Standing magnificently at the heart of Ho Chi Minh City is the Saigon Opera House, which is also known as the Municipal Theater. The building stands as one of the impressive sight in Saigon – both night and day.

Saigon Opera House was built in 1898 by the French architect – Eugene Ferret, following the “flamboyant” style of the French Third Republic.

The theatre is now a venue for many high profile events and cultural – entertainment activities of the city. Certified as a national relic in 2012, this magnificent building stays on top of the must-visit of Ho Chi Minh City. 

Interesting facts and figures

The Opera House was built in 1898 and carried out 3,200,000 square meters in total areas.

The theater was set to be two meters higher than the street surface with two door layers in order to prevent traffic noise.

The oval auditorium with 468 seats offers good view from every seat. It is also echo-free and therefore preserves all the sound inside the theatre. 

The major renovation, which cost USD 1.7 million at the time, took 2 years from 1996 to 1998 to finish.