Hanoi studio getting $5 mln makeover
Print 
Hanoi’s Co Loa film studio is in the midst of a VND108-billion (US$5 million) face lift which will turn it into Vietnam’s largest and most modern.
The first phase of the work done with assistance from experts from Germany, Russia, and China is almost finished, and the second will be undertaken from 2012 to 2015.
Some settings built at Co Loa for the “ Thai su Tran Thu Do” movie
Vietnam, especially the north, has had an acute shortage of studios. In 2008 Co Loa was chosen by the Film Studio No. 1 to shoot the film “Thai su Tran Thu Do”. Elaborate sets were built but in the absence of professional expertise, they proved wasteful since some of them could not be reused.
Many backgrounds were left behind after using for one movie
Nguyen Huu Trong, a film producer said at that time: “Without a professional studio, producing a historical movie becomes extremely difficult and costly.
“Having [one] is essential in the near future. It will help producers control their schedule, cut costs, and ensure the artistic quality of a film.”
The Wall is built to serve the outdoor scenes
After three years of renovation at a cost of VND20 billion, Co Loa has acquired the look of a modern studio. Its indoor studio has been installed with a computer-controlled lighting system and studio equipment at a cost of $1.5 million.
The new German lighting system of the indoor studio
The 12.2-hectare Co Loa has also got an underwater studio, an outdoor studio with sets of Hanoi’s citadel and old quarter, and a recording studio.
Tourism benefits
Studios not only help shoot movies but also benefit a country’s tourism industry. Many studios around the world are open to visitors, including Dream of the Red Chamber in the middle of Beijing which has been a popular attraction for more than two decades.
Dream of the Red Chamber studio in Beijing
Another famous studio is Dae Jang Geum situated an hour’s drive from the Korean capital Seoul. Gyeonggi, likened to the Hollywood of Korea, has already attracted 70 million tourists this year, mainly foreigners, who came to enjoy traditional Seoul.
Dae Janh Geum studio
Co Loa is located 10km from Hanoi and Nguyen Huu Trong wants to turn it into an attraction to exploit tourism.
China and Korea have learnt to profit from their movies
