Ho Chi Minh City Opera House

Traveler reviews

• Mr Local Guide

  ★★★★★5 months ago

  We visited Saigon Opera House to watch the AO Show, and overall it was a well-organized cultural experience. The entire venue is pictureresque, its instagrammability extends further to the surrounding buildings, such as the OperaView, with other cafés and shops nearby. I would absolutely recommend coming during sunrise/sunset, as the sun reflects warmly off the beige walls, giving your photos a cinema-like orange-teal color scheme. Opera house itself, the exterior features french colonial design with cream-colored walls, tall columns, and ornate balconies. It’s easy to spot, and again late afternoon is ideal for photos when the facade catches warmer light. Inside, the main hall is compact but elegant, with red velvet seating and gold detailing. Acoustics are clear, but what stood out more was the coordinated lighting system, which closely followed the pacing of the performance and helped emphasize scene transitions. The AO Show itself was impressive, curated with bamboo props, contemporary dance, live traditional music, and bursts of acrobatics and B-boy–style tricks throughout. The performance is wordless, moving from rural village themes into modern urban life, relying heavily on physical storytelling and choreography. Timing was tight, transitions were smooth, and the cast maintained strong energy from start to finish. (Won't reveal too much here of course, no spoilers!) About 5–10 minutes before the show, we were offered complimentary refreshments (choices included green tea, water, and a cold pandan drink). After the performance, all visitors were invited to take photos with the full cast and crew, which was a nice added touch (see final photo). Service flow was efficient, seating was well managed, and staff guided guests clearly before and after the show. In short, this is a solid stop for both architecture and live performance, worth fitting into your HCMC vnm trip.

• GoGo Travelhub

  ★★★★★3 months ago

  Beautiful opera house with great photos at night. Went to see the AO show- it was amazing and 100% recommended!! The theatre was a nice size, and you could see the stage from most every angle. I sat on the far right floor and still had good views. They are very strict about filming during the show- so don't even try it. The inside was nice and staff was very friendly and helpful.

Selected reviews sourced from Google Maps.