St. Joseph’s Cathedral, known locally as the Big Church, is instantly recognizable by its twin square bell towers that rise over thirty-one meters into the Hanoi sky. This Gothic Revival landmark features a stone-colored facade of baked…
Hanoi French Quarter Walk
This walk traces the dramatic architectural legacy of French colonial planning in Hanoi, from soaring cathedral spires and notorious prisons to grand administrative palaces.
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1. Nhà Thờ Lớn Hà Nội
2. Hoa Lo Prison Relic
The Hoa Lo Prison Relic is identifiable by its high, thick stone walls, which once stood four meters tall to contain those inside. Constructed by French colonial authorities beginning in eighteen ninety-six, the site replaced an entire…
3. Trang Tien Plaza
Trang Tien Plaza is distinguished by its grand, six-story facade finished in soft tones of white and gold, designed in a classic French colonial style that stands at the corner of Hai Ba Trung, Trang Tien, and Hang Bai streets. Located…
4. Hanoi Opera House
The Hanoi Opera House is recognizable by its vibrant yellow facade and the rows of Roman Ionic columns lining the exterior. Completed in nineteen eleven, the structure was built by the French colonial administration and modeled after the…
5. Vietnam National Museum of History
The Vietnam National Museum of History occupies a ochre-yellow building distinguished by its prominent central cupola and sweeping, double-layered roof. Designed by French architect Ernest Hébrard and completed in nineteen thirty-two, the…
6. Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi
The Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi stands out for its classic white facade, dark green shutters, and original wrought iron, a look that has defined this corner of the city since it opened as the Grand Métropole Hotel in nineteen oh one.…
7. Government Guest House (Tonkin Palace)
The Government Guest House, also known as the Tonkin Palace, is an imposing, symmetrical neoclassical building at twelve Ngo Quyen Street. Designed by the French architect Auguste Henri Vildieu and completed between nineteen eighteen and…
8. State Bank of Vietnam
The State Bank of Vietnam headquarters is a prominent example of Art Deco architecture in Hanoi. You can recognize the structure by its semi-cylindrical central pavilion, which is topped with a dome made of glass sections arranged in a…