Ho Chi Minh City nightlife, in Vietnam, is one of the craziest in Southeast Asia. I lived in the city for a few months and this is my report about its best nightclubs, bars, karaokes, spas and beer gardens.
Note that Ho Chi Minh City can also be called Saigon, HCM or HCMC. I will also give more general nightlife tips for clubbing and having fun in Vietnam.
Saigon Nightlife Summarized in 100 Words
If you don't have the time to read my whole review, here is a short summary:
- Best midrange hotel near the nightlife: Sanouva Hotel (40$ per night)
- Where to party as a young tourist: Bui Vien street (just walk there and you'll see over 50 cheap bars and clubs). Music is EDM, Rn'B and Top 40.
- Meet girls online: VietnamCupid, Tinder
- Most popular nightclubs for expats: Lush, Glow
- Best rooftop: Chill Skybar
- Best techno/alternative nightclub: The Observatory
- Best live Music: Saigon Saigon (Caravelle Hotel)
- Best Hostess bar for expats: Check the area between 50 and 100 Pasteur Street (Luna, etc)
- Most infamous club: Apocalypse Now
- Best sports bar: Phatty's
- Best Viet-style beer garden: Fox Beer Lounge or Kingdom
- Best men spa/massage: 24-hour spa in Vien Dong Hotel
Choosing a Hotel Near the Nightlife:
For each hotel, I included a direct link to Agoda. I make a small commission on every booking so if you like this review and value the hours I spent writing it, please book using one of these links. If you don't like Agoda, you can also use my links to HotelsCombined.com or Booking.com. The price is the same for you.
Almost all the interesting nightlife venues in Saigon are within the District 1, which is also where the most famous tourist attractions are located.
If you are young and you want a wild party atmosphere (backpacker style), then choose a hotel near Bui Vien street or near Ben Thanh Market. This area is lively almost 24/7 with clubs, bars, restaurants and spas. It can be a bit noisy and dirty, though.
If you are older and you need a more quiet area, choose instead anywhere near the Opera House.
Hotels with a casino (only allowed for foreigners): New World, Grand Hotel, Caravelle, Renaissance Riverside, Rex, Majestic, Hotel Continental and Sheraton.
Guest Friendly (Girl-Friendly) Hotels in Saigon:
Meeting Girls Before Arriving in Saigon:
If you visit Saigon alone or with some male friends, I recommend you to prepare your trip at least two weeks in advance. Vietnamese girls are not easy, so it can take some time before finding the right one.
- To start with, while still at home, use a dating site (for instance VietnamCupid) and set your location in Ho Chi Minh City.
- Match with as many girls as possible. Filter the conservative ones.
- Have a video call with your favorites.
- Plan your dates.
The reason I recommend VietnamCupid instead of Tinder is that girls there are usually OK to meet with guys who don't live in Vietnam. They want to marry with a foreigner, and eventually live in his home country. VietnamCupid is free to register, but it's best to pay for the premium version as it will give you access to all the features (including unlimited messaging).
There are other apps as well, you can read my guide online dating in Indonesia which is also relevant for Vietnam.
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Impressive rooftop bar with great music and a very relaxed atmosphere. Many expats, among which 50% seem to be French.
3) Lush
Lush is fun and an excellent place to meet Vietnamese girls. Many of those going to Lush are non prostitute and are looking to meet foreigners. On the downside, Lush's music is mostly mainstream and the service can be awful. It also attracts quite many backpackers.
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Best Live Music Venues in Ho Chi Minh City
Saigon Saigon Bar (Caravelle Hotel)
Saigon Saigon Bar in Caravelle Hotel is another popular option. Though less fancy than Maxim's, it is just as expensive. They usually have a band from the Philippines singing Top 40 and famous songs. During the week, it can be quiet but you will see it full on weekend nights. It is partly in the open-air with a nice view of the opera.
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Catwalk
Catwalk Club is part of the casino complex called International Tourist Club, just next to New World Hotel in Central HCMC. It is luxurious as well, but the crowd more Asian. They have a Cuban and Vietnamese band.
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Other recommendations:
Live Jazz Music: Sax N'Art (Daily)
Live Latin Music: Pacharan
Live Rock and Top 40: Hard Rock Café HCMC
Alternative: Fenêtre Soleil or Fang Pub (local bands)
In almost all of Saigon's 5-star hotels, you will have some sort of live jazzy/piano music in the evening. This is particularly true in Grand Hotel, Park Hyatt, Sheraton, Intercontinental and Lotte Legend Hotel.
