Ho Chi Minh City: Chao Show Live Music & 8-Course Dinner

Summary

Folk music, rare instruments, fine dining and vivid stage art in Saigon

You’ll sit down to an eight-dish tasting menu while live Vietnamese folk music surrounds you at Chao Show in Ho Chi Minh City. Watch rare traditional instruments come alive on stage with immersive visuals and 3D audio. Sip apricot wine, taste flavors from across Vietnam, and share quiet laughs with locals as stories unfold through music.

What’s the experience like?

I still hear the soft clink of chopsticks and the first notes of that ancient zither — I think it was called a đàn tranh? We’d just sat down at Chao Show in Ho Chi Minh City, and the room felt both grand and kind of intimate. Our guide, Linh, grinned as she poured us this sweet apricot wine (I probably made a face; it’s stronger than it looks). The air smelled like star anise and something grilled — I was hungry already but didn’t want to miss a single sound from the stage.

The show started quietly, almost sneaky — just one musician at first. Then suddenly there were dozens of instruments I’d never seen before. Some looked like bamboo flutes, others were all strings and shimmering wood. There’s a chapter where the music turns stormy and the lights flicker blue; Linh whispered that this part tells an old river legend from Northern Vietnam. The 3D sound thing is real — you feel drums behind your chair or a flute off to your left. At one point I closed my eyes just to listen, which is rare for me at dinner (I’m usually too busy eating).

Food came out in little waves — eight dishes total, each from a different region. I remember the black bean water most because it’s not what you expect with such fancy music. But it works. The servers moved quietly between tables, always smiling even when we fumbled our chopsticks or asked what was inside the dumplings (mushrooms? pork? Both?). The show ended on this warm note — literally — everyone clapped along to a song that sounded familiar even though I’d never heard it before. Kind of stuck with me.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Evening cultural show and dinner

• Check in at Chào Show venue
• Enjoy 8-dish Vietnamese set menu
• Experience live traditional music performance
• Watch immersive visuals with 3D sound
• End of show

Top questions

What time does the Chao Show start in Ho Chi Minh City?

Check-in is at 18:45 and the show begins around 19:15.

Is dinner included with the Chao Show ticket?

Yes, an eight-dish Vietnamese set menu is included with your admission.

Are vegetarian options available for the dinner?

Yes, you can choose between vegetarian or non-vegetarian menus.

Where is Chao Show located?

It’s on the 1st floor at No.6 Nguyen Sieu street, Sai Gon ward, Ho Chi Minh City.

How long does the performance last?

The show ends around 20:45, so it lasts about 90 minutes.

Is public transportation nearby?

Yes, there are public transportation options close to Chao Show.

What drinks are served during dinner?

Beverages include black bean water and local apricot or rose apple wine.

Is this suitable for travelers with health issues?

This activity isn’t recommended for pregnant travelers or those with spinal or cardiovascular issues.

What’s included

Your evening includes admission to Chao Show in Ho Chi Minh City, an eight-course Vietnamese tasting menu (with vegetarian or non-vegetarian choices), local beverages like black bean water and fruit wines, plus an immersive live performance featuring over thirty traditional instruments—all guided by friendly staff from check-in through the final applause.