The Vietnam-Soviet Friendship Palace of Culture and Labour has completed a major stage lighting upgrade with the installation of Martin MAC Viper XIP fixtures, modernising one of the country’s most prominent cultural and performance venues.
Delivered by Stage Professional Company as distributor and system integrator, the project marks the first permanent large-scale theatre installation of the Martin MAC Viper XIP in Vietnam.
Located in central Ha Noi, the Vietnam-Soviet Friendship Palace of Culture and Labour has served as a hub for artistic performances, conferences and national events since opening in 1985. Originally gifted by the former Soviet Union’s Trade Unions, the 32,000 sq m complex includes a four-story main building, multiple event spaces and a 1,100-seat theatre equipped with a revolving stage. As production requirements evolved for large-scale artistic productions and high-level conferences, the Palace sought out a new lighting system capable of supporting a wider range of modern performances while improving long-term operational reliability.
The project brief called for a solution that would significantly enhance brightness, improve uniformity across a wide stage, deliver accurate colour reproduction, and ensure smooth movement suitable for a broad range of artistic styles. Just as importantly, the system needed to provide long-term durability and lower maintenance demands for a venue that hosts national-level events year-round.
Following detailed optical surveys and performance assessments, Stage Professional recommended a lighting upgrade centred around 10 Martin MAC Viper XIP fixtures.
Dinh Viet Hung, CEO of Stage Professional Company, said: “Our goal was to deliver a future-proof lighting system that meets the exceptionally high technical and artistic standards of the Vietnam-Soviet Friendship Palace of Culture and Labour. The Martin MAC Viper XIP offered the ideal balance of power, precision, and durability for a permanent installation of this scale. By integrating these fixtures, we’ve not only enhanced visual performance on stage, but also ensured long-term reliability and ease of operation for a venue that supports national-level events throughout the year.”
The MAC Viper XIP’s IP54-rated enclosure was a decisive factor, as its dust-resistant, durable design allows it to withstand the rigors associated with permanent installations, particularly important for a venue with continuous activity and high thermal and environmental stress. Its adoption also marks a milestone: the first permanent installation of the Martin MAC Viper XIP in a large-scale theatre in Vietnam, signalling a shift toward high-performance, IP-rated lighting solutions in the country’s top-tier performance venues.
The installation and commissioning process included fixture positioning, system calibration and programming adjustments to ensure consistent coverage and seamless integration with the theatre’s existing infrastructure. Stage Professional Company Limited worked closely with the venue’s technical team to optimize brightness levels, movement profiles and colour performance for both theatrical productions and live event applications. The result is a lighting system that elevates the theatre’s stagecraft, offering designers and performers a more powerful and versatile palette while providing operators with intuitive, stable control for everyday use.
Pham Tuan Anh, director of Vietnam-Soviet Friendship Palace of Culture and Labour, commented: “The upgraded stage lighting system with the Martin MAC Viper XIP has brought significant improvement to the quality of performances at the Vietnam-Soviet Friendship Palace of Culture and Labour. With powerful brightness, accurate colors, and flexible operation, the system enables us to host a wide range of large-scale artistic programs and high-level events. It not only raises our technical standards but reinforces our position as a leading venue for national and international performances.”