Visiting Beta Cinema in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam is not your traditional movie theater experience. It stands in contrast with the typically dark aesthetic of a standard cinema with its bright colors and strong geometric shapes. According to the architects, the space was designed to celebrate the beauty of Old Saigon. The fresh color palette—which includes pink, sea green, and bright orange—and the geometric detailing are inspired by the glamour of Art Deco architecture.
Many of the design features are playfully referring to local areas. The green dome was inspired by the colonial Central Post Office, the ticker counter is inspired by Ben Tahn Market, and the pigeons hanging from the ceiling are a wink at the real birds found at the Municipal Opera House and the Paris Commune Square.
According to Jade Nguyen, director of Module K (the company responsible for the cinema design), the designers wanted to convey a message of pride in Saigon’s landmarks, but not with the usual Indochine style. “We tried to create a funky and welcoming space with locations for connecting, eating, drinking pre and post-film showings,” she said in a statement. And the result is absolutely marvelous. Absolutely worth a visit if you are in Ho Chi Minh City.