Saigon Nightlife_ the Best Bars and Clubs (2017!06!24 03-54-53 UTC)

24.06.
2017 Saigon Nightlife: The Best Bars and Clubs
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SAIGON NIGHTLIFE: THE BEST BARS AND CLUBS

drink Saigon/HCMC: June 10, 2015
Ho Chi Minh City(https://www.citypassguide.com/en/travel/ho-chi-minh-city) is Vietnam’s de nitive party city, with its hundreds
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of bars(/en/travel/ho-chi-minh-city/drink/bars) and clubs(/en/travel/ho-chi-minh-city/drink/clubs) to choose from for a proper
night out. However, when you rst arrive in the southern Vietnamese metropolis, being spoilt for choice is also a burden
because the eternal question remains: what are the best places to party in Saigon? Fear not, we’re here to help. Welcome to our
guide to Saigon’s nightlife(/en/travel/ho-chi-minh-city/drink)!
Backpacker Nightlife in Saigon
Backpackers usually stay and drink in the Pham Ngu Lao(/en/travel/ho-chi-minh-city/attractions/point-of-interest/pham-ngu-lao-

area) District area, along Bui Vien Street.
Similar to Khao San Road in Bangkok, you won’t nd a lot of stylish places here. However, many are inexpensive and great for
meeting new people.
Though popular with tourists, the Pham Ngu Lao area can also be considered a red light district, as you will see it has countless
hostess bars and massage parlours with “extra” services.
The most popular bar in the area is probably Go2 Bar(https://www.facebook.com/pages/Go2bar/881686778527057), famous for
staying open until morning. It is one of the few after-hours clubs in Saigon to my knowledge, besides Last Call(/en/travel/ho-chi-
minh-city/drink/bars/last-call), the infamous bar on Dong Du Street where you inevitably end up after a night of dancing at Lush
(https://forms.zohopublic.com/marketing66/form/ClientDetails/formperma/0125m881dC493dM1A2j1HkAD1)
or Apocalypse Now.
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24.06.2017 Saigon Nightlife: The Best Bars and Clubs
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Alternatively, you can have a beer(/en/travel/vietnam/drink/blog/top-10-best-beers-vietnam) at The
DESTINATION HOTEL ATTRACTIONS ACTIVITIES FOOD DRINK SHOPPING BLOGS(/EN/SEARCH/BL
View(https://www.facebook.com/TheViewRooftopBar/) in Duc Vuong Hotel(http://www.ducvuonghotel.com/), famous for
being the most a ordable rooftop bar around, or at the quaint Vespa Sofar Bar(http://www.vespasofar.com/vespa-sofar-
bar%20) where you can drink cheap beers while putting together a custom playlist on YouTube.
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The View
Backpackers with style go to Whiskey & Wares(/en/travel/ho-chi-minh-city/drink/bars/whiskey-wares) on De Tham to indulge in

