# Saigon Opera House, Ho Chi Minh City > The Saigon Opera House (Nhà hát Thành phố) is a white French-era theatre from 1900 on Lam Son Square, central Ho Chi Minh City. The outside is free at any hour; allow 15–20 minutes. Only ticket holders go in: the main visitor show is the AO bamboo circus, about an hour, usually at 18:00, from about 630,000 VND (unofficial). Web page: https://yesgo.io/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city/saigon-opera-house - City: [Ho Chi Minh City](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city), Vietnam - YesGo score: 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 30 min - Entry: Free outside; inside with a show ticket - Opening hours: Façade and square: any time; interior: performances only; AO Show unofficially at 18:00 on changing days - With kids: Fine with kids - Façade and square: Free, any time of day or night - Going inside: With a performance ticket only; no official daytime tours announced - Main show for visitors: AO Show — Vietnamese bamboo circus by Lune Production - AO Show start: Usually 18:00, not every day — show days change month to month - Running time: About 60 minutes, no interval - AO Show tickets: Unofficial: about 630,000–1,600,000 VND by zone (A, O, W) and seller - Children: Unofficial: under-5s not admitted to the AO Show; child fare for ages 5–12 - Dress: No strict dress code; smart casual is the norm, beach wear stands out - Address: 7 Công Trường Lam Sơn, top of Đồng Khởi street - Metro: Line 1, Opera House (Nhà hát Thành phố) station — exits by Lam Son Park - Payment: Book online with a card, or bring VND cash for the box office - Coordinates: 10.77639, 106.70278 - Facts checked: 05.11.2026 ## Key facts - **1900** — the theatre opened on 1 January 1900; work began in 1898 (source: English Wikipedia; Wikidata) - **500 seats** — in the auditorium today, after rebuilds (source: English Wikipedia; Wikidata; localvietnam.com) - **60 min** — AO Show running time — no interval, no dialogue (source: Civitatis; Trazy; localvietnam.com (unofficial)) - **1,800** — spectators fitted in the original stalls and two upper levels (source: English Wikipedia; localvietnam.com) - **Petit Palais** — the Paris landmark of the same year the façade is compared with (source: English Wikipedia; localvietnam.com) - **Félix Olivier** — architect, with engineers Ernest Guichard and Eugène Ferret (source: English Wikipedia; localvietnam.com) - **1998** — the façade was restored for the city’s 300th anniversary (source: English Wikipedia; localvietnam.com) - **Bamboo** — poles and woven basket boats are the AO Show’s main props (source: Lune Production; localvietnam.com) - **5 exits** — at Opera House metro station, towards Lam Son Park and Pasteur street (source: Tuoi Tre News) - **1 stop** — by metro from Ben Thanh station (source: English Wikipedia) > **You can’t go inside without a ticket** The Saigon Opera House is a working stage, not a museum. Doors open before each performance and only ticket holders get in, and the theatre does not advertise official daytime tours. If you want to see the auditorium, book the AO Show or a concert. If not, the façade and square are free at any hour. ## AO Show tickets and prices The AO Show has three seating zones — **A, O and W**, nicknamed ‘aah’, ‘ooh’ and ‘wow’. Lune Production doesn’t publish prices outside its booking form, and resellers quote different figures: unofficially, an adult ticket runs from about **630,000 to 1,600,000 VND**. Central seats near the stage cost the most, and you’re assigned a seat within your zone rather than choosing one. Book on the Lune Production website, through a major booking platform, or at the box office by the theatre on the day if seats remain. You show the e-ticket on your phone at the door. Resellers say tickets are non-refundable and can’t be changed, so double-check the date before paying. **Paying:** foreign Visa and Mastercard work for online booking and at bigger venues in Vietnam, but bring some VND cash in case the box office prefers it. Grab, the main ride-hailing app, takes cash or a linked foreign card. ## What is the AO Show? **AO Show** is a Vietnamese bamboo circus created by Lune Production — and, according to the company’s official site, it is now their only show at the Saigon Opera House. Acrobats balance on bamboo poles and spin woven basket boats while musicians play traditional instruments live on stage. There is no dialogue: the story moves from quiet village life to the noise of the modern city, told through movement, rhythm and sound. That makes it easy to follow whatever language you speak. It runs about an hour with no interval. If you have read about **Teh Dar** or **Lang Toi** from the same company, note that Teh Dar now plays in Hoi An and Lang Toi in Hanoi. Beyond AO, the city’s own company HBSO — Ho Chi Minh City Ballet, Symphony Orchestra and Opera — performs classical concerts, ballet and opera here, but its programme is irregular and mostly announced in Vietnamese. ## AO Show times and how long to allow The AO Show usually starts at **18:00** and finishes around 19:00. It doesn’t run every night: sellers list a few evenings a week, often Monday to Thursday, and the days change month to month. Check the calendar on the Lune Production site before you plan the evening around it. Aim to arrive by 17:30. That gives you time to photograph the façade in daylight, find your seat and take in the foyer; latecomers are seated in the dark. If you only want the outside, 15–20 minutes is plenty, and it fits neatly into a walk along Nguyễn Huệ. ## Is there a dress code? There is no strict dress code, and the theatre doesn’t publish one — but this is still an opera house. Smart casual is the norm at the AO Show: trousers or a skirt, a shirt or a