Around 7:30 last night, we ambled next door for the Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra's performance of several works by Norwegian and Vietnamese composers and the Sibelius 5th Symphony. The space was a beautiful, if underloved, neo-classical concert hall with gold leaf and red velvet to be found everywhere. The hallways were impressively laid with marble and seemed to echo ages past when the opera was still a central event in the lives of Hanoi's French Colonial elite.
The program drew a meager crowd, filling only about 1/3-1/2 of the hall. The audience was an interesting mix of Vietnamese and Western expat season ticket holders, tourists, and locals simply popping in the for show.
The music wasn't bad, but the highlight of the event was sneaking into an antechamber off the upstairs lobby, which led to the main outdoor balcony from which the Vietminh declared independence in 1945. We did our best Uncle Ho impressions as we waved to the indifferent motorbikers zipping by in the street below.
After the performance, we headed to Club Opera, an upscale classical Vietnamese restaurant, for dinner. The food was outstanding, and the patio table was great for people watching as old men took advantage of the cool evening to play checkers, and a few businesswomen popped in for desert after work.
Sadly, our 5-star living is quickly drawing to a close, as we set our sights on landing an overnight train for Hue, the ancient Imperial capital of Vietnam. But we're excited for the adventure and crossing the DMZ! Might be radio silent for a day or two.
KT & AC
I can't believe you are taking the time to keep up your blog (you are so busy!), but I certainly am enjoying it. Vicarious living.
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