Ho Chi Minh City to renovate downtown opera house
Thursday, September 21, 2023, 14:25 GMT+7
The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Council has approved a plan to revitalize the Municipal Theatre, also known as the Saigon Opera House, as the theater has fallen into a state of degradation.
The renovation of the opera house, which is considered as one of the city’s iconic symbols, is estimated to cost VND337 billion (US$13.9 million).
The repair is aimed at preserving the architectural values of the establishment to make it a further attractive destination for international tourists visiting the city and a venue for important festivals and events.
Chau Huy Toan, who has worked at the opera house for 33 years, said he has witnessed the building undergo two renovations.
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| The Saigon Opera House is situated at 7 Cong Truong Lam Son, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. The theater, developed over 123 years ago, is a popular destination for tourists to the city. |
In 1998, the city launched a large renovation of the theater and equipped it with modern sound equipment from France.
In 2008, the city revitalized the building once again but most of the work was painting.
Now, the theater’s electrical system, water supply, firefighting system, and air conditioning systems are in need of an overhaul.
Currently, the theater’s technical system fails to meet the demand for large international artistic events, such as symphony orchestras and ballet programs, Toan said.
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| In 1998, the city revitalized the opera house to preserve its architecture. |
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| Two statues of the Goddess of Art in front of the Saigon Opera House were restored in 1998, becoming a highlight of the building. |
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| Ho Chi Minh City will this time renovate the main hall, and invest in electricity supply, air conditioning, sound, lightning, firefighting, and fire alarm systems so that the Saigon Opera House can accommodate international artistic programs pending the completion of an opera house in Thu Duc City. |
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| The building will be repaired until 2026. The city will make a prefeasibility report for the renovation project his year, seek the approval for the project and its design next year, and execute the project from 2025. |
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| Besides the Saigon Opera House, the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Council also approved a plan to repair the Hoa Binh Theater in District 10 with a cost of VND275 billion ($11.3 million) sourced from the city’s budget. The theater, built in 185, features the city’s cultural and historical values but its equipment has deteriorated. It will take two years to complete the project. |
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