Tuong, the classic Vietnamese opera made up of masks, make-up and drum and trumpet music, comes back to life in the Old Quarter of Hanoi with an exhibition and a series of meetings entitled ‘Stories of traditional opera, stories of modern opera’.
The venue, the Cultural Exchange Center of the Old Quarter, has a symbolic value: it was the San Nhien Dai theatre, linked to some historical stages of the tuang.
The exhibition itinerary accompanies visitors through history, acting, music, costumes and the art of make-up, with meetings with the artists, excerpts from shows and practical activities.
The objective, the organizers explain, is to encourage an exchange between generations, in which the experience of artists and scholars is gathered from the curiosity of young people, who were numerous at the presentation, and in the meantime to build cultural and tourist products linked to the identity of the neighbourhood.
The initiative is part of the program for Cultural Heritage Day (November 23) and Culture Day (November 24) and is part of the activities of the Hanoi Creative Design Festival 2026.
The thematic events will continue throughout November and December, with insights into history, stage music, make-up and acting practices, and debates on the future of tuang in contemporary life.
