Visiting Nijo Market, Hokkaido University and Sapporo Factory
January 14, 2024
Inside The Gangs Central, a chaotic and lively restaurant which evolves into a dancing hall.
Wondering how to spend a night in Ho Chi Minh City? You will have about two thousand options 😉 The biggest city in Vietnam has a love for fun, and the locals know how to party! Most of the foreigner-friendly bars and nightclubs are in Districts 1 and 2.
If you’d like more travel recommendations for Ho Chi Minh City, message me on Instagram. Alternatively, we can book a meeting.
List of bars and nightlife places in Ho Chi Minh City
Layla - Eatery & Bar
Second floor, 63 Đ. Đông Du, Bến Nghé, Quận 1
At the counter of Layla, I found myself enjoying one of the best cocktail bars in Saigon (and also a great place for a solo date). The bartenders were friendly and one of them was particularly skilful, twirling utensils around and pouring a stream of fire into a cocktail glass.
Go up the stairs of an old colonial building and close to a massage shop, you’ll find Layla Eatery & Bar. The staff were attentive upon my entry, greeting and bringing me to a seat. It’s plenty spacious inside, with tables and couches for groups.
See the Google Map link to “Layla – Eatery & Bar” in District 1 here. It’s stylish, passionate for cocktails, and perfect for date night.
Le Café des Stagiaires
10 Đường số 54, Thảo Điền, Quận 2, Hồ Chí Minh City
This was such a pleasant rooftop bar to visit with the group of friends I met at a local language exchange (message me if you’d like to know more).
While sipping a refreshing beer at Le Café des Stagiaires, I admired the view across Saigon River. Majestically rising above the calm water is Landmark 81, the tallest building in Vietnam that was developed by Vinhomes.
See the Google Map link to “Le Café des Stagiaires” in Thao Dien (District 2) here. It’s one of the best rooftop bars in Saigon and has a romantic atmosphere.
The Gangs Central
87 Đ. Nguyễn Huệ, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh City
If you like to party, The Gangs Central is where it’s at. You can order restaurant-quality food as the night begins. As the eating slows down and the drinking speeds up, people start to get up and dance.
With its beer towers, disco lights and thumping music, The Gangs Central is a very “happening” place in District 1 especially on Friday nights. Look forward to meeting locals and foreigners in a distinctive nightlife destination.
See the Google Map link to “The Gangs Central” on Nguyen Hue Walking Street here.
Xu Restaurant Lounge
71 75 Hai Bà Trưng, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh City
I felt like I was inside a James Bond movie. Xu Restaurant Lounge, behind its understated entrance, is dark and atmospheric. I liked the decor and thought it had a retro charm.
The service was excellent, the bartender recommended us to try a Bloody Mary shot that had an oyster in it! The taste was expectedly weird texture-wise, and the flavour was delicious. The citrus acidity of the Bloody Mary complemented the oyster well.
See the Google Map link to “Xu Restaurant Lounge” in District 1 here.
Acoustic Bar - Ngô Thời Nhiệm
6E Ngô Thời Nhiệm, Phường Võ Thị Sáu, Quận 3, Hồ Chí Minh City
I could have spent the whole night here if it wasn’t for my backpack and the fact that the bar was so popular that I was standing most of the time. This is a must-visit, hidden gem live music bar in Saigon!
Go early before people start milling in. Your drink is your entry fee to this acoustic bar – signal to the waiter and they will give you a menu. The live music and instrumental performances were excellent. Each set lasted around 20 minutes before a new performer would take over.
See the Google Map link “Acoustic Bar – Ngô Thời Nhiệm” here. Acoustic bars are signature experiences in Ho Chi Minh City. For your night time itinerary, I’d recommend coming here after an early dinner in Japan Town nearby.
Las Maracas Cocktail Bar
100/25 Đ. Trần Hưng Đạo, Phường Phạm Ngũ Lão, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh City
Who would have thought that next to loud, vibrant Bui Vien Pedestrian Street there would be a Latin American, speakeasy-style cocktail bar?
Las Maracas is tucked away in an alleyway, next to residential homes. The service and ambience is polished yet easygoing. The cocktail bar plays Spanish and English music, creating a conversational atmosphere while guests lounge in comfortable seating.
See the Google Map link to “Las Maracas Cocktail Bar” near Bui Vien Walking Street here.
Thi Bar (Bui Vien)
224 Đ. Đề Thám, Phường Phạm Ngũ Lão, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh City
I lived near Bui Vien for 38 days (message me if you need accomodation recommendations). I am glad I had my first drink in the area at “Thi Bar“.
I am a fan of live music bars, so I was glad to watch the performance of “Noff Band”. They sang with mesmerising vocals and charisma! Thi Bar houses a LGBTQ+ friendly space. People were happy there, dancing away to the performers’ tunes.