If you are interested in listening to live famous Vietnamese song, you can try The Hideout Club (16 Lê Quý Dôn, District 3).
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My biggest disappointment with Ho Chi Minh nightlife is that bars, clubs and pubs tend to close rather early. Past 3am, if you want your night out to continue, your options will be severely limited to some of the seediest clubs and bars in town.
These include the downtown hostess bars in the Hai Bai Trung street area (see below).
Apocalypse Now (often referred by its shortened name "Apo") is probably the best late night option though it is only open until 4am. Backpackers, expats and prostitutes rock the dancefloor of this rather old-style club. The music is not very sophisticated and you'll hear mostly famous hits.
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At the heart of Saigon's backpacker district on De Tham Street, GO 2 bar and nightclub welcomes late clubbers until 6 or 7am. It is similar in style with Apocalypse, only smaller and with twice as many prostitutes and backpackers.![]()
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Vietnamese girls are typically not "easy" to pick up. Few accept the idea of a detached one-night stand with a stranger compared to girls you would meet in some other Southeast Asian countries. You will also notice that many Vietnamese girls are still living with their parents if they are not married yet.
If you are going out with the idea of finding a girl to sleep with for the night, your best chance is in Lush, Xu or Glow. In all these places, the women are interested to meet foreigners. It will take a some charm, some luck and some convincing if you want something to happen though. Another option would be to try your luck with a foreign girl as there are quite many in the city either tourists or expats.
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If you have no charm, no patience and no luck, you might be tempted to pay for sex. I don't know if prostitution is legal or not in Vietnam, but it is surely widespread.
In all Vietnamese nightclubs, the proportion of girls looking for money is very high. You rarely see a group of girls alone having fun and paying for their own drinks. More likely, you'll encounter groups of guys partying together with girls they have invited. Those can be girlfriends, mistresses or hostesses (rarely the wife). The 5-star hotels and casinos bars have a fair share of lady companions as well (Maxim's, Catwalk, Caravelle, etc).
In District 1, the red light district area is located near Ngô Văn Năm and Hai Bai Trung streets. It is not really hardcore compared to Bangkok for instance, and far more discreet. Places like Smileys or 29 are Vietnam's equivalent to Thailand's blowjob bars.
You also have milder hostess bars such as Voodoo next to Bitexco tower or The Office Bar (16 Huynh Thuc Khang District 1). Both usually close late. They have friendly waitresses who are not really prostitute but who might meet you after work. At the bar, they will just chat or play games (connect four in particular). You can reward them for the time spent with you by buying them ladies' drinks from which they get a percentage.
Bars and Clubs are very generous with girls during Ladies Nights in Ho Chi Minh City. The best one is certainly the one in Lush on Tuesdays (Free Drinks for Girls until midnight). On that day, you will have an incredibly high ratio of women available per men.
Two other great Ladies Nights happen in Blanchy's Tash Bar (every Wednesday until Midnight, all you can drink mojitos) and in Fuse (every Wednesday as well, free drinks for ladies).
The Texas Beer Club has 3 ladies nights on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Girls who aren't afraid of getting fat will get free beer until midnight.
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Gay Nightlife in Ho Chi Minh City![]()
I am only aware of Centro lounge and bar at the moment, which is located just next to Caravelle Hotel in Lam Son Square. There used to be a place called GQ but it closed down in the beginning of the year.
A friend is supposed to update me on the other gay bars and clubs in Saigon so I'll update this page soon.
Top Sports Bars and Expat Bars
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I also visited the lounge on top of the Bitexco tower, Eon 51, but it was poorly maintained and I cannot recommend it except for the view.
Other Saigon Nightlife Tips
Fruit baskets: In some clubs, the waiter will propose to bring you a plate of fruits when you order alcohol. Be careful as the price can be quite expensive. ![]()
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Note that Ho Chi Minh City can also be called Saigon, HCM or HCMC. I will also give more general nightlife tips for clubbing and having fun in Vietnam.
Saigon Nightlife Summarized in 100 Words
If you don't have the time to read my whole review, here is a short summary:
- Best midrange hotel near the nightlife: Sanouva Hotel (40$ per night)
- Where to party as a young tourist: Bui Vien street (just walk there and you'll see over 50 cheap bars and clubs). Music is EDM, Rn'B and Top 40.
