The Ho Chi Minh City People's Council approved a resolution on the morning of 18/4 to halt the public investment policy for the project, four years after its suspension due to the pandemic. Following the shift in investment method, Cong ty TNHH Dau tu va Phat trien Mat Troi Sai Gon (a subsidiary of Sun Group) is expected to be the investor.
The project is planned to be renamed the Convention and Performance Center, with a total capital of approximately 6,800 billion dong and a floor area of about 58,000 m2. The city plans to compensate the investor with a land fund of approximately 1,56 ha in Thu Thiem.
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The Thu Thiem urban area, a riverside area of Sai Gon, opposite downtown TP HCM. Photo: Quynh Tran |
According to Huynh Thanh Nhan, Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Council, the temporary suspension of the Symphony, Music, and Opera House project aims to transition its investment method. The facility will be developed as part of the new political, administrative, and cultural center in Thu Thiem under a public-private partnership (PPP) model, specifically a build-transfer (BT) contract, with payment made through land.
The Symphony, Music, and Opera House project was initially approved for investment in 2018 with a total capital exceeding 1,500 billion dong, slated for implementation during the 2018-2022 period. Subsequently, the city proposed increasing the capital to 2,000 billion dong and extending the timeline to 2024. In 2022, the project was temporarily halted due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In early 2025, TP HCM sought feedback from the Ministry of Construction regarding architectural planning indicators. It proposed adjusting the scale of the 24,000 m2 land plot to build a theater with approximately 1,700 seats, located at the head of Ba Son bridge. This location would connect to Nguyen Hue walking street via a pedestrian bridge over the Sai Gon river.
Previously, the architectural design for the project underwent a competition, and results were announced. The city has already disbursed nearly 3,9 billion dong for the investment preparation phase.
Under the 1:2,000 scale zoning plan for Subdivision 1 of the Thu Thiem New Urban Area, approved in March, the theater's location has been adjusted to an area near the political-administrative center. The previously designated construction site will be converted into a park, a square, and other facilities funded by the investor.
The shift from public investment to the BT model is deemed appropriate given the current context, where the budget needs to prioritize urgent projects. It also represents an opportunity to realize TP HCM's long-held aspiration for a large-scale art performance venue.
Le Tuyet
