20 Best Performing Arts Venues in 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.

The National Puppetry Theater holds water-puppet shows that are more in the vein of village performances, harking back to the days when water puppets were used as political commentary right under the noses of bad kings or provincial French rulers. Traveling water-puppet theaters traditionally relayed information from village to village. You may find that you are as much of the show as the puppets. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, this theater only arranges performances for large tour groups, but more regular shows are planned.

This popular cultural show encompasses a wide variety of traditional Vietnamese folk and dance forms. Shows take place every Thursday evening at 8 pm and take audiences on a journey across the country from the steamy southern delta to the mountainous north with its minority tribe traditions. Expect colorful costumes and enthusiastic performers.

Hanoi Opera House, whose Vietnamese name translates into "House Sing Big," is worth a visit no matter what happens to be showing. This beautifully restored French building hosts regular classical music concerts, ballets, and Western and Vietnamese operas, plus a variety of singers. Check out the venue's website for details on upcoming shows, or purchase tickets at www.luneproduction.com

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.

Cheo operas and traditional music concerts are usually staged on Friday and Saturday evenings at 8 pm at this simple drama house, but call or stop by to confirm. Cheo is a form of satirical music theater from northern Vietnam. This theater will arrange special performances for large groups.

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.

A H'mong festival where members of the mountain communities ask for happiness and longevity, Gau Tao is celebrated early in the lunar year, around Tet holiday in most households. Following a blessing by a H'mong holy man, the festival is marked by a series of lively traditional games and competitions. The Gau Tao festival is not held by the village but in households, and lasts for three to five days every year.

In addition to German language classes and opportunities abroad, Germany’s cultural institution often hosts photography and film exhibitions.

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.

This refurbished cinema has 12 screens. Films are often cheaper than in the major theaters, and many film festivals are held here throughout the year. There’s also an arcade on the first floor.

Celebrating the coming of spring, and held in the first lunar month every year, this festival is celebrated by the Red Dao people in the village of Giang Ta Chai. People of the village indulge in a range of ceremonies with the purpose of raising awareness of deforestation. The village leader, also the forest protector, will announce regulations about deforestation that the people have to obey.

As one of Hanoi's top tourist attractions, this entertaining performance gives you insight into Vietnam's history and traditions through water puppetry storytelling, at least three musicians, and interlude commentaries. Somewhat humorous and endearing at times, puppets are guided through the water by puppeteers hidden behind a curtain. The hour-long show, which takes place several times a day, highlights the folklore and culture of this ancient civilization. Thang Long Water Puppet is aimed only at tourists, and so is not for the cynical and disenchanted traveler. For a more authentic and intimate experience, head to the National Puppetry Theatre or catch one of the shows at the Museum of Ethnology. Flashing cameras and video recorders can be extremely distracting.

Vietnam Opera and Ballet Theater is where Vietnam's up-and-coming opera singers and ballerinas train to learn the skills they will need to perform at the Hanoi Opera House and even with foreign troupes. Performances take place sporadically but check online for the events calendar.

Operated by Institut Francais de Hanoi, L'Espace regularly screens world cinema as well as hosting an eclectic selection of cultural events.

Youth Theater, a 650-seat facility, is one of the larger theaters in the city and focuses mainly on contemporary drama, although music and dance are sometimes performed. About a dozen foreign theater groups perform here annually.