Ho Chi Minh City Nightlife, Vietnam

City Nightlife

If you have watched the musical Miss Saigon, then you already have an inkling of a typical night in Ho Chi Minh (formerly known as Saigon). During the arrival of the Americans in the 1970s for the Vietnam War, a lot of pubs and bars opened, which eventually led to a very booming nightly entertainment in the city. However, after 1975, the entire situation dramatically changed, and several of these nightspots were forced to close down.

Almost 30 years after, the city is trying to bring back its glorious days with the appearance of new clubs, pubs, bars, and discotheques. A number of them can be found along the tight corners and dimly lit streets of the city, while the others are housed in posh hotels, fitting for the upper-class market.

Where to look for bars

Bars are basically everywhere in Ho Chi Minh. One of the most popular is called the Apocalypse Now. It’s located in 2C Thi Sach. It plays cool foreign music and served excellent cocktail drinks, beer, and wine. However, if you want to get the most out of the place, make sure you arrive early. By midnight, the entire place will finally close.

You can also proceed to Dong Khoi, Hai Ba Trung, and Le Thanh Ton. Big and small pubs and clubs are sprouting like mushrooms in these areas. Yet, again, just like when you’re in Apocalypse Now, these establishments are usually closed once the clock strikes 12.

Buying drinks in Ho Chi Minh

Drinks in Ho Chi Minh don’t come really cheap. So before you go out for a nightout, make sure that you have brought plenty of cash with you. For instance, a bottle of a BGI beer in a regular café will be more than a dollar. The more it will become pricey if you are inside a bar situated inside a hotel. The price will be up by 4 times. If you can’t afford these kinds of drinks, you can search for a bia hoi bar. It usually serves locally made cheap beers, which you can gulp from a jug full of ice. There are also some discotheques and other establishments where first-round drinks are already free.

Dress code in Ho Chi Minh

Despite the stringent rules when it comes to nightspots, the dress code is pretty laidback. Everyone can just wear anything. There are no restrictions for women to wear jeans or even short skirts.

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• Halal food in the City of Saigon (Halal @ Saigon)
  travel tip by shehnas posted more then 30 days ago
  Being the avid traveller that I am, I love to discover different places, its culture, language, attraction and the sorts. I believe that is no barrier for any of my travels – except for one – food. Being a Muslim , Halal food...
• Saigon Saigon Bar
  travel tip by alvingb posted more then 30 days ago
  Saigon Saigon bar is a great place to hang out with your friends after sigh seeing Ho Chi Minh City. The Bar is located in the Caravelle Hotel. It not only serves great chilled beer and other alcoholic drinks but from this bar you are...
• Rex Hotel Rooftop Beer Garden
  travel tip by alvingb posted more then 30 days ago
  Rex Hotel Rooftop Beer Garden is a great place to go to if you want to see the city from the above. This place is a beer garden where they sell alcoholic beverages to patrons. The main highlight of this place is the view that of the city...

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