- Meet girls online: VietnamCupid, Tinder
- Most popular nightclubs for expats: Lush, Glow
- Best rooftop: Chill Skybar
- Best techno/alternative nightclub: The Observatory
- Best live Music: Saigon Saigon (Caravelle Hotel)
- Best Hostess bar for expats: Check the area between 50 and 100 Pasteur Street (Luna, etc)
- Most infamous club: Apocalypse Now
- Best sports bar: Phatty's
- Best Viet-style beer garden: Fox Beer Lounge or Kingdom
- Best men spa/massage: 24-hour spa in Vien Dong Hotel
Choosing a Hotel Near the Nightlife:
Almost all the interesting nightlife venues in Saigon are within the District 1, which is also where the most famous tourist attractions are located.
If you are young and you want a wild party atmosphere (backpacker style), then choose a hotel near Bui Vien street or near Ben Thanh Market. This area is lively almost 24/7 with clubs, bars, restaurants and spas. It can be a bit noisy and dirty, though.
If you are older and you need a more quiet area, choose instead anywhere near the Opera House.
The best hotels in terms of comfort and location near the nightlife in Saigon are the following (all have more than 8/10 rating for location and guest services):
- Under 20$ per night: Bich Duyen Hotel or Giang Son 2 Hotel (both in Bui Vien)
- Under 30$ per night: Duc Vuong Hotel (Bui Vien, it has a popular rooftop bar)
- Under 50$ per night: Elios Hotel (Bui Vien) or Sanouva Hotel (Girl-friendly)
- Under 80$ per night: Paradise Hotel and Spa, Grand Silverland and Liberty Central.
- Under 150$ per night: Pullman, Liberty CityPoint (my favorite with a brand new CGV cinema inside), Liberty Riverside
- More than 200$ per night: Park Hyatt, Le Meridien (close to the street with Japanese massage parlors).- Under 80$ per night: Paradise Hotel and Spa, Grand Silverland and Liberty Central.
- Under 150$ per night: Pullman, Liberty CityPoint (my favorite with a brand new CGV cinema inside), Liberty Riverside
Hotels with a casino (only allowed for foreigners): New World, Grand Hotel, Caravelle, Renaissance Riverside, Rex, Majestic, Hotel Continental and Sheraton.
Guest Friendly (Girl-Friendly) Hotels in Saigon:
A big problem you will face in Saigon is that many hotels will not accept a last-minute female guest in your room unless you are already married.
They are very strict with it, especially Government-run hotels (even the 4 and 5 stars properties).
You can read my guide about the 25 Best Massage Parlours in Saigon. It contains a list of guest-friendly hotels with "happy ending" spas inside.
Also, you can book any property of the chain A25. They allow for short-time room rental and they don't mind if you bring a girl. The price is reasonable, usually between 25$ and 40$ per night, and several are located within the District 1:
A25 De Tham (Bui Vien)
A25 Nguyen Cu Trinh
A25 Le Lai
A25 Nguyen Trai
A25 Ly Tu Trong
A25 Bui Thi Xuan
The hotel chain A25 mentioned above has an hourly rate as well as a daily rate.
They are very strict with it, especially Government-run hotels (even the 4 and 5 stars properties).
You can read my guide about the 25 Best Massage Parlours in Saigon. It contains a list of guest-friendly hotels with "happy ending" spas inside.
Also, you can book any property of the chain A25. They allow for short-time room rental and they don't mind if you bring a girl. The price is reasonable, usually between 25$ and 40$ per night, and several are located within the District 1:
A25 De Tham (Bui Vien)
A25 Nguyen Cu Trinh
A25 Le Lai
A25 Nguyen Trai
A25 Ly Tu Trong
A25 Bui Thi Xuan
Transit/Love Hotels in Saigon:
Vietnamese men will often use short-time hotels when they want to sleep with a girl from a club or karaoke. These "transit" hotels can be found almost everywhere in the city and it's easy for any taxi driver to bring you to the nearest one. You can spot them yourself as they are advertised with a bright neon sign, usually with something like "80,000VND - 1 giờ" which means here "80,000 VND per hour". They are normally open 24/7.The hotel chain A25 mentioned above has an hourly rate as well as a daily rate.
Meeting Girls Before Arriving in Saigon:
If you visit Saigon alone or with some male friends, I recommend you to prepare your trip at least two weeks in advance. Vietnamese girls are not easy, so it can take some time before finding the right one.