Saigon’s vibrant craft beer scene(/en/travel/ho-chi-minh-city/drink/blog/craft-beer-in-saigon-where-to- nd-it) or some of the
fancier liquors without leaving the area.
Generally speaking, there are three kinds of expats in Saigon: those who love the backpacker district, those who hate it and
those who pretend they hate it but inevitably end up there every weekend. The second group will prefer more exclusive clubs
and bars, which can also be popular with Viet Kieus (Vietnamese who’ve grown up abroad).
Where the Hipper Crowd Goes Out
The Observatory(https://www.facebook.com/theobservatoryhcmc) is still alive! Like so many other indie clubs, bars and cafes in
town, they’ve had problems lately in the course of Ho Chi Minh City’s ‘Little
Singapore’(http://e.vnexpress.net/news/video/news/state-of-the-sidewalks-how-cleanup-campaign-has-changed-saigon-
3549576.html) campaign but have overcome the worst. The Observatory remains the venue that arguably plays the best club
music in Ho Chi Minh City. Both a bar and a nightclub, it is located next to the old port in District 4 and o ers a nice view of the
river. They routinely host foreign guest DJs who usually play minimal, deep house or world music. Be sure to visit The
Observatory later on in the night: the crowds only start to arrive after midnight.
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The Observatory
You have several bars and clubs where you will meet the same groups of people. The most popular
are Broma(https://www.citypassguide.com/en/travel/ho-chi-minh-city/drink/bars/broma-not-a-bar) in District
1(https://www.citypassguide.com/en/travel/ho-chi-minh-city/attractions/point-of-interest/district-1) and Saigon
Outcast(https://www.facebook.com/thecubesaigon) in District 2, another artsy venue with a relaxed atmosphere. Colloquially
known as “Outcast”, it’s a must-visit for anybody staying in the city longer than just a few days. They organise all kinds of events,
have regular movie nights, open mic/DJ nights, farmers’ markets on the weekends, shows and live theatre… and a climbing wall!
However, it takes about 20 minutes by taxi to get there from the city centre.
Saigon Outcast
If you’re looking for a similar atmosphere that’s more centrally located, go for Indika(https://www.facebook.com/IndikaSaigon/),
central Saigon’s uno cially o cial indie bar. It’s tucked away in a backyard o Nguyen Van Giai in District 1, but meandering
through two restaurants to get there is half the fun. Reasonable prices and frequent live events make Leave us perfect
this the a message!
place to
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start your night (but not to end it, as this bar closes at midnight). Their free ow of craft beer for a mere VND 200,000 from 8 to
11 p.m. on Friday nights is a really good deal if you know how to make it worth it...
More quality party spots have been popping up lately, such as The Lighthouse in District 1 and Upper Saigon in District
3(/en/travel/ho-chi-minh-city/attractions/point-of-interest/district-3). While these are both rooftop spots, they tend to attract a
more relaxed and less a uent crowd than higher-end places like Chill Skybar or Glow Skybar.
Upper Saigon(/en/travel/ho-chi-minh-city/blog/blog/upper-saigon) plays house music on a spacious rooftop on the 16th oor of
Robot Tower – so great views are guaranteed and no need to worry about the rain thanks to their openable glass ceiling. All this
comes with tasty New American-style food and surprisingly cheap drinks. A beer for 45k? That’s Bui Vien prices!
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Upper Saigon
The The Lighthouse(https://www.facebook.com/TheLightHouseSaigon/)’s forte are their top DJs. And as it’s called “lighthouse”,
you should go all the way up to the top at least once.
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The Lighthouse
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Another hip place, tucked away in an apartment building on a street o the famous Dong Khoi in District 1, is
Layla(https://www.facebook.com/LaylaEateryandBarHCM/). Their playlist is more varied than those of other places, as they add
some light rock and funky beats to the usual techno-driven musical monotony. If you’re more into talking than listening, escape
the loud music in their little green courtyard. Be sure to take a cocktail with you, they’re delicious here!
Lastly, is craft beer still underground in Saigon? Certainly not. The craft beer scene is blowing up in Saigon, and the most famous
brewery is de nitely Pasteur Street Brewing(/en/travel/ho-chi-minh-city/drink/bars/pasteur-street-brewing). Here and in other
craft breweries like Rogue Saigon Craft Beer(https://www.facebook.com/roguesaigon/), Heart of
Darkness(https://www.facebook.com/heartofdarknessbrewery/) and
Belgo(https://www.facebook.com/TheBelgianCraftBeerBrewery/) you’ll nd the same kind of people as at the venues
mentioned above, along with our next category: the fancy party people.
The Best Places in Saigon for a Fancy Night Out
Rooftops are everything in Saigon. And the kings of rooftop bars are: Chill Skybar or Glow Skybar.
Chill Skybar(/en/travel/ho-chi-minh-city/drink/bars/chill-sky-bar-saigon) is without a doubt the most exclusive rooftop bar in

