THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIET NAM
Government News
Construction begins on Ha Noi's US$520 million Pearl Theater project
VGP - Ha Noi on Sunday started to build its landmark Opera House (Pearl Theater) and the specialized cultural and art park project in Tay Ho Ward.
The groundbreaking ceremony of Pearl Theater project, Ha Noi, October 5, 2025 - Photo: VGP/Thuy Linh
The groundbreaking ceremony drew the attendance of Nguyen Xuan Thang, Politburo member and Director of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics; Bui Thi Minh Hoai, Politburo member and Secretary of the Ha Noi Party Committee; along with other former and current government leaders.
The US$480 million project covers an area of 40 hectares on the Quang An Peninsula. It is built by Sun Group - one of Viet Nam's biggest real estate developers.
The Opera House is designed by renowned Italian architect Renzo Piano, one of the most influential architects of the 20th century. The building’s distinctive feature is its dome structure, inspired by the gentle ripples of West Lake. The ultra-thin, high-strength roof will be coated with a mother-of-pearl-like material, reflecting the changing hues of the lake’s surface throughout the day.
Politburo member and President of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics Nguyen Xuan Thang at the groundbreaking ceremony, Ha Noi, October 5, 2025 - Photo: VGP/Thuy Linh
The opera house will include two main auditoriums: a 1,797-seat opera hall and a versatile multi-purpose hall with 1,430 standing places and 216 balcony seats, suitable for concerts, live shows, and large-scale events. Other spaces include rehearsal rooms, a museum, viewing terraces, and an expansive main foyer.
The theater's total floor area is approximately 40,980 square meters, including two main halls: an opera auditorium seating 1,797 guests, and a flexible multipurpose hall with movable seating accommodating 1,430 standing and 216 balcony seats.
Once completed in 2027, the complex will host symphony concerts, operas, ballets, Broadway musicals, galas, and award ceremonies. It will also serve as a premier venue for cultural exchange and international artistic collaboration.
Built to host world-class artistic performances and welcome globally renowned artists, the Ha Noi Opera House is expected to stand alongside the great art venues of Paris, Milan, Berlin, London, New York, and Los Angeles.
Addressing the ceremony, Director of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, said the project represents “a milestone of strategic vision” by the Party and State in developing culture and people as the driving forces of national progress.