Many theatres in HCM City have been turned into hotels and restaurants due to losses.

Minh Chau Theatre to be turned into a hotel.

Most recently, on September 28, Minh Chau Theatre was completely demolished to be turned into a plaza. 

During a meeting about the investment and performance of cultural institutions in HCM City on the same day held by the city people's council, Truong Quang Hien, representative of Saigon Cultural Products Corporation said they were also negotiating to build a hotel after demolishing Minh Chau Theatre.

Saigon Cultural Products Corporation was separated from the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2003 and manages four old theatres. The corporation has collaborated with several parties to repair and upgrade the theatres. According to Saigon Cultural Products Corporation, they have completed Van Hoa Theatre and is negotiating for Minh Chau Theatre.

Chairwoman of HCM City People's Council Nguyen Thi Quyet Tam warned that the corporation might erase the city cultural institutions altogether as those buildings are being rented out to be bar clubs or restaurants. Instead of repairing a Boi singing theatre, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism suggested placing it in the list of land and building that haven't been sorted.   

In response, Vo Trong Nam, deputy director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism said the theatre was first located on Ly Tu Trong Street and moved to District 5 in 2006. The theatre now is surrounded by market and apartment buildings. Moreover, it is rented out as offices and residential apartments.

Tam also questioned about the newly-built Tran Huu Trang Theatre which hasn't performed effectively and has no major show. 

Vice chairwoman of HCM City People's Committee Nguyen Thi Thu blamed the design, saying that the audience cannot see anything on the stage. Thu admitted that many buildings are being used for wrong purposes. 

"I requested the collaboration with other investors and they'll have several floors in the buildings for their own, not replacing the whole building's purpose. But some theatres are located in the city's centre in which buildings with more than five floors are banned. That's why investors aren't interested," she said.

In addition, not many students want to learn traditional music. Many art universities no longer have Boi singing class as they couldn't recruit students. The city authorities have to open a course for Boi and Cai Luong for eight to 25 people in order to keep the arts alive.

dtinews