect that reflects the colors of the lake’s surface under varying light throughout the day.
Not only will it feature one of the most unique roof structures in the world, Hanoi Westlake Opera House will also incorporate a range of advanced design technologies and engineering innovations.
The walls of the main auditorium will be equipped with a mechanically operated acoustic panel system. Depending on the type of performance, these acoustic panels can be adjusted — opening, closing, or moving up and down in different directions and positions — to precisely control sound reflection, absorption, and reverberation time according to the specific requirements of each artistic program.
This system is the first of its kind in Vietnam and is found in only a few opera houses worldwide. It ensures that the Hanoi Opera House will provide an optimal acoustic environment for all forms of performance — from opera, symphony concerts, and ballet to music festivals, conferences, and more — delivering the most natural and immersive sound experience possible.
Another Masterpiece by Renzo Piano
After 40 years of research into thin-shell structural technology, the Italian architect revealed his intention to apply this technique for the first time to the dome of the Hanoi Opera House. Inspired by the rippling waves of West Lake, the dome embodies a soft, poetic, and distinctly contemporary aesthetic. Its surface features a mother-of-pearl effect, reflecting the changing hues of West Lake’s water throughout the day — from dawn to dusk — creating a truly unique visual experience.
Renzo Piano affectionately refers to the Hanoi Opera House as an “Island of Music.” It is not only a venue for world-class performances — a sanctuary where artists can fulfill their dreams of performing in a true temple of the arts — but also a “precious pearl” rising from the waters of West Lake, resonating with the pure and tranquil sounds of Hanoi.
For Renzo Piano, the Hanoi Opera House is more than just an architectural project. It is a work of art with a soul — one that revives the city’s timeless cultural essence, nurtures the simple beauty of daily life, and paints a vision of the future infused with the most advanced and contemporary values of the modern world.
West Lake is about to be completely transformed
In addition, the surrounding ponds and lakes — such as Pho Linh Pagoda’s lotus pond and Thuy Su Lake — will be cleaned, renovated, and restored, with West Lake lotus flowers planted to harmonize with the overall landscape of the cultural park. West Lake is also planned to feature eight boat docks and a waterway tourism route, including a dock located near the opera house, allowing residents and visitors to conveniently access this iconic cultural and artistic landmark.
In particular, Dang Thai Mai Street will be expanded to a width of 90 meters, connecting the main Xuan Dieu Street to the lakeside area. The development will also include a pedestrian street, enhancing both traffic convenience and recreational activities in the Quang An area.
It can be said that, Hanoi Westlake Opera House is far more than just an architectural work. It is a true piece of art imbued with the soul of Hanoi — one that revives the city’s timeless cultural heritage, nurtures the simple beauty of everyday life, and paints the colors of the future with the most modern and progressive values of the contemporary world.
