The Lighthouse Saigon announces sudden closure via social media

On Thursday evening, February 1, iconic Saigon venue The Lighthouse posted on its official Instagram account, announcing it will be closing this weekend.

The rooftop bar and go-to underground music haven will cease operations on Sunday, February 4, as mentioned in the post, but not before making “the most of this weekend” for a farewell celebration.

Mixmag Asia reached out to The Lighthouse family team on the reason for its sudden closure, to which they share with us was in regards failed negotiations with their landlord, despite trying to find common ground.

“Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, in the end we had to close our beloved location. The news was quick and unexpected; however, we are committed to keeping what we have built alive and we are in the process of finding a new and hopefully better location in the near future.”

Established in 2004, the multi-floored venue has undergone musical metamorphosis over the years. In 2016, it solidified its status as a pulsating hub of house, disco, and techno delights, drawing in both a local and global crowd of dancers and artists alike.

The Lighthouse team also share with us: “Before the pandemic brought a wave of uncertainty, Vietnam was on the verge of emerging as a global hub for electronic music. Although this was temporarily shattered, we were able to adapt, reinvent ourselves, and pressed on.”

They also add how a core mission of the establishment was to “nurture local and emerging talent, and provide them with a platform to thrive and leave an indelible mark on the industry.”

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Under the programming of Music Director Steffen Sonnenschein, The Lighthouse maintained a meticulously curated program of resident DJs Tristyan, Jonathan Be, Khoa Bicycle, and UK veteran Alan Ritchie.

In addition, the team were always able to provide a diverse line-up of regional and international names such as Mae Happyair, Stalvart John, Raysoo, Jesse You, DEVIN, AAGUU, FFAN, Raysoo, Antonio Madrid, KEIMO, Teruu, Ani Phoebe, Jozef K, Marco Yanes, Sarayu, Mumsfilibaba, Nandi, Shubostar and many more.

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As stated in their announcement, the team is already preparing to embark on a new endeavour at a new venue.

“Currently, negotiations are in progress, and we are resolutely committed to a comeback,” they mention, adding “our focus after this weekend will be to start chapter two of our journey as soon as possible,” they stated to Mixmag Asia.