- To start with, while still at home, use a dating site (for instance VietnamCupid) and set your location in Ho Chi Minh City.
- Match with as many girls as possible. Filter the conservative ones.
- Have a video call with your favorites.
- Plan your dates.
The reason I recommend VietnamCupid instead of Tinder is that girls there are usually OK to meet with guys who don't live in Vietnam. They want to marry with a foreigner, and eventually live in his home country. VietnamCupid is free to register, but it's best to pay for the premium version as it will give you access to all the features (including unlimited messaging).
There are other apps as well, you can read my guide online dating in Indonesia which is also relevant for Vietnam.
Top Nightclubs and Bars for Expats and Tourists
Even though it is often unnecessarily pretentious, Chill Skybar remains a great place for a night out. With a magic view and a beautiful crowd, all you need to enjoy it fully is a 6 figure salary.
3) Lush
Lush is fun and an excellent place to meet Vietnamese girls. Many of those going to Lush are non prostitute and are looking to meet foreigners. On the downside, Lush's music is mostly mainstream and the service can be awful. It also attracts quite many backpackers.
In District 1, other popular nightclubs and bars among younger Expats are Snuffbox, Racha Room and Xu.
Hipsters and Alternative Nightlife in Saigon
The alternative scene is thriving in Saigon. Young, hipster-like expats will typically go to The Observatory. It is quite a cool place with top electronic music DJs. It is mostly crowded with white Europeans and Americans so you won't really feel you are in Vietnam at all.
Other alternative venues are The Lighthouse, Indika and Broma.
Other alternative venues are The Lighthouse, Indika and Broma.
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| The Observatory |
Best Vina House Nightclubs (local Vietnamese Clubs)
Rich Vietnamese will usually party between themselves in intimate, swanky clubs and bars with very few foreigners inside. Typically, they will buy huge bottles of premium alcohol, have insanely hot-looking girls with them, and stay in groups around a table.
Vietnamese really know how to party so you will find a hell of an atmosphere in those places, with many drunk and stoned people going mental. In clubs like 02 Gold or DC, it seemed based on my observations that most clubbers were tripping on ecstasy or other drugs I'm not aware of. It is common to see someone who just passed out being evacuated by security.
In those Vietnamese clubs, you will notice that bouncers provide often over the top service. When you enter, they will escort you to a table, making you a way in the crowd as if you were some sort of high-profile VIP or celebrity. Of course, they expect generous tips for their services. The minute they understand you won't tip much even though you are white, they will most likely abandon you.
There is no sign in front of this club so it is a bit tricky to find. It has the reputation of being owned by the mafia and to be popular with recreative drugs users.
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| Sexy Dancers in 86 |
The Best Beer Bars in Saigon
Kingdom is the most popular beer bar in Saigon among the local elite. It is packed almost every day of the week starting 9pm. It can be difficult to get a table there if you are not a regular and if you are only spending a little money. For a guy, the best thing about Kingdom is to look at some of the most beautiful girls you will find in the city. Most are with boyfriends and friends though so it is not really a pick up place.
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There are litteraly hundreds of beer bars in Ho Chi Minh, from low class to super high class. Some nice places that I have tried are Vuvuzela Beer bars (several locations, the most famous and popular beer bar chain in Vietnam) and Poc Poc Beer Garden in District 3.
Fox Beer Lounge is a new venue with great location, just a few hundred meters from Kingdom. It is more relaxed and easy-going.
Best Live Music Venues in Ho Chi Minh City
Saigon Saigon Bar in Caravelle Hotel is another popular option. Though less fancy than Maxim's, it is just as expensive. They usually have a band from the Philippines singing Top 40 and famous songs. During the week, it can be quiet but you will see it full on weekend nights. It is partly in the open-air with a nice view of the opera.
Catwalk Club is part of the casino complex called International Tourist Club, just next to New World Hotel in Central HCMC. It is luxurious as well, but the crowd more Asian. They have a Cuban and Vietnamese band.
Live Jazz Music: Sax N'Art (Daily)
Live Latin Music: Pacharan
Live Rock and Top 40: Hard Rock Café HCMC
Alternative: Fenêtre Soleil or Fang Pub (local bands)
In almost all of Saigon's 5-star hotels, you will have some sort of live jazzy/piano music in the evening. This is particularly true in Grand Hotel, Park Hyatt, Sheraton, Intercontinental and Lotte Legend Hotel.
