South and east of Hoan Kiem Lake, the French Quarter was laid out from the late 19th century as the administrative capital of French Indochina. It feels like another city: broad avenues lined with trees, yellow-painted villas, embassies and ministries, and some of the finest colonial buildings in Asia.
Its centrepiece is the Hanoi Opera House, completed in the early 20th century on the model of the Paris Opéra and still used for concerts and performances. Nearby are the Sofitel Legend Metropole hotel, the State Bank and the Government Guesthouse. Just west of the lake, the neo-Gothic St Joseph’s Cathedral stands over a square of cafés.
What to see and do: French Quarter & Opera House
See a performance at the Opera House
Guided visits and performances are held on some days; check the programme. Otherwise admire the façade from August Revolution Square.
Walk Trang Tien and Hai Ba Trung
Trang Tien street runs from the lake to the Opera House past bookshops and the famous ice-cream parlour; side streets hide villas and cafés.
Hoa Lo Prison
The Hoa Lo Prison museum is on the western edge of the quarter.
Museums
The National Museum of Vietnamese History and the Vietnamese Women’s Museum are both in or near the quarter.
How to get to French Quarter & Opera House
- On foot: the Opera House is about 10 minutes from the south-east corner of Hoan Kiem Lake.
- By Grab: ask for “Nhà hát Lớn Hà Nội”.
Insider tips
- A good area to stay if you want calm and a short walk to the Old Quarter — see where to stay.
- St Joseph’s Cathedral opens its doors around service times; dress modestly.
- Evening light on the Opera House is the best time for photos.
Best tours & tickets for French Quarter & Opera House
These GetYourGuide experiences include French Quarter & Opera House or pair well with it:
History tour from €35 Hoa Lo Prison and Little Paris in Hanoi
A guided walk combining Hoa Lo Prison — the colonial jail later nicknamed the “Hanoi Hilton” — with the boulevards and buildings of the French Quarter.
- Hoa Lo Prison with a guide
- Colonial “Little Paris” architecture
- Rated 5 stars
Vespa tour from €43 Hanoi Vintage Vespa City Tours
See Hanoi the way Hanoians do — from the back of a classic Vespa, with a driver handling the traffic while you take in the sights.
- Ride pillion on a vintage Vespa
- A driver does the riding
- City sights and backstreets
Bus tour from €17 Hanoi: City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour
An open-top bus loop between Hanoi’s major sights, with tickets valid for a set period.
- Open-top bus loop
- Hop on and off
- Covers the main sights
