French-style architectural works in Hanoi city

Hanoi stands thousands years of history. Its architecture is shaped up of both domestic and foreign style. Paris-style buildings and metropolis located in broad avenues and lined with trees are legacies that show the distinctive imprint of French architecture.

5 French-style architectural works in Hanoi
Hanoi Opera House      
Hanoi Opera House, built in 1901 and completed in 1911, is one of the architectural landmarks in Hanoi, Vietnam. Hanoi Opera House is modeled on the Palais Garnier in France. It’s a great piece of European architectural style with Gothic and Mosaic characters on the door domes, glassed rooms, copper chandeliers, marble floor, and French murals on the ceiling.

It is a famous rendezvous to enjoy a wide range of events such as traditional performances, ballets, classical music, dances, concerts, etc.

Hanoi Opera House with a unique architecture, great historical and art values has become the famous monument in Hanoi.

Hotel Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi

Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, a five star hotel, is located at 15 Ngo Quyen Street. This hotel with a century history is designed in French colonial style with white-painted walls, iron patterns, green windows, and green lawns.

This hotel has quickly become preferred address to many visitors. Its boulangerie offers French pastries, the bar sells French wine and the hotel showed films and hosted jazz nights.

Presidential Palace

Presidential Palace, built in 1901, was first the palace of the Indochina’s General Governor. This three-storey building is painted with yellow color, covered with giant iron gate, and designed symmetrically. The Palace interior is not open to tourists but you are allowed to visit the Botanical gardens to get a look at the fruit trees and Ho Chi Minh’s stilt house.

It is now the office of the President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

Dong Xuan Market

Dong Xuan Market is one of the biggest markets in Hanoi with an area of 6,500 square meters. Dong Xuan Market was constructed under the order of the French administration in 1889. This market has 5 domes; each dome has 19 meters in height. The front entrance encompasses a stunning beauty of French architecture.

You can find a large variety of goods in Dong Xuan Market such as clothes, vegetables, household goods, and foodstuffs.


Saint Joseph’s Cathedral


Built in 1886, Saint Joseph’s Cathedral is a Gothic Revival Church, serves as the gathering place of Roman Catholic community in Hanoi. The church has an extraordinary appearance. It is constructed with stone slabs and brick. The façade includes two towers, rising to 31.5 meters in height. Each tower is fitted with 5 bells. Windows are stained glass windows produced in France then being transported to Vietnam.