If you are interested in listening to live famous Vietnamese song, you can try The Hideout Club (16 Lê Quý Dôn, District 3).
After Hour Clubbing in HCMC
My biggest disappointment with Ho Chi Minh nightlife is that bars, clubs and pubs tend to close rather early. Past 3am, if you want your night out to continue, your options will be severely limited to some of the seediest clubs and bars in town.
These include the downtown hostess bars in the Hai Bai Trung street area (see below).
Apocalypse Now (often referred by its shortened name "Apo") is probably the best late night option though it is only open until 4am. Backpackers, expats and prostitutes rock the dancefloor of this rather old-style club. The music is not very sophisticated and you'll hear mostly famous hits.
Picking Up Girls, Hostess Bars, Red Light Districts in Ho Chi Minh City
If you are going out with the idea of finding a girl to sleep with for the night, your best chance is in Lush, Xu or Glow. In all these places, the women are interested to meet foreigners. It will take a some charm, some luck and some convincing if you want something to happen though. Another option would be to try your luck with a foreign girl as there are quite many in the city either tourists or expats.
In all Vietnamese nightclubs, the proportion of girls looking for money is very high. You rarely see a group of girls alone having fun and paying for their own drinks. More likely, you'll encounter groups of guys partying together with girls they have invited. Those can be girlfriends, mistresses or hostesses (rarely the wife). The 5-star hotels and casinos bars have a fair share of lady companions as well (Maxim's, Catwalk, Caravelle, etc).
In District 1, the red light district area is located near Ngô Văn Năm and Hai Bai Trung streets. It is not really hardcore compared to Bangkok for instance, and far more discreet. Places like Smileys or 29 are Vietnam's equivalent to Thailand's blowjob bars.
You also have milder hostess bars such as Voodoo next to Bitexco tower or The Office Bar (16 Huynh Thuc Khang District 1). Both usually close late. They have friendly waitresses who are not really prostitute but who might meet you after work. At the bar, they will just chat or play games (connect four in particular). You can reward them for the time spent with you by buying them ladies' drinks from which they get a percentage.
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| Gogo Dancers in The Office Bar |
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| Coyote Dancing in Saigon's The Office |
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| Sexy dancers in Voodoo Bar |
Best Luxury Karaoke in Saigon
There is also a huge number of Japanese and Korean KTVs in Saigon's Little Tokyo on Ngô Văn Năm street. Popular venues nearby are: Gion Lounge, Mermaid, Tre Bamboo, Himitsu, Mario Bar, Cherry Club, Cat's eye, Kin No Buta, Ko Ne Ko, AZ Honda Garu Japanese Lounge, Kawano Club, Saigon Infinity 888, Jumbo, Kaku Renbo, Thien Than Kiss and many more. The kind of service provided varies depending on the establishment and the girls. Some will only accompany you to sing or to drink, some may go back with you to your hotel, and some may do more in the privacy of the karaoke room. Stocking KTV (78 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, D1) is the most expensive of all. In there, you pay 150$ for a room + a lot of alcohol + a pretty girl who is wearing stockings. You can touch the girl but if you rip the stockings (while playing down), you must pay an extra 5$.
Two other recommendations for luxury KTVs in Saigon are Kingdom Karaoke and Avatar Karaoke.
Spas and Beauty Salons for Men in Ho Chi Minh City
Beauty Salons:
Le Duyen's beauty salons are a special breed of spas. Reserved for a male clientele (but not forbidden to women), you can get a massage, a haircut or a facewash. Each Le Duyen salon has around 20 beautiful therapists who will pamper you as if you were a king. Nothing sexual going on there, but it is certainly arousing.
There are 4 in Saigon. One of them is conveniently located downtown at 72 Truong Dinh, Ben Thanh, District 1.
Spas ++:
In District 1, it is not hard to find dirty spas. You can try My Anh for instance also located in Truong Dinh Street, near Ben Thanh market. You can also go to the area between Le Than Ton street and Ngô Văn Năm street where half of the shops are either massage parlours with special services or hostess bars. A famous one is Tokyo Spa which is a favorite for Japanese men.
Outside of District 1, you can also get a massage plus plus (massage with handjob) in Star Hotel (204, Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, District 3), Lucky Massage in New Pacific Hotel (Ky Dong Street, District 3) or in Festival Massage (Cao Thang Street, District 3).