Saigon(/en/travel/ho-chi-minh-city/drink/blog/top-rooftop-bars-in-hcmc). On the 26th oor of the AB tower, it attracts an
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eclectic crowd of international businesspeople, socialites, tourists, expats and wealthy Vietnamese. The view might be the best
in all Saigon, especially when the sun sets, which, fortunately, is also the time when they have their 50%-o happy hour.
Chill Skybar
If you can a ord it and if you can get past the strict door policy, it is a recommended place for a classy drink or a date. The music
starts to get louder on weekends after 11:00 p.m. and you’ll see people dancing in the bar area until 2:00 a.m.
Note: Though Chill Skybar is expensive for Vietnam’s standards, a typical drink will cost you just above US$10.
Glow Skybar(https://www.facebook.com/glowsaigon/) remains a favourite for fancy expats and tourists, as it is even advertised
at the airport. It is also a rooftop bar and shares some great features with Chill Skybar: danceable music, a nicely designed open-
air area, stunning views and an upscale crowd. The prices don’t di er much from Chill Skybar, either.
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Glow Skybar
MGallery(http://www.hoteldesartssaigon.com/restaurants-bars/social-club-rooftop-bar/) on top of the Hotel des Arts

Saigon(http://www.hoteldesartssaigon.com/) is another rooftop venue of the like, not far from the Turtle Lake in District
3(https://www.citypassguide.com/en/travel/ho-chi-minh-city/attractions/point-of-interest/district-3). The music has more of a
mainstream feel to it. Drink prices are not cheap, but it de nitely gives you a good impression of what typical Saigon nightlife is
like.
MGallery
Now, what about the ground- oor venues in Saigon? Qui(https://www.facebook.com/quilounge/) is the currently most trendy
place to spend your money in style. Its assets: good music, often paired with little dance interludes by professional dancers, and
a great location in Saigon’s always-fun Japanese area. You better dress up some to get in here. Plus, they have a great selection
of party drinks.
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Other options are the classics Xu Bar(/en/travel/ho-chi-minh-city/drink/bars/xu) and Blanchy’s
Tash(https://www.facebook.com/Blanchys.Tash.Bar/), one next to the other and centrally located on the arterial Hai Ba Trung
avenue. They will not be too crowded during the week, but on Fridays and Saturdays you can expect a full house and a very lively
atmosphere. The music is generally more mainstream than at other places but Xu especially has some great drinks to o er.
Beware the Oyster shot though. The author of these lines has had an unpleasant encounter with them.
Last but not least, Envy Club(https://www.facebook.com/envyclubsaigon/) caters to both Vietnamese and foreigners and is
probably the most spectacular party spot in town with its Las Vegas-style bling-bling decor and staggering acrobatic
performances.
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Envy
The “I Just Wanna Dance All Night Long” Places
Lush(/en/travel/ho-chi-minh-city/drink/clubs/lush-bar) is probably the city’s most famous nightclub among foreigners. It is

known to be a good pick-up place for both girls and guys. In particular, Lush’s ladies’ night every Tuesday is one of Saigon’s best
events for single people. Don’t even think about sipping on a free ladies’ drink here though – they have quite a strict policy!
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Lush
The infamous Apocalypse Now(/en/travel/ho-chi-minh-city/drink/clubs/apocalypse-now), often referred to as the oldest

nightclub in Saigon, attracts a diverse crowd of late-night revellers, expats, tourists, and – be warned – many freelance sex
workers. The music includes popular hits from the past 20 years. The averagely priced drink menu makes it a cheap option for
late-night party people; however, best stick to beer here – the cocktails are not recommended.
Piu Piu(https://www.facebook.com/piupiusaigon/) is a much more recent addition to this category. Sitting right behind the
Saigon Opera House, this club boasts two oors with di erent music styles. The DJs on the lower oor mainly play hip hop,
while their upper- oor counterparts put on everything from Michael Jackson to “I Will Survive”.
Hostess Clubs and Bars
Saigon’s hostess bar (or, colloquially, “girly bar”) scene attracts a mix of o ce workers, business tourists and irtatious
husbands. The majority of hostess bars in the city are pretty innocent compared to those in the rest of Asia. These will usually
have 5-10 young waitresses in sexy dresses chatting with customers in exchange for drinks. Bars of note include The
O ce(https://www.facebook.com/theo cebar.vn) and Voodoo(https://www.facebook.com/pages/Voodoo-
Bar/515538648549391). Be careful though: some places are actually disguised prostitution joints with private rooms upstairs,
particularly on Hai Bai Trung and in Saigon’s Little Tokyo on Ngo Van Nam Street.
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The O ce
Other options are: Le Amore(https://www.facebook.com/amorerooftopbar/) and The

