Saigon Opera House, also called the Municipal Theater, is an outstanding French-styled architecture in Vietnam. When visiting here, you will discover its special layouts, together with unique Vietnamese art performances.
To help you have the best time at Ho Chi Minh City Opera House, Vietnamtour.in will show a comprehensive guide for your journey in this blog. Right now, let’s start your exploration with us below!
Brief information
- Location: 07 Cong Truong Lam Son, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
- Opening Time: 8 AM – 10 PM
- Capacity: 3,200 square meters (around 468 seats)
- Cost: $3.5 – $33/pax
- Website: https://www.luneproduction.com/
- Hotline: +84 845 181 188
A Long-Standing History Of Saigon Opera House
Saigon Opera House was completed in 1898 by a renowned French architect, namely Eugene Ferret. It was originally used to serve for European cultural events of the French colonization in Vietnam, such as ballet performances, music shows, or theatrical productions.
In the early 1900s, a Vietnamese art form was first performed here, called Cai Luong. After that, the National Assembly of South Vietnam briefly transformed the Opera House into one of the important headquarters during the war.
Over time, the Municipal Theater was renovated and preserved to organize Vietnamese artistic performances. Up to 2012, the Vietnamese Government recognized it as a National Relic, which holds a lot of historical and cultural values of Vietnam.
Outstanding Architectural Highlights Of Saigon Opera House
Saigon Opera House features the “flamboyant” style of the French Third Public. Inside this relic, every corner is decorated with stone-carved ornaments and statues, together with granite floor and crystal chandeliers. This makes the house keep its luxurious and elegant beauty over time.
The theater is highly evaluated for preventing traffic noise due to its unique design of 2 door layers, and 2 meters higher than the main street. That’s also why audiences will not be interrupted by the exterior sounds while watching the Saigon Opera House shows.
Since the renovation in 1998, the Opera House has been equipped with a range of modern amenities, such as sound, light, and safety systems. Additionally, the seat lines are also replaced with better materials but still retain their original red color.
Detailed guide
Location
The Municipal Theater is located at 07 Cong Truong Lam Son, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, which is in the downtown of Ho Chi Minh City. Thus, travelers can easily move from any starting point.
Opening Times
The Saigon Opera House opening hours can vary, depending on the weekdays. Normally, the Saigon Opera House opens from 8.00 AM to 10 PM. However, it’s ideal to come here in the evening to watch the shows, and then take a wander to other destinations to experience the nightlife in Saigon.
Show Schedule
Saigon Opera House schedules can change, thus, we recommend you check the official website or hotline for the most up-to-date information. In the Municipal Theater, there are 3 renowned shows, including:
A O SHOW
“A O Show” impresses visitors with a harmonious combination of Vietnamese art forms. During the performance, you will surely immerse yourself in the world of both rural and urban life in Vietnam. It is a great chance to have a deeper understanding of Vietnamese culture.
- Genre: Traditional music, dance, acrobatics, and bamboo cirque circus
- Duration: 60 minutes
- Tickets fee: 33 USD/pax
TEH DAR
“Teh Dar” attracts you with various surprises, ranging from impressive stories to sounds, as well as lighting. When watching this show, you will step into the life of different tribes in Vietnam, together with their unique traditions. Currently, the show’s organization address sometimes changes, thus, let’s check its particular schedule on the Saigon Opera House website.
- Genre: Contemporary dance, acrobatics, bamboo cirque, and tribal instrument
- Duration: 60 minutes
- Tickets fee: 29 USD/pax
THE MIST
“The Mist” tells the stories of the farming communities in the Southern region of Vietnam. In this performance, visitors will also have a chance to witness all of the traditional costumes in Vietnam such as “Ao Ba Ba”, “Ao Dai”, and “Ao Tu Than”.
Like the TEH DAR, the MIST’s schedule is not fixed for performance time and address. That’s why you should follow the newest information on its official website.
- Genre: Classical and modern dance
- Duration: 60 minutes
- Tickets fee: 29 USD/pax
Explore other performances
At Saigon Opera House, visitors can buy tickets to watch plenty of Vietnamese music concerts, as well as symphonic concerts like Bach, or Mozart. Besides that, the theater is also used to organize important music festivals in the city on special occasions.
How to get there
- By bus: Take bus numbers including 53, 02, 03, 45, or 19 to move the Municipal Theater.
- By taxi: Book a taxi to easily reach this spot, however, be aware of traffic jams to restrict being late for the booked shows.
- By motorbike: Use Grab or Be service to move in a bike. Or else, rent a motorbike from locals and place it at the City Opera House parking lot, opening from 8 AM to 10 PM.
- On foot: Follow Google Maps and take a 5-to-10-minute wander to reach the Saigon Opera House (in case you stay in the city center).
Famous attractive destinations nearby Ho Chi Minh City Opera House
During your journey to Saigon Opera House, don’t forget to drop in some other renowned attractions nearby, such as:
- Independence Palace: The palace is a symbol of the peace and territorial integrity of the Vietnamese nation. When coming here, you will have a chance to explore its glamorous design, as well as enjoy the fresh ambiance surrounding it.
- Notre Dame Cathedral: Like the Municipal Theater, the Cathedral was designed in the French style, outstanding with a red brick facade and unique layouts. Travelers can visit here during mass hours to experience the culture of Vietnamese Catholicism for one time.
- Saigon Central Post Office: In this post office, you can find any traditional stamp in Vietnam, from the 1900s to today. Don’t forget to take some pictures to record its ancient and elegant beauty.
Useful Tips
- Arrive around 15 – 30 minutes earlier before the showtime
- Children under 5 years old are not admitted into the show
- Wear polite clothing during the visit time
- Stay until the end of the show to take photos with artists
- Video recording is not allowed during the show
- Do not bring smelly food to the theater
- Visit in the evening for other interesting night activities after the shows
- Take a stroll along Nguyen Hue Street nearby
- Bring cash for unexpected incidents
Conclusion
Our blog has just given a full guide for your journey to Saigon Opera House. Remember to check the show’s schedule and book a ticket in advance to have the most wonderful experience here. Let’s refer to our blog about Ho Chi Minh attractions to explore other interesting destinations in this city.
