8 Best Performing Arts Venues in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

The French-colonial Opera House is one of the icons of downtown Ho Chi Minh City. It was built in 1897 and modeled on the Petit Palais in Paris, which was completed the same year. It was originally as lavish inside as it was out, with a revolving stage and a three-tiered, 800-seat gallery. Some of the more ornate fixtures were removed in the 1940s and from 1956 it was the home of the National Assembly of South Vietnam. It became a theater again in 1975 and is now the permanent headquarters of the Ho Chi Minh City Ballet and Symphony Orchestra. Check the website for details of upcoming ballet, musical, and cultural performances. As there are no tours, catching a performance is the only way to see the gorgeous interior. There is a ticket office on-site as well as an English-speaking number to call.

Eight screens at this location show local and international movies, dubbed and subtitled. Splurge on the L'Amour theater with beds, pillows, blankets, drinks and snacks.

Catch the latest Vietnamese and international flicks at this very comfortable theater located on Level 3 of Vincom Center Dong Khoi. English-language movies will have Vietnamese subtitles and vice versa. Wednesday showings are the cheapest, and there's always an option to upgrade your ticket for more comfortable seating and refreshments.

Other than the Opera House, this is one of the only regular venues in town for classical music performances. The theater's main season is from September through June; it's generally closed in summer except when there are special concerts by visiting orchestras.

Five screens (including one showing 3D movies) with more than 1,000 seats show local and international new-release films. Tickets are cheapest on Tuesday.

Every evening, talented water puppeteers perform this folk art from the Red River Delta in Vietnam's north. The show is narrated in Vietnamese by a troupe of singers, accompanied by traditional musicians. The 50-minute show does not tell just one story, but scenes from daily life and skits based on Vietnamese folk tales. Expect to get a little wet if you sit in the front row—it's okay to shout if you get splashed, it's all part of the fun. In high season, tickets are only available two weeks ahead.

Explore the nearby Tao Dan Park before or after a show.

In an ugly Soviet-era palace, this theater is mostly used for local Vietnamese dramas, puppet shows, and the occasional fashion show.

Vietnam's institute of cultural exchange with France regularly hosts performances by local and visiting musicians and theater groups. Look for the hoat dong van hoa (cultural events) tab on the Vietnamese site for details of upcoming shows.