The Ho Chi Minh City government has requested that the stage at a symphony, opera, and ballet theater project, worth more than VND1.98 trillion (US$78.2 million) in the Thu Thiem New Urban Area, meet the requirements for the most modern in the world.

The request was included in the municipal government’s directive on the design of the theater project.

In particular, chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Phan Van Mai charged the Department of Culture and Sports with coordinating with the Management Board of Civil and Industrial Construction Projects, relevant departments, and agencies to complete the design.

They should determine an appropriate name for the theater and prepare for the execution of the project to meet requirements on legality, quality, and effectiveness.

Departments and agencies in the southern metropolis were assigned to study and analyze the design ideas for the theater, its functions, artistic values, and harmony with surrounding landscapes and urban architecture.

The design must ensure that the theater will be modern and able to serve various forms of art, such as opera, symphony, ballet, and cai luong (a style of folk opera in southern Vietnam), as well as seminars and other interactive activities.

The municipal chairman also required relevant agencies to refer to experts and look at well-known theaters in other countries.

The execution of the project should meet the schedule, Mai requested.

The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Council approved the Thu Thiem opera house project in 2018 with an estimated investment of over VND1.5 trillion ($59.2 million).

The project was planned to be carried out between 2018 and 2022. 

The 1,700-seat theater was envisaged to feature auditorium seating for 1,200 people, as well as a smaller concert hall capable of accommodating 500 people

In May 2021, the Ho Chi Minh City Management Board of Civil and Industrial Construction Projects proposed the municipal government revise up the investment for the project to VND1.98 trillion and extend the planned completion time to 2024.

The city suspended the project in 2022 as it had to prioritize its budget for social welfare and economic recovery.

The municipal administration has recently asked the Department of Culture and Sports to make a pre-feasibility report for the project to continue its implementation.

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