See the Google Map link to “Thi Bar” on Bui Vien Walking Street here.
Bui Vien Pedestrian Street
Đ. Bùi Viện, Phường Phạm Ngũ Lão, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh City
If you have been to Khao San Road in Bangkok, you will see similarity. If you have not, and are generally not familiar with party scenes, then get your senses ready.
Bui Vien Pedestrian Street is loud, diverse, and very busy! The legendary tourist destination is 850-metres long and filled with bars, coffee shops, restaurants, hotels and massage shops (of varying kinds). Bui Vien is very backpacker-friendly, with live music pubs and outdoor seafood restaurants serving crowds of people.
If you’re unfamiliar with South-East Asia, you may be taken aback by the hustle. Bar owners will likely follow you for a little, smiling and encouraging you to try their establishment. They don’t mean any harm, though it may feel a little confronting.
See the Google Map link to Bui Vien Pedestrian Street here. It’s a 15-minute walk from Ben Thanh Market, another must-visit for your Saigon itinerary.
Drinking & Healing
25 Đ. Hồ Tùng Mậu, Phường Nguyễn Thái Bình, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh City
If this cocktail bar wanted its guests to do more “healing”, it may want to turn the volume of its music down. Nevertheless, I enjoyed visiting Drinking & Healing! You need to be attentive to find it. Go up two flights of stairs in a building close to Saigon Skydeck and Mebuki Spa (I went to this Japanese massage venue and enjoyed their therapy).
Drinking & Healing is one of the top cocktail bars in District 1. Their menu is nuanced and reflects the talent of the bartenders. It’s a genuinely cool place, and seemed popular with the young, working professional crowd.
See the Google Map link to “Drinking & Healing” here.
Zion Sky Lounge & Dining
87A Hàm Nghi, Phường Nguyễn Thái Bình, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh City
If you want to have a fancy night out in Ho Chi Minh City, Zion Sky Lounge ought to be on your list. Its open-air ambience and view of District 1’s glittering buildings (and Nguyen Hue Boulevard) is the main allure. The decor is majestic, and complements a vibe that is fun and extravagant.
Zion Sky Lounge’s rooftop bar hosts nightclub events. The experience is towards the commercial side (compared to the charming, personable bars you will find in Thao Dien, District 2) and the music is EDM.
See the Google Map link to “Zion Sky Lounge & Dining” here. It’s a good nightclub to bring clients or to celebrate with colleagues.
Saigon Japan Town
8A Thái Văn Lung, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh City
I found Saigon Japan Town to be one of the most interesting places in District 1. Wandering down alleyways, you will pass authentic Japanese restaurants, pretty lanterns, bars, karaoke bars, and lots of adult establishments. I didn’t realise it, but I had stumbled upon a red-light area in Saigon.
Having never tried a “girls bar” before, my friend and I actually went into one. The experience was pleasant enough. In exchange for our purchasing of drinks for them, two female bartenders sang karaoke and drank with us. It was a merry time and an interesting insight into how girls bars work. I walked past many in Fukuoka, Japan.
Visiting Saigon Japan Town in a group will be different to if you visited solo. Especially if you are a male. Many of the adult establishments had quite aggressive sellers who literally grabbed at my friend and I as we walked past. Be wary, though I wouldn’t say anything is dangerous (unless you choose to go down certain … rabbit-holes).
See the Google Map link to Saigon Japan Town here. For a “normal” bar recommendation, check-out 7 Bridges Craft Beer Taproom & Restaurant.
Broma Not A Bar
41 Đ. Nguyễn Huệ, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh City
If you’re tired from walking around Nguyen Hue Boulevard and the sun is setting, this rooftop bar is a great place to settle for the night.
Broma Not A Bar has three levels, an indoor space playing jungle beats, a main rooftop playing hiphop & R&B, and an upper deck. I visited with friends from Poland, America, and the Philippines during Tet festival. From the rooftop bar, we had a view of the fireworks.
See the Google Map link to “Broma Not A Bar” here. It’s a hip nightclub on Nguyen Hue Street.
Bam Bam
41-43 Đ. Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa, Phường Nguyễn Thái Bình, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh
Bam Bam features a polished, Bali-themed interior and two dance floors that are interestingly sunken into the ground like swimming pools. This nightclub and bar is close to Saigon Skydeck in the downtown area.
I had a fun night at Bam Bam. The crowd is international and I met people from South Korea and Dubai. The drinks are pricey, so I thought of it as the ambience and conversations that I’m paying for.
While I’ve never tried and don’t intend to, I saw that an element of nightlife in Vietnam is big balloons filled with nitrous oxide, or “laughing gas”. Lots of bars, including Bam Bam, sell it to guests. These balloons, when inhaled, can cause feelings of relaxation or euphoria.
See the Google Map link to “Bam Bam” nightclub in District 1 here.
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