dress. Beach shorts, vests and flip-flops will stand out, and for a classical concert it’s worth dressing up a little. The air conditioning inside is strong, so bring a light layer. Photos and video during the show are strictly not allowed, and staff do enforce it. Resellers say children under five aren’t admitted to the AO Show, and a child fare covers ages 5 to 12 — you may be asked for the child’s passport. ## History and architecture of the Saigon Opera House Built by French architects as the **Opéra de Saïgon**, the theatre went up from 1898 and opened on **1 January 1900**. English Wikipedia credits the design to Félix Olivier, with engineers Ernest Guichard and Eugène Ferret; some guides name Ferret as the designer. The arched entrance, statues and ornate façade are often compared with the **Petit Palais** in Paris, finished the same year. The auditorium once held about 1,800 people across the stalls and two upper levels; after later rebuilds it seats **500**. In 1998, for the city’s 300th anniversary, part of the original façade decoration was restored — what you see today. In the evening the building is lit up and the steps become one of the most photographed spots downtown. ## What to see at the Opera House - **The façade** — the white arch, female figures and stucco. The best angle is from the small park across the square, with the whole staircase in frame. - **Lam Son Square after dark** — the lighting comes on after sunset and the building looks grander than by day. - **The foyer and auditorium** — red seats, stucco and chandeliers, seen only with a ticket. Photos in the foyer are usually fine; during the show they are not. - **The AO Show itself** — acrobats on swaying bamboo, basket-boat tricks and live folk music. - **Nguyễn Huệ walking street** — the wide pedestrian boulevard a couple of minutes away, busy with locals every evening. - **Đồng Khởi street** — runs from the theatre up to the Notre-Dame Cathedral and down towards the river, an easy way to walk the whole centre. ## Is the Saigon Opera House worth visiting? From the outside, yes — for everyone. It sits on the natural walk between the cathedral, the post office and the river, costs nothing and takes a quarter of an hour. Inside, at the AO Show, it’s worth it if you enjoy circus, acrobatics and live music and want to see the auditorium. The show is visually striking and needs no language. The downsides: tickets cost far more than most things in Ho Chi Minh City, seats are assigned within each zone, and an hour without words can drag if stage shows aren’t your thing. On a tight budget, come back after dark for the lit-up façade instead. ## How to get to the Saigon Opera House 1. **Walk from Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office** — about 10 minutes down Đồng Khởi street to Lam Son Square. 2. **By metro** — Line 1 to Opera House (Nhà hát Thành phố), the first stop after Ben Thanh. Exits lead to Lam Son Park and Pasteur street. This station no longer sells paper tickets at the counter: use the ticket machines, the HCMC Metro HURC app, or tap a contactless Visa or Mastercard at the gates. 3. **From Ben Thanh Market** — about 15 minutes on foot along Lê Lợi, or one metro stop. 4. **By Grab or taxi** — search for ‘Nhà hát Thành phố’ or ‘Saigon Opera House’. Grab takes cash or a linked foreign card. 5. **From Tan Son Nhat Airport** — 25–40 minutes by Grab or taxi. Bus 109 runs from Terminal T3 to Saigon Bus Station by Ben Thanh Market; from there walk or take the metro one stop. ## Three ways to see the Opera House | | Façade only | AO Show | HBSO concert | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Cost | Free | Unofficially 630,000–1,600,000 VND | Depends on the programme | | Time | 15–20 minutes, any time | About an hour, usually 18:00 | An evening, as scheduled | | See the auditorium | No | Yes | Yes | | Language | Not needed | No dialogue | Music; listings in Vietnamese | | Best for | Anyone walking downtown | Circus and acrobatics fans, kids 5+ | Classical music and ballet lovers | AO Show prices and times come from resellers and guides; the official site shows them only in its booking form. Check before you buy. ## Before the show Tick off what’s ready — your ticks are saved in this browser. - [ ] Checked the AO Show calendar for my evening - [ ] Ticket booked and saved on my phone - [ ] Kids are at least five - [ ] Smart casual, no flip-flops - [ ] Light layer for the air conditioning - [ ] Arrive by 17:30 to photograph the façade ## Historic sights in Ho Chi Minh City Ho Chi Minh City’s historic places scored by YesGo. - [Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city/saigon-notre-dame-cathedral) — YesGo score 46/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 20 min · Free; inside only during Mass - [Saigon Central Post Office](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city/saigon-central-post-office) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free - [Independence Palace](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city/independence-palace) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 15 min · 40,000–80,000 VND - [Saigon Opera House](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city/saigon-opera-house) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free outside; inside with a show ticket - [Ben Thanh Market](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city/ben-thanh-market) — YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free entry - [War Remnants Museum](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city/war-remnants-museum) — YesGo score 41/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · 60,000 VND; concessions 30,000 - [Museum of Vietnamese History](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city/museum-of-vietnamese-history) — YesGo score 37/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 15 min · 60,000 VND; kids and students free - [Cu Chi Tunnels](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city/cu-chi-tunnels) — YesGo score 35/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h 30 min · ≈ 90,000–110,000 VND ## Downtown Saigon in half a day: palace, cathedral, post office, opera and tower Independence Palace, then Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office across the square, down Đồng Khởi to the Opera House, and the Bitexco tower’s viewing deck for sunset. Add it to your route and YesGo sets the times and walks. 