24-hour Massage Plus Plus (Happy Ending) in Saigon
Surprisingly, some naughty massage parlours in Ho Chi Minh City are opened non-stop 24-hour, everyday of the week.
Such places include Minh Tam 1 on Le Quy Don street (District 3), Minh Tam 2 (Binh Tan District) , Dai Nam (District 1) or Vien Dong Hotel next to the backpacker area in Pham Ngu Lao.
King Karaoke in Hai Bai Trung Street could be one of the most luxurious in Saigon. You will also find top notch karaoke rooms in most of the Vietnamese clubs listed above and in all the casinos.
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| A Room in King 2 |
Two other recommendations for luxury KTVs in Saigon are Kingdom Karaoke and Avatar Karaoke.
Spas and Beauty Salons for Men in Ho Chi Minh City
Beauty Salons:
Le Duyen's beauty salons are a special breed of spas. Reserved for a male clientele (but not forbidden to women), you can get a massage, a haircut or a facewash. Each Le Duyen salon has around 20 beautiful therapists who will pamper you as if you were a king. Nothing sexual going on there, but it is certainly arousing.
There are 4 in Saigon. One of them is conveniently located downtown at 72 Truong Dinh, Ben Thanh, District 1.
Spas ++:
In District 1, it is not hard to find dirty spas. You can try My Anh for instance also located in Truong Dinh Street, near Ben Thanh market. You can also go to the area between Le Than Ton street and Ngô Văn Năm street where half of the shops are either massage parlours with special services or hostess bars. A famous one is Tokyo Spa which is a favorite for Japanese men.
Outside of District 1, you can also get a massage plus plus (massage with handjob) in Star Hotel (204, Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, District 3), Lucky Massage in New Pacific Hotel (Ky Dong Street, District 3) or in Festival Massage (Cao Thang Street, District 3).
24-hour Massage Plus Plus (Happy Ending) in Saigon
Surprisingly, some naughty massage parlours in Ho Chi Minh City are opened non-stop 24-hour, everyday of the week.
Such places include Minh Tam 1 on Le Quy Don street (District 3), Minh Tam 2 (Binh Tan District) , Dai Nam (District 1) or Vien Dong Hotel next to the backpacker area in Pham Ngu Lao.
Ladies Nights in Saigon
Bars and Clubs are very generous with girls during Ladies Nights in Ho Chi Minh City. The best one is certainly the one in Lush on Tuesdays (Free Drinks for Girls until midnight). On that day, you will have an incredibly high ratio of women available per men.
Two other great Ladies Nights happen in Blanchy's Tash Bar (every Wednesday until Midnight, all you can drink mojitos) and in Fuse (every Wednesday as well, free drinks for ladies).
The Texas Beer Club has 3 ladies nights on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Girls who aren't afraid of getting fat will get free beer until midnight.
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| Ladies Night in Blanchy's Tash Bar |
Another cool and popular event is the Saigon Soul Pool Party (every saturdays during dry season only from November to May) at the New World Hotel. Don't be fooled by the pictures though, you have a LOT more guys than girls.
Gay Nightlife in Ho Chi Minh City
A friend is supposed to update me on the other gay bars and clubs in Saigon so I'll update this page soon.
Top Sports Bars and Expat Bars
Australian-owned Phatty's Sports Bar and Grill is one of the best choices to watch sports and socialize with fellow expats in Saigon.
The hostess bars mentioned above (particularly The Office and Voodoo) are also popular.
Similar with Phatty's, I also enjoy the old-style Hien and Bob (43 Hai Bà Trưng) and Red Bar in front of the Bitexco tower.
If you want to watch sport with a 100% Vietnamese crowd, the go to Guru Sports Bar in District 3.
The hostess bars mentioned above (particularly The Office and Voodoo) are also popular.
Similar with Phatty's, I also enjoy the old-style Hien and Bob (43 Hai Bà Trưng) and Red Bar in front of the Bitexco tower.
If you want to watch sport with a 100% Vietnamese crowd, the go to Guru Sports Bar in District 3.
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| Guru Sports Bar in D3 |
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| One of Guru's cool waitresses |
Best Rooftop Lounges in HCMC
There are several rooftop lounges in Saigon. I already talked about Glow and Chill Skybar, both of which are excellent, though pricey.
Similar to those places, you can try Shri (Nguyen Thi Minh Khai) and the trendy Social Club, on top of the MGallery hotel.
