Hanoi plans to build the country’s biggest theatre, named Thang Long, in the Tay Ho Tay new residential area.

The theatre will be located on 22 hectares, including a room with 1,200 to 1,500 seats for classical music shows and a general theatre with 1,800 seats. The theatre will also have outdoor stages.

Two draft designs of the theatre have been submitted to Hanoi authorities. They were selected from dozens of designs submitted during a design contest.

According to the first design, the theatre will be located in a lotus lake, with two blocks in the shape of bronze drums that share the same roof in the shape of a tortoise shell.

Under the second design, the theatre will also be built on a water surface, with three blocks and trees. It will look like a sail.

The Hanoi authorities will choose a design. The groundbreaking ceremony will be held in early October.

Currently all significant art shows are organized at the 900-seat Hanoi Opera House, which was built by the French in the early 19^th century.

Early this year, a 730-seat theatre named Au Co was opened on Huynh Thuc Khang road.

PV