Overview

One of Ho Chi Minh City’s best evenings: Vietnam’s most acclaimed stage show followed by a dinner cruise along the lit-up Saigon River — all in a single private tour from your hotel.

A O Show is the production that put Vietnamese contemporary circus on the international map. Created by Lune Productions — the same company behind Palao in Ha Noi and Teh Dar in Hoi An — A O has played to sold-out theatres in Ho Chi Minh City continuously since 2013 and has toured internationally to France, Australia, and the United States. The show runs without spoken dialogue: it tells the story of Vietnamese rural and urban life through acrobatics, bamboo circus, contemporary dance, and live music. The performers are graduates of the Vietnam School of Circus Arts. The production values are genuinely world-class — lighting, staging, and choreography that would hold its own in any major performance venue. For visitors who have seen circus or contemporary dance productions before, this is not a tourist show. For visitors who haven’t, it is still an excellent introduction.

After the show, the tour continues by vehicle to the Saigon River pier, where a dinner cruise runs for approximately two hours. Two options are available: a standard cruise or a luxury cruise. Both cover the same Saigon River route.

The tour runs as a private booking — your group has a dedicated vehicle and guide from hotel pickup to drop-off. The A O Show tickets and cruise are shared with other audience members in the theatre and on the boat (as with any public performance and cruise), but your transfers and guide are exclusively for you.

Why book through TNK

– Tickets and cruise combined in one booking: A O Show tickets, cruise boarding, and hotel transfers are all arranged by TNK. You arrive at the theatre, watch the show, board the cruise, and return to your hotel. No separate bookings to manage.

– Private vehicle and guide: the driver and guide are with your group from pickup to drop-off. No waiting for a shared shuttle. The guide is available if you have questions about the show or the river.

– Two cruise options at different price points: Option A (standard cruise) and Option B (luxury cruise). TNK can advise which suits your group’s preferences and budget.

– Flexible booking: the tour runs daily. Let TNK know your preferred date and group size — TNK confirms availability and secures the tickets.

– Trusted operator since 2000: TNK Travel is ranked #3 on TripAdvisor with over 24,000 verified reviews.

Tour highlights

– A O Show — Vietnam’s most awarded stage production: acrobatics with bamboo poles, aerial silks, contemporary dance, and live southern Vietnamese music. No dialogue, no translation needed. Around 75–80 minutes. At the Ho Chi Minh City Opera House.

– Saigon River at night: the two-hour cruise covers the stretch of river through the city. The skyline is illuminated, cargo traffic moves alongside the cruise boats, and the air is cooler than the daytime city. Dinner is served on board.

– Dinner on the water: dinner is served on board throughout the 2-hour cruise. Dining style depends on the cruise option selected.

– Two cruise options: Option A (standard cruise) and Option B (luxury cruise with premium experience on board). See the options table in the price section.

– Optional motorbike street food tour: after the cruise, guests who want to continue the evening can add a motorbike street food ride through the city. Entirely optional — for guests who want to see Saigon’s late-night eating scene from the back of a motorbike. Advise TNK at booking.

About A O Show

A O Show — Lune Productions

Created by Lune Productions. Playing continuously in Ho Chi Minh City since 2013. International tours to France, Australia, and the United States. Performed by graduates of the Vietnam School of Circus Arts.

Running time: approximately 75–80 minutes, no intermission.

Venue: Ho Chi Minh City Opera House (Nhà hát Thành phố), 7 Công Trường Lam Sơn, Bến Nghé, District 1.

A O — the name comes from ‘àó’, a Vietnamese interjection used to express wonder or surprise — follows two characters navigating the transition from rural to urban Vietnam. The story is told entirely through the body: acrobats manipulate giant bamboo poles, toss each other through the air, and form human towers, while dancers weave through the structures. The live music, performed by a small band of traditional Vietnamese instruments at the side of the stage, carries the emotional arc of the performance. The bamboo work is the centrepiece — poles used as springboards, platforms, trapezes, and architectural elements in constantly shifting configurations.

There is no spoken language in the performance. The show is equally accessible and equally engaging for all nationalities. Children above approximately 5 generally find it captivating. Adults who have seen Cirque du Soleil productions often say A O is more intimate and more culturally specific — it tells a Vietnamese story with Vietnamese bodies and Vietnamese sounds, rather than a universal spectacle.

The Ho Chi Minh City Opera House itself is worth a moment on arrival: a French colonial building completed in 1900, recently restored, and one of the most handsome facades in the city. The interior has good sight lines from most seats. TNK secures Aah class tickets for Option A and VIP class tickets for Option B.

Dinner cruise options

Two cruise options are available. Both cover the same Saigon River route and include dinner on board. The difference is the experience level and the price.

Option A (standard cruise) suits most groups well. Option B (luxury cruise) is for groups who want a more special evening on the water.

Important information

Pickup

– Hotel pickup in Ho Chi Minh City, District 1. Pickup at approximately 5:00–5:15 PM — exact time confirmed by WhatsApp or email 24 hours before the tour.

– Please be ready in the hotel lobby at the confirmed time. The guide will collect you at the entrance.

– For hotels outside the standard pickup zone: meet at TNK Travel, 112 Trần Hưng Đạo Street, District 1.

A O Show – what to know before you go

– The show runs without dialogue. No prior knowledge of Vietnamese culture or language is needed to follow the performance.

– Running time: approximately 75–80 minutes, no intermission. The theatre is air-conditioned. Dress code: smart casual — the Opera House is a formal venue.

– Photography: permitted before the show and during the final bow. Flash photography and video recording during the performance are not permitted.

– Latecomers: the show starts on time. The guide manages the schedule from hotel pickup to ensure arrival before the performance begins. If your hotel pickup is delayed, inform the guide immediately.

– Ticket class: Aah class (Option A) provides good sight lines from the stalls. VIP class (Option B) provides premium seating.

The dinner cruise

– The cruise departs from the pier approximately 30–45 minutes after the show ends. The guide transfers the group from the Opera House to the pier by vehicle.

– Duration: approximately 2 hours on the water.

– Dinner is served on board throughout the cruise. If you have dietary requirements (vegetarian, allergies), advise TNK at booking and TNK will confirm with the cruise operator.

– Beverages (soft drinks, beer, wine) are not included in the tour price. They are available for purchase on board.

– The cruise is a shared boat — other guests are on board. Your private booking covers the vehicle transfers and guide, not a private vessel.

What to wear

– Smart casual for the Opera House — no swimwear, flip-flops, or very casual beachwear. Light trousers and a shirt or blouse are appropriate.

– The cruise deck is open — a light layer is useful on the river in the evening, especially in the cooler months (December–February).

Related tours

• Saigon city tour & Cu Chi Tunnels luxury full day (LX-CTCC): Reunification Palace, War Remnants Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, and Cu Chi Tunnels in one day — max 7 guests

• Cu Chi Tunnels luxury small group half day (LX-CC): morning tour to Ben Duoc with dedicated guide and driver — back by early afternoon, leaving the evening free for A O Show

• Mekong Delta luxury small group day tour (LX-MK1): My Tho & Ben Tre full day, max 7 guests