Located on Lu Gia street, next to the Phu Tho Stadium and Racetrack in former District 11, the venue was completed after over two years of construction. Built on an area of over 10,000 m2, with two basement levels and 12 floors above ground, reaching a height of over 57 m, it is the largest and most modern circus and multipurpose performance venue in Ho Chi Minh City to date.
The circus and performance areas are located on the upper floors, while the basement levels house parking, technical rooms, prop storage, and character creation workshops. A representative of Construction Corporation No. 1 (CC1 - one of the main contractors) stated that the main auditorium, a key element of the project, has a 2,000-seat capacity, featuring a mobile circular stage and an adjoining rectangular stage. This space is equipped with a state-of-the-art sound, lighting, and electrical system to accommodate various programs.
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The main auditorium inside the circus and multipurpose performance venue, 19/8. Photo: Ha Giang |
The main auditorium inside the circus and multipurpose performance venue, 19/8. Photo: Ha Giang
The venue also features a 300-seat rehearsal room with two circular stages equipped with modern equipment such as: ropes, double trapezes, triple ladders, aerial straps, and acrobatic gear. The project also includes exhibition areas, conference rooms, backstage areas, makeup rooms, service areas, and animal training facilities.
At the opening ceremony, Tran Thi Dieu Thuy, Vice Chairwoman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, stated that the Phu Tho venue will serve as both a performance space and a training and exchange center for artists, a new destination for both domestic and international audiences. According to the city's plan, the venue will become a "stage for major productions", an artist training center, a hub for the creative community, and a cultural tourism highlight, contributing to socio-economic development.
To ensure the venue's effectiveness, city leaders have requested that the Department of Culture and Sports finalize an operational plan, an audience engagement strategy, as well as a management and operational model.
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Location of the Phu Tho Circus and Multipurpose Performance Venue. Graphics: Khanh Hoang |
Location of the Phu Tho Circus and Multipurpose Performance Venue. Graphics: Khanh Hoang
The Phu Tho Circus and Multipurpose Performance Venue is one of eight major cultural projects planned for construction in Ho Chi Minh City. The other seven projects include: the Ton Duc Thang Museum, the City Cultural Center, the Traditional Arts Center, the Ho Chi Minh City Museum, the expansion of the Ho Chi Minh Museum Park, the Youth Cultural House, and the City Children's Palace.
Giang Anh