Rock(https://www.facebook.com/rockbarhcmc/?fref=ts).
Live Music in Saigon
The best options to listen to live music are located inside or next to 5-star hotels(/en/travel/ho-chi-minh-
city/accommodation/hotels). The recommended venues are Catwalk(/en/travel/ho-chi-minh-city/drink/clubs/catwalk-club) near
New World Hotel(/en/travel/ho-chi-minh-city/accommodation/hotels/new-world-saigon-hotel) and Maxim’s(/en/travel/ho-chi-
minh-city/drink/clubs/maxims-club). You also have jazz and rock clubs like Sax N’Art(http://www.saxnart.com/modules/general/),
and Hard Rock Café(http://www.citypassguide.com/en/travel/ho-chi-minh-city/food/western/hard-rock-cafe) attached to the
Kumho Asiana Plaza.
Catwalk Leave us a message!
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If you want to listen to local bands, there are some alternative venues as well such
as Fang(https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fang-Pub/794427577245405), Carack(https://www.facebook.com/carack.acoustic),
La Fenetre Soleil(https://www.citypassguide.com/en/travel/ho-chi-minh-city/drink/bars/la-fenetre-soleil), May
Cay(https://www.facebook.com/maycaybistro/), RockFanClub(https://www.facebook.com/rockfanclub.rfc/)
and Yoko(https://www.facebook.com/YokoBar). Some years ago, we would de nitely have recommended Acoustic
Bar(https://www.facebook.com/pages/Acoustic-Bar/190656624307999) and Saigon
Ranger(https://www.facebook.com/saigonranger/) but unfortunately, they’ve changed their focus to cater to a more
mainstream audience.
Vietnamese Nightclubs
Ho Chi Minh City’s nightlife scene for Vietnamese is incredibly huge, yet few foreigners seem to be interested. In District 1
alone, you have at least 15 popular nightclubs, 30 karaoke bars, and twice as many beer bars. If you dare to venture in other
districts, you will discover there are hundreds more.
We are big fans of those clubs as they can be great for meeting Vietnamese people. The atmosphere is usually crazier than in
more Western clubs. The way they operate is quite di erent than other venues, though.
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Typically, you will be ushered inside by the bouncers as if you were a royalty (or promptly shooed away if it’s a “Vietnamese only”
club). They will make space for you to stand at a table and summon a waiter to bring you a menu. Naturally, they expect a
generous tip for their services.
Most likely, you will have to buy at least one bottle of alcohol as they won’t sell drinks by the glass.
For this reason, it is best to come with a small group, unless you’re an alcoholic. The bouncers and waiters might o er you the
company of ladies/hostesses who will expect some tips as well. They may also bring you an expensive fruit platter that is best to
refuse.
Drinking is part of Vietnamese culture but you rarely see people getting seriously drunk most of the time. Many do overindulge
at venues like 030 Club(https://www.facebook.com/030Xclub), DC(https://www.facebook.com/DCClub148vn) or 02 Gold
Club(https://www.facebook.com/02GoldClub), though, so think twice if you want to join their drinking games.
The latter, however, is among my favourites in Saigon: It is a totally insane place and it should be on top of your list if you want to
have a wild night out in Ho Chi Minh City. Located just a few hundred metres away from Bitexco tower, it is packed on weekends
with a decadent crowd getting completely hammered in super kitschy decor.
If you are looking for more “normal” Vietnamese clubs, you can try places
like Fuse(https://www.facebook.com/FuseSG), Canalis(https://www.facebook.com/canalisclub.vn), Play(https://www.facebook.com/playsa
or Pandora(https://www.facebook.com/PandoraSkyLounge), all located in District 1.
Leave us a message!
Note: As you are most likely to be the only foreigner inside, it is possible that you won’t be allowed entry.
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Beer bars and beer gardens are another craze in Vietnam. You would need more than one liver to try all of them. Vuvuzela Beer
bars(https://www.facebook.com/vuvuzela.beerclub) (several locations), a concept most similar to Hooters in the States, are
probably the most famous and popular in the city. You could also check
out Kingdom(https://www.facebook.com/KINGDOMBEERCLUBSG) in District 1 and Poc Poc Beer
Garden(https://www.facebook.com/pocpocbeergarden) in District 3. All of them have very loud music. For a quieter spot to
enjoy a beer, there’s always sports bars(http://www.citypassguide.com/en/travel/ho-chi-minh-city/drink/blog/bars-to-watch-
sports-saigon) such as Red(/en/travel/ho-chi-minh-city/drink/bars/red-bar) or Phatty’s Pub(http://phattysbar.com/).
As the Saigon nightlife(http://www.jakarta100bars.com) scene is always rapidly changing, we invite you to leave comments on
this page to let us know if any of the nightclubs or bars mentioned here are closed. Don’t hesitate to share your favourite spots
with us, too!
 Post By: Thibaud (/en/travel/vietnam-travel-blog/thibaud-odeyer)

