Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, has recently announced a three-year urban artistic lighting plan. The initiative involves upgrading lighting systems for various iconic buildings and public spaces in the city center and exploring the use of 3D projection mapping technology to enhance the quality of the city's nightscape and boost the night-time economy.
Le Ngoc Linh, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction, announced the plan at a recent press conference. From 2026 to 2028, the city will focus on beautifying and highlighting architectural landmarks, public spaces, and major thoroughfares to create unique night-time attractions that meet the cultural and recreational needs of residents and tourists.
Key buildings slated for artistic lighting upgrades include the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Headquarters, the Central Post Office, the Municipal Theatre (Opera House), the City Treasury, the Fine Arts Museum, the Ton Duc Thang Museum, the Thu Ngu Flag Tower, Ba Son Bridge, Mong Bridge, the City Children's House, and the Ho Chi Minh City Museum.
For iconic buildings that already possess lighting systems, the city government plans to repair, replace, and upgrade equipment, as well as develop additional light show sequences to increase their appeal.
Notably, the city will explore implementing 3D projection mapping on the facades of several iconic buildings during major holidays, often in conjunction with historical and cultural events. Preliminary locations identified for this include the People's Committee Headquarters, the Central Post Office, the Municipal Theatre, the City Treasury, the Fine Arts Museum, the City Children's House, and the City Museum.
Source: Tuổi Trẻ
Furthermore, the city government will assess the feasibility of investing in artistic lighting, decorative lighting, and interactive light installations in public spaces; historical and cultural sites, gateway roads, and major bridges are also included in the planning scope. The Department of Construction has directed the Ho Chi Minh City Management Center for Road Traffic and Technical Infrastructure to coordinate with relevant agencies. They are tasked with conducting studies and proposing the investment scale, funding sources, and project investors for lighting system upgrades at several key facilities scheduled for the 2026–2028 period.
This initiative stems from a prior directive by Tran Luu Quang, Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, instructing the Department of Construction to collaborate with the Department of Culture and Sports on artistic lighting projects. These efforts aim to highlight iconic landmarks and create unique nighttime visual attractions. The Department of Construction stated that the plan would offer richer cultural experiences for residents and tourists alike, while also boosting the city's nighttime economy.
