Ho Chi Minh easily has the best nightlife in the entire country. Moreover, there is a huge range of bars including rooftop areas, stylish bars, modern spaces and great places to relax with a delicious cocktail in hand.
Besides, who doesn’t want to sit on the rooftop of a bar while enjoying the magnificent views over the city!? I know many people would jump at the thought of this experience!
Continue reading to discover the best nightlife in Ho Chi Minh City for the ultimate night on the town!
Where is Ho Chi Minh City?
Ho Chi Minh, formerly known as Saigon is in the South of Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh has the largest population in Vietnam and is the biggest city in the country.
And, it’s a very different style to Northern Hanoi with a much more Westernised city feel. There are loads of skyscrapers, rooftop bars, and modern infrastructure when compared to Hanoi.
Why You Should Visit These Places
I absolutely recommend checking out the nightlife of Ho Chi Minh City as there are some incredible rooftop bars and Vietnamese takes on bars and clubs.
There are numerous incredible bars offering high-quality drinks and food to enjoy while overlooking insane views of the city. Besides, who doesn’t want to sip on a cocktail while watching the city light up after dusk?
With your time in Ho Chi Minh, try to visit at least a handful of these places to get a grasp on the nightlife in this southern city. It’s easily the best place to party in the country!
Read more: 10 Markets in Vietnam: The Best Vietnamese Markets and Tips for Visiting
8 Ho Chi Minh Nightlife Locations
There is a seriously huge range of nightlife in Ho Chi Minh, and you’re bound to find something to do for your night on the town. So, check out my top 8 favourite places to visit for a night out in the city.
- The Lighthouse
The Lighthouse is easily one of the best bars in Vietnam offering the ultimate moody setting. Moreover, the bar has quite a dark setting with fantastic use of lighting to set the perfect tone for your night out.
Firstly, this is a great place for a couple of drinks with friends, or perhaps you might like to take a date to this location.
Another advantage of visiting the lighthouse is that you will get the chance to party until the early hours on Friday and Saturday mornings, considering the closing time is 5 AM.
Keep in mind, there may be an entrance fee of 100k dong, and this may vary depending on the time of the week that you visit.
Address: The Lighthouse, 104 Đ. Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
- The Observatory
The Observatory tends to go off on a Saturday night with incredible DJs and a vibrant atmosphere. Moreover, there is a small boiler room with laser lights. And, this is the greatest spot to be for dancing, usually to techno music.
On the other hand, hang out on the couches or tables outside and enjoy some cocktails while taking in the views of Saigon.
I highly recommend checking this place out as it was one of my favourites while visiting Saigon! Nonetheless, this location is best if you’re down to dance. If you’d prefer to prioritise nice views and food, I’d recommend one of the other locations.
Address: The Observatory, 85 Đ. Cách Mạng Tháng 8, Phường Phạm Ngũ Lão, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
- Broma Not A Bar
Broma Not A Bar is one of the more eclectic and upper-class rooftop bars in Ho Chi Minh. Moreover, there are loads of neon lights, plants, and popular spirits on offer.
I recommend checking out the cocktails section for some boozy fun, or the mocktail section for an enjoyable afternoon drink. And, there are a bunch of sliders and snacks to enjoy on the menu!
Finally, there are lots of lounges to enjoy the breeze outside while taking in the beautiful surroundings of the city. This is a must-visit location!
Address: Broma Not A Bar, 41 District, 41 Đ. Nguyễn Huệ, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
- Bui Vien Walking Street
A step away from the highlife of rooftop bars will land you on the famous Bui Vien street. You could say this is the Khao San Road of Vietnam. Besides, if you’ve been to Bangkok, you know exactly what I’m talking about.
Firstly, Bui Vien Street is in District One of Saigon, and this is typically where most tourists tend to spend most of their time. I highly recommend heading out to this street for dinner and some local beers before checking out the bars.
You can easily wander along the walking street and find numerous spots to enjoy dinner at any of the local restaurants. Or, check out some of the street food for a quick bite to eat.
After dinner, wander the street and marvel at the insane overuse of decorative lighting used to bring this place to life. This place is truly an attack on all of the senses.
You will have numerous people come up to you and offer you deals to visit their bar or club, feel free to check out some of the deals or keep wandering until something piques your interest.
