Light Art Exhibition «Metashow»

   Step through one doorway and you are standing inside a Starry Night that moves across the walls and the floor; a few rooms later you are lost in a mirror maze, then sitting in a field of sunflowers. All of it fits onto the fourth floor of a shopping mall in the Sala district of Ho Chi Minh City, a short ride from District 1, Binh Thanh and Thao Dien. If you want an evening that is equally about looking and about the photos you take home, set aside a couple of hours for it.

   Metashow is a light-and-technology exhibition built around the painted world of Vincent van Gogh. The route runs through more than 30 art spaces, split into a Basic zone and an Advanced zone, using 4K projection, layered lighting and interactive installations. Depending on your ticket, the walk-through takes 60 to 150 minutes.

   Some of the stops along the way:

• — the Van Gogh gallery and the Bedroom in Arles
• — a rotating Starry Night tunnel and a diamond tunnel
• — a mirror maze and an illusion light maze
• — a sunflower sea, a rose sea and a flower-filled metro car
• — the Endless Galaxy room and a 4K projection hall

   The four “Titan” experiences are the technology the organisers treat as their signature: mixed-reality MR-VR headsets that let you interact with the virtual artwork, a 360-degree interactive video rig, an AI portrait shot in a classical-painting style, and a personalised ceramic mug printed on the spot.

   It works for families with small children, couples, photo-minded groups of friends and school trips alike — no background in art history required, the rooms do the talking. Children under 120 cm get in free and each adult may bring two of them; visitors under 16 need an adult with them.

   The three tiers differ in how much of the exhibition you see. Standard covers the Basic zone only: over 20 themed spaces, roughly 60 to 90 minutes. Special adds the Advanced zone plus two Titan experiences, the MR headset and the 360-degree video. VIP adds the Advanced zone and all four Titan experiences, and runs to about 150 minutes. Within every tier, “L” tickets are for adults aged 18 to 65 and “S” tickets for under-18s, over-65s and visitors with disabilities. Weekday prices are lower than weekend and public-holiday ones.

   A few practical notes. One ticket admits one visitor, and the wristband issued at the counter is what gets you in — it allows a maximum of two entries, and tickets are neither refundable nor exchangeable. Coloured food and drinks are not allowed inside. Last check-in is 21:15, weekends open earlier at 09:30, and staff suggest arriving before 19:30 if you want the full route without rushing. Come with a charged phone and light-coloured clothes: the halls are dark, and the walls do the lighting for you.

   Group bookings from ten people and travel agencies: hotline 0888 897 879, email [email protected].

   If you have ever wanted to walk into a painting rather than stand in front of one, this is the closest Ho Chi Minh City currently gets.