Norodom Radio Theater

The end of the year 2017 marks the destruction of several buildings in Saigon, in between “La maison du combattant” on Lê Duẩn.

The venue opened its doors in 1932 on what was then the Norodom Boulevard.

It was erected to honor the victims of the Great War from all origins. Many men for the colonies joined the army to support war effort.

Beside the restaurant and bar, it became popular for its auditorium suitable to theatre, music-hall and even meetings. And the proximity of the Colonial Infantry barracks could assure the early days success.

 

In the fifties, Radio France Asia was regularly holding young talent contest on the site.
In 1954, singer Thuy Nga, 18 years old, freshly arrived from Hanoi with her family, won the first prize!

After 1954, the site became the Norodom Radio Theater but continued to hold Asia-French singer Contest.

In 1956, singer Khanh Ly (Nguyễn Lệ Mai) won a second prize.

Khanh Ly was born in 1945.

To take a chance in the talent search contest, she hided in a transport truck to make the trip from Đà Lạt to Saigon.

Her career only started officially in 1962, when she reaches 17. She became the Diva of Saigon pop between 1967 and 1975.

After she resettled in the United States her career went on a down turn before renewing with musical and acting success. The bolero trend revisits many of her success.

 in 1978 site became the City Lottery Company on 23 Le Duan, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1.