Finally, be sure to visit this walking street at least once while spending time in Ho Chi Minh as it’s a great experience and tourist hotspot in Vietnam.
Address: Bui Vien Walking Street, Đ. Bùi Viện, Phường Phạm Ngũ Lão, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
- Banana Mama
Get ready to enjoy the ultimate sunset location in Saigon at Banana Mama. Firstly, this rooftop deck offers unobstructed panoramic views over the entirety of Ho Chi Minh City and is the best place to enjoy an afternoon drink in the sun.
Hang out on the rooftop to watch the city come to life and light up in front of your eyes.
Banana Mama is serving up beautiful cocktails and western-style sides like Aussie beef burgers, mac and cheese balls, and fries.
Finally, there are a number of lounges to relax on and tables to enjoy food. So, watch the day fade into the night at one of Ho Chi Minh’s best nightlife locations.
Address: Banana Mama, ABC, 102, Cống Quỳnh, Phường Phạm Ngũ Lão, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 70000, Vietnam
- Chill Skybar
Chill Skybar is the perfect date night spot to enjoy some beautiful food and beautifully made cocktails. Moreover, this location offers top-quality service in a beautiful restaurant.
So, indulge in some delicious food and take in the beautiful views over Saigon at Chill Skybar. Besides, this is the best spot to hang out when you want to experience a little more of the luxurious side of Ho Chi Minh’s nightlife.
Address: Chill Skybar, AB Tower, 76A Đ. Lê Lai, Phường Bến Thành, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
- KASHO Club
Stepping foot into the club scene, one of the best nightclubs in Ho Chi Minh is KASHO. Firstly, the lighting is dark with red LED accents around and the lounge feels ultra luxurious.
Keep in mind, you may need to book a table first, and this is one of the most expensive clubs in Ho Chi Minh. However, the service is great and the place is stunning.
Address: KASHO, 99 Đ. Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai, Phường Phạm Ngũ Lão, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 700000, Vietnam
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- Pub Crawl Saigon
Every Saturday night, the biggest pub crawl in Ho Chi Minh takes off. Moreover, this is a great way to enjoy multiple bars and clubs while meeting locals, travellers and expats.
You will get a hat to wear with the company’s logo and you will get free beers and shots along the way.
Firstly, you will start the night at Santo Cafe and then make your way around to the other bars and clubs on Bui Vien walking street. Keep in mind, there will be an entry cost to join the tour. Nonetheless, this is the perfect way to enjoy multiple locations in one night.
Finally, entry is 100k VND for girls and 200k VND for boys. Be sure to read more from their website here for more details on the latest events.
Address: Santo Cafe, 01 Đ. Bùi Viện, Phường Phạm Ngũ Lão, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 700000, Vietnam
Tips for Visiting
For the most part, the bars in Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh are reasonably safe. And, staff will typically be there to assist you if you need help with anything.
However, I wouldn’t recommend hitting the town by yourself as it can still be a little dangerous. So, try to head out with a friend or travel partner to keep safe in numbers.
Secondly, avoid drink spiking in crowded places by keeping your hand over your drink and keeping an eye on it at all times. Moreover, this is usually more important for females and goes hand in hand with staying safe with people you know.
Thirdly, make sure you bring out enough money for entrance fees, food, drinks, and tips, but not too much so if you lose it or it gets stolen it’s not a big deal.
Fourthly, keep your phone close by, and don’t lay it on a table or surface. Phone snatching is a common occurrence in Vietnam, and you wouldn’t wanna be the person that gets their phone stolen on a night out.
Finally, save some money for a grab bike on the way home, or have your card linked so that you can pay to get home safely. I do not recommend drinking and driving at any time, especially in a city as busy as this. Besides, the bike taxis are uber cheap!
Nonetheless, Ho Chi Minh is a reasonably safe place for a night on the town, so go ahead, let your hair down and enjoy a night out!
Read more: 17 Famous Landmarks in Vietnam: Iconic Vietnam Landmarks
Wrapping Up
In conclusion, Ho Chi Minh easily has the best nightlife in the entire country. There are heaps of great bars, rooftop areas, and activities to enjoy during the night.
Besides, you’ll notice that these are some of the popular spots with loads of locals flocking to them every week for a fun night out.
If you would like to discover more about Vietnam, I highly recommend checking out this page here