Just across the circle from the hotel, Hanoi’s Opera House is a shade younger than the Hotel Metropole—it was completed in 1911. Modeled on the Palais Garnier in Paris, it’s a visually thrilling piece of architecture that also serves a noble purpose—as a hall for ballet, symphonies, and opera (including Vietnamese opera). Performances might include a concert by the Asian Youth Orchestra, cofounded by the distinguished violinist Yehudi Menuhin, or the Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra, featuring music from Wagner and Tchaikovsky. Photo by Prashant Ram/Flickr.
