A 3D image of the Saigon Opera House (Photo: VnExpress/Tam Trinh)

Built in 1898 by the French colonialists and put into use in 1900, the Saigon Opera House has a design that was trendy in the late 19th century. All of its decorative patterns, facade reliefs and interior designs were brought from France to Vietnam.

The opera house has for long been a venue for major art programs, national and international levels. It has also been a tourist attraction for decades.

However, inside and outside the building, dramatic changes have taken place over the years and the impacts of such developments, big and small, should be taken into consideration, said Le Huu Luan, former director of the Movie and Performance Organizing Center. The center, also known as Saigon Concert, functions under the municipal Department of Culture and Sports, which directly manages the opera house.

The opera house itself has been degraded over time and that is unavoidable, he said, adding that last year, the historic building developed long cracks running along its roof.