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HansMartin
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14 hours ago
"Be careful though: some places are actually disguised prostitution joints with private rooms upstairs...."
why be careful?! thats the only reason you should go there :D
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Patrick 30 Points
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22 days ago
30 In beers, East West is missing from the list it seems
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 Tags
Lounge(/En/Travel/Ho-Chi-Minh-City/Tag/Lounge), Pubs(/En/Travel/Ho-Chi-Minh-City/Tag/Pubs), Latino Bars(/En/Travel/Ho-
Chi-Minh-City/Tag/Latino-Bars), Live Music(/En/Travel/Ho-Chi-Minh-City/Tag/Live-Music), Pool Table(/En/Travel/Ho-Chi-
Minh-City/Tag/Pool-Table), Wine(/En/Travel/Ho-Chi-Minh-City/Tag/Wine), Rooftop Bars(/En/Travel/Ho-Chi-Minh-
City/Tag/Rooftop-Bars), Dance Bars(/En/Travel/Ho-Chi-Minh-City/Tag/Dance-Bars), Live Dj(/En/Travel/Ho-Chi-Minh-
City/Tag/Live-Dj)
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24.06.

2017 Saigon Nightlife: The Best Bars and Clubs

SAIGON NIGHTLIFE: THE BEST BARS AND CLUBS

Backpacker Nightlife in Saigon

Backpackers usually stay and drink in the Pham Ngu Lao(/en/travel/ho-chi-minh-city/attractions/point-of-interest/pham-ngu-lao-

Backpackers with style go to Whiskey & Wares(/en/travel/ho-chi-minh-city/drink/bars/whiskey-wares) on De Tham to indulge in

Where the Hipper Crowd Goes Out

The Best Places in Saigon for a Fancy Night Out

Chill Skybar(/en/travel/ho-chi-minh-city/drink/bars/chill-sky-bar-saigon) is without a doubt the most exclusive rooftop bar in

MGallery(http://www.hoteldesartssaigon.com/restaurants-bars/social-club-rooftop-bar/) on top of the Hotel des Arts

The “I Just Wanna Dance All Night Long” Places

Lush(/en/travel/ho-chi-minh-city/drink/clubs/lush-bar) is probably the city’s most famous nightclub among foreigners. It is

The infamous Apocalypse Now(/en/travel/ho-chi-minh-city/drink/clubs/apocalypse-now), often referred to as the oldest

Hostess Clubs and Bars

Other options are: Le Amore(https://www.facebook.com/amorerooftopbar/) and The

Live Music in Saigon

Catwalk Leave us a message!

 Post By: Thibaud (/en/travel/vietnam-travel-blog/thibaud-odeyer)

Latest Best Editor's Pick More

30 In beers, East West is missing from the list it seems

TALK OF THE TOWN 🔥

Needle Masters: Top Bespoke Tailors in HCMC

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