Does the avid movie lover traveling Vietnam have a place where they can go to experience Vietnamese cinema? Is Vietnam just a third-world country that has yet to develop a film industry? Can I experience Vietnamese culture through a talented cast of actors, directors, and cinematographers? All these questions will be answered today.
Yes, there are movie theaters in Vietnam. Vietnam’s thriving film industry and an ever-growing number of cinema companies continually expand the movie market locally. Vietnamese people love cinema and express themselves and their culture through their work.
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Are There Movie Theaters In Vietnam?
There are well over 173 movie theaters across Vietnam. Many have been renovated, refurbished, and relaunched to bring the Vietnamese movie-going experience up to par with modern audience expectations.
The Vietnamese government has encouraged businesses within the film industry to innovate and update their theaters to help drive more people to the theaters. Vietnam is dedicated to the development of local talent and the future success of its movie theaters.
Top 5 Best Movie Theater Companies In Vietnam
Let’s review the top 5 best movie theater companies within the Vietnamese border. Travelers should take note of the names of these companies if they wish to have the optimal movie experience.
1. CGV Cinemas
CGV, or CJ CGV, is the fifth-largest multiplex theater company in the world. They own and operate over 3400 screens worldwide, spanning 455 locations across seven countries. The CGV cinema group currently has 84 cineplexes in operation in Vietnam.
CGV refers to its theaters as “Cultureplexes,” They offer dining, shopping, and entrainment, all neatly built in and around their cinemas. With state-of-the-art cinemas, CGV offers stunning IMAX movies, multisensory 4DX movies, and a 270-degree panoramic screen they call “ScreenX.”
Any tourist visiting Vietnam is guaranteed to have a fantastic night if they visit a CGV theater.
2. Lotte Cinema
Lotte Cinema opened its doors in 1999, intending to usher in a brand new golden age of entertainment. Within three years, Lotte Cinema had served over 10 million movie enthusiasts, cementing its role as an industry leader. Lotte now operates over 800 screens across several Asian countries, of which 49 theaters can be found in Vietnam, with the first theater launching in 2008.
In 2014 Guinness World Records recognized their “Super Pleg G” cinema as the largest theater in Asia, boasting a total capacity of 4615 seats. Any movie enthusiast traveling to Vietnam can enjoy one of Lotte Cinema’s 219 screens all over Vietnam.
3. Galaxy Cinema – 18 Cineplexes In Vietnam
Galaxy Cinema is one of Vietnam’s first privately owned cinema companies, established in 2003. They have defined themselves as a brand dedicated to the love of cinematic art. They attract customers by creating a family-friendly atmosphere and training their staff to deliver top-quality service.
Galaxy Cinema regularly offers its valued customers attractive discounts, promotions, gifts, and more. Their website is easy to use and makes choosing a movie a joy rather than a chore. Galaxy puts its customers first and aims to expand its influence within Vietnam to bring more films to more people.
Galaxy Cinema currently has 18 cineplexes dotted across Vietnam and hopes to develop more as time goes on.
3. BHD Star Cineplex – 10 Cineplexes In Hcmc
BHD Star Cineplex was recognized as the first company to build a 5-screen cluster theater complex in 2010. Through continual expansion in critical areas such as Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Hue, and other provinces. BHD Star shows excellent potential in Vietnam’s ever-evolving film market.
BHD Star is committed to the highest standard of customer service, comfortable movie theaters, quality screens and sound systems, and consistency across all their various cineplexes. Anyone traveling to Ho Chi Minh City will have a wonderful time if they choose to visit one of BHD Star’s theaters.
5. National Cinema Center
The National Cinema Center is a public, government-owned cinema managed by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism. The National Cinema Center opened its doors on December 29, 1997. This center organizes film screenings, art performances, and other cultural activities to function as a public service to enhance public interest in the arts.
There are two National Cinema Center buildings. One is on Lang Ha street, and the other is on Thai Ha street. These buildings were constructed with a modern design, ample parking space, and were located close to transportation hubs.
The National Cinema Center includes 14 screening rooms. These theaters can show various 2D, 3D, and 4D films. There is also an exhibition for performing arts, organized events, and other entertainment services. The theater can house a total of 2365 viewers and hosts more than 60 screenings per day.
Does Vietnam Have A Film Industry?
Vietnam might not seem like a country with a thriving film industry, but don’t mistake this small country. The people living in Vietnam have a great love for cinema. Through various government-sponsored programs and incentives, the film industry in Vietnam is growing rapidly.
Even though private companies have been allowed to make movies since 2003, the Ministry of Culture and Information still review all scripts before they allow production to commence. Since the mid-2000s, Vietnamese filmmakers have participated in international film festivals, upgraded their equipment, collaborated with western filmmakers, and received government investments exceeding 15 billion Vietnamese Dong.
Tran Luân Kim, Chairman and Representative of the Vietnamese Cinema Association is on recording stating that they are still facing many challenges. He said the demand for film enthusiasts in Vietnam is outpacing the industry’s growth. They require more people to be employed in the cinema industry and less government interference in filmmaking if they hope to grow a booming sector.
The Vietnamese film industry is only in its infant stage, bringing in 14.21 million US dollars in 2022. Analysts have projected that the Vietnamese film industry will grow steadily over the next 5 years with an annual growth rate of 4.03% and should reach 17.31 million US dollars by 2027.
3 Must-See Vietnamese Films
We have collected a list of the top 5 must-see Vietnamese films to entice anyone considering traveling to Vietnam. Here’s a brief description of each of these five films.
1. Mui Co Chay (The Scent Of Burning Grass)
The film is set in 1971 and follows four Hanoi students who stopped studying to join the army. The audience follows these four young men fighting on the Quang Tri battlefield for their country’s liberation.
Mui Co Chay was directed by Huu Muoi Nguyen, written by Nhuan Cam Hoang, and stars To Tuan Dang, Le Chi Kein, Van Thom Lê, and Nang Tùng Nguyen, to name a few.
2. Mat Biec (Dreamy Eyes)
Mat Biec was released in 2019 and selected to be Vietnam’s applicant for Best International Feature Film for the 93rd Academy awards. This film was directed by Victor Vu, written by Trieu Hoang, MyKay Nguyen, and Victor Vu, and stars Trúc Anh as Ha Lan and Tran Nghia as Ngan.
Mat Biec follows Ngan and Ha Lan’s lives in a small village, Do Do, in the Vietnamese countryside. Ngan and Ha Lan meet as children, and Ngan instantly falls in love with her. As they grow older, Ha Lan starts noticing Ngan’s aptitude for music. Their relationship gets tested when Ha Lan tells Ngan that she will move to the city early to begin her university studies.
3. ‘Saigon, Anh Yeu Em’saigon (I Love You)
This romantic comedy film was produced in 2016 by Ly Minh Thang and won a Golden Kite Prize for the best feature film in 2017, the highest honor in Vietnamese cinema. The film tells five unique stories of couples that get up to all kinds of shenanigans.
Directed by Minh Thang Ly and written by Do Minh Hoang Vo. This film is a must-watch for anyone looking to learn more about Vietnamese filmmaking.