Similar to those places, you can try Shri (Nguyen Thi Minh Khai) and the trendy Social Club, on top of the MGallery hotel.
Other Saigon Nightlife Tips
Partying in Groups: Vietnamese party in groups, around a table and a bottle. The concept of mingling and blending with strangers on a dance floor is foreign to them. They also don't expect to meet a girl in a club: Either they bring girls with them already or they pay for hostesses to accompany them. In many of these clubs, you must buy a bottle minimum to enter, for instance A.C.E in District 1.
Getting Around - Parking/Taxi/Motorbike - Taxis are cheap, don't drive if you feel a bit tipsy. The Vinasun taxi company is the most recommended. You could also rent a motorbike for your night out for around 100,000 per day (go to Bui Vien's backpacker district to do so). Vietnamese drive recklessly but the traffic at night is quite easy to manage. When you park your motorbike, always make sure that the spot is guarded. You usually pay between 2,000 and 20,000 for parking.
Minimum age for clubbing: One of the most shocking thing i saw in Vietnam is how young some people are in clubs. It is a common sight to see 5-year old children sitting next to their partying parents. For this reason, I don't feel that the age limit actually mean something. You can probably drink in any nightclub at any age provided you have enough money.
Police Raids: As drug use seems pretty common in some clubs, the police raids them from time to time. They will also check if there is prostitution taking places. 02 Gold was raided several times but it is still there so I imagine that it is possible to bribe your way out. You can read more in this article: Police Raid Saigon Nightlife.
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| Kids in nightclubs are a common sight in HCMC |
Safety: Being a foreigner in a Vietnamese club means you will be treated like royalty. Many people will be happy to see you and they will invite you to cheer with them. I would advise to remain discreet and careful though as a situation can go from good to bad in a few seconds only. In particular, always follow the rules and show respect to the bouncers. Never ever start a fight with a local. Be extra careful when flirting with a girl: Make sure she does not have a boyfriend nearby already.
Vietnamese Girls
Vietnamese Girls are probably among the hottest, most beautiful girls in the world. In general, they are open to meeting foreigners but those who don't speak English will be shy to start a conversation.
You will see a lot of stunners in luxury clubs. Feminine, tall, thin girls wearing designer clothes and expensive jewelry are legion. Surgery is surprisingly very common: In certain elite circles, there is nothing more ordinary than getting a boob job or a nose job.
Many Vietnamese girls look always neat: Eyebrows are trimmed in dedicated salons, hairs are plaited or made to look wavy, nails are perfectly manicured. They avoid the sun like the plague so their skin is more white than milk.
In spite of being rather conservative when it comes to sex, Vietnamese girls are not afraid of showing some legs and cleavage. Mini skirts and short dresses can be extremely sexy, even during the day.
Unfortunately, the prettiest Vietnamese girls can also be heartless gold diggers, especially if you've met them in luxury clubs or bars. If you are hoping to meet a future girlfriend, stay away from them and try your luck during the day in normal places.
A recommended way to pick up great girls in Saigon is to use online dating apps. You can read my review about Online Dating Apps and Websites for more information. I wrote it for Indonesia but it is also valid for meeting girls in Vietnam.
A recommended way to pick up great girls in Saigon is to use online dating apps. You can read my review about Online Dating Apps and Websites for more information. I wrote it for Indonesia but it is also valid for meeting girls in Vietnam.
Conclusion
I tried to make this review of Saigon's nightlife as long and detailed as possible. I focused mainly on the nightlife of District 1 but there are many more clubs and bars in District 7, District 3 and elsewhere. The districts of Go Vap, Tan Binh, District 12 and Hoc Mon are also full of local nightclubs, karaokes, massage parlours and bars targeting the middle class.
Since the information provided on this report will most likely evolve, your help in keeping it updated will be much appreciated. Please don't hesitate to write a comment below if you can.
I tried to make this review of Saigon's nightlife as long and detailed as possible. I focused mainly on the nightlife of District 1 but there are many more clubs and bars in District 7, District 3 and elsewhere. The districts of Go Vap, Tan Binh, District 12 and Hoc Mon are also full of local nightclubs, karaokes, massage parlours and bars targeting the middle class.
Since the information provided on this report will most likely evolve, your help in keeping it updated will be much appreciated. Please don't hesitate to write a comment below if you can.
Photo credit: All photos were taken from the Facebook pages of the venues mentioned in the review.