Attraction
War Remnants Museum
A museum documenting the conflicts of 1946 to 1975 through photographs, reconstructed prison cells and a yard of captured aircraft and armour.
Saigon Opera House
The municipal theatre completed in 1900, a French colonial building whose facade echoes the Petit Palais in Paris, still used for performances on Lam Son Square.
At a glance
- Type
- Historic theatre
- Area
- District 1 (Saigon), Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Good to know
- Evening performances
- Opera House metro station nearby
Why we recommend it
The Saigon Opera House, officially the Municipal Theatre, is one of the finest colonial buildings in Ho Chi Minh City and the centrepiece of Lam Son Square. Construction began in 1898 on the site of an earlier theatre, and the building was completed by 1 January 1900. It was designed in the flamboyant style of the French Third Republic, and its arched entrance, statues and decorated facade are often compared with the Petit Palais in Paris, which was built in the same year.
The building has had several lives. Between the world wars it hosted concerts and performances of cai luong, the southern Vietnamese reformed opera. In 1955 it was converted to house the lower house of the State of Vietnam, and it later served as the seat of the National Assembly of South Vietnam. After reunification it returned to use as a theatre in 1976, and the facade was restored in 1998. Today it seats around 500 people.
The interior can usually be seen only by attending a performance. The bamboo circus A O Show by Lune Production has a season here, and the theatre also hosts other performances. Buying a ticket is the best way to see the auditorium and the foyer, and the building is particularly handsome when it is lit up at night.
From outside, the theatre is a fine spot for photographs at any time of day. It stands on Lam Son Square, along the Dong Khoi walking route from the cathedral. Check performance listings in advance, as shows vary through the year and popular nights sell out.
For visitors interested in architecture, the theatre is one of a trio of buildings, with Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office, that the national tourism board recommends seeing on a walk along Dong Khoi Street. Construction was supervised by Ernest Guichard and Eugene Ferret, and the original auditorium held around 1,800 people across a main floor and two upper levels.
Opera House station on Metro Line 1 is close by, and the theatre is a few minutes' walk from Nguyen Hue Walking Street, City Hall and Notre-Dame Cathedral, so it is easy to pair a show with dinner or a drink in District 1.
Saigon Opera House FAQs
When was the Saigon Opera House built?
Construction began in 1898 and it was completed by 1 January 1900.
Can I go inside?
The interior is normally seen by attending a performance.
What performances are held there?
Various shows, including the A O Show bamboo circus by Lune Production.
How many seats does it have?
Around 500.
What was it used for in the past?
It housed the lower house and later the National Assembly of South Vietnam before returning to use as a theatre in 1976.
How do I get there?
Opera House station on Metro Line 1 is nearby, and it is a short walk from Nguyen Hue Walking Street.
When does it look best?
In the evening, when the facade is lit up.
What is nearby?
City Hall, Nguyen Hue Walking Street and Notre-Dame Cathedral.