1. [Independence Palace](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city/independence-palace) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 15 min · 40,000–80,000 VND 2. [Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city/saigon-notre-dame-cathedral) — YesGo score 46/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 20 min · Free; inside only during Mass 3. [Saigon Central Post Office](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city/saigon-central-post-office) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free 4. [Saigon Opera House](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city/saigon-opera-house) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free outside; inside with a show ticket 5. [Bitexco Financial Tower](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city/bitexco-financial-tower) — YesGo score 40/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · 240,000 VND > **Pass by twice** Walk past the theatre once by day, on your way from the cathedral to the river, and again after sunset when the lights come on. In the evening Lam Son Square and Nguyễn Huệ fill with people and the white façade is at its best — no ticket needed. ## Don’t confuse Hanoi and Hai Phong have French-era opera houses too — this page covers the one on Lam Son Square in Ho Chi Minh City. Lune Production’s Teh Dar and Lang Toi shows play in Hoi An and Hanoi; when booking online, make sure the ticket says Saigon Opera House. ## Tips - Get to the AO Show by 17:30 to photograph the façade in daylight before it starts. - Book ahead for a specific evening — the show doesn’t run every night and the days change monthly. - For the best façade photo, stand in the little park across the square so the whole staircase fits. - Bring a light layer — the air conditioning in the hall is strong. - Put the camera away before the lights go down; filming during the show is not allowed. - After the show, stroll down Nguyễn Huệ walking street — it’s busiest in the evening. ## Questions ### Can you go inside the Saigon Opera House without a ticket? No. Only ticket holders are let in before a performance. The façade and square are free to see at any time. ### How much are AO Show tickets? Unofficially about 630,000–1,600,000 VND, depending on the A, O or W zone. The exact price shows in the booking form on the Lune Production site. ### What time does the AO Show start? Usually at 18:00. It runs a few evenings a week, and the days change month to month, so check the calendar. ### How long is the AO Show? About an hour with no interval. Allow another 30 minutes to arrive early and photograph the building. ### Is there a dress code at the Saigon Opera House? No strict one. Smart casual is fine; beach shorts and flip-flops look out of place. ### Is the AO Show suitable for kids? From age five: resellers say younger children aren’t admitted. There’s a child fare for ages 5–12. ### Can I take photos? Outside and in the foyer, yes. Photos and video during the show are not allowed. ### Which metro station is closest? Opera House (Nhà hát Thành phố) on Line 1, one stop from Ben Thanh. Exits come up by Lam Son Park. ### When was the Saigon Opera House built? Work began in 1898 and it opened on 1 January 1900, designed by French architects. ### Is the Saigon Opera House worth it? The outside, definitely — it’s free and on your way. The AO Show is worth it if you like circus and acrobatics and don’t mind a pricier evening. ## How we checked That AO Show is now Lune Production’s only show at the Saigon Opera House, with Teh Dar in Hoi An and Lang Toi in Hanoi, comes from the company’s official site; it shows prices, times and rules only inside its booking form, so those come from resellers and guides and are marked unofficial. Prices differ by seller — the cheapest seats are quoted anywhere from 504,000 to 890,000 VND and the best up to 1,600,000 VND — so we give 630,000–1,600,000 VND. The 18:00 start and one-hour length agree across three sources. Two resellers say under-fives aren’t admitted, while one guide calls the show suitable for all ages. Construction dates vary (1897, 1898, 1900): we follow Wikipedia — work from 1898, opening on 1 January 1900; Wikipedia credits Félix Olivier, some guides Eugène Ferret. We found no official theatre website with visiting hours, and guides disagree about daytime hours and paid tours, so we leave them out. ## Sources - Official Lune Production site: AO Show at the Saigon Opera House, genre, Teh Dar in Hoi An and Lang Toi in Hanoi - English Wikipedia: Ho Chi Minh City Opera House; Wikidata Q1949129 - English Wikipedia: Line 1 (Ho Chi Minh City Metro) — stations and fares - Tuoi Tre News: Opera House metro station, exits, payment without paper tickets - SGGP: bus route 109 - VietnamPlus: HBSO performances at the Opera House - localvietnam.com: the building, AO Show, times, prices, house rules - Civitatis and Trazy: running time, start time, age limit, seating zones - Hôtel des Arts Saigon: dress code --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. 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