Please meet the Hanoi Opera House (or Nhà hát lớn Hà Nội as you can read on the pediment), an interesting building inspired by the parisian Palais Garnier. Next to it is the Hilton Hanoi Opera Hotel, recently established; you may wonder why such a long name? Well, let’s just say that the Hanoi Hilton from the Vietnam/American War was not so much known for its suites, but rather for its prison cells.

On a lighter note, I’m probably going to attend a flamenco show there in two weeks; that’ll be the perfect opportunity to see whether the inside lives up to the glorious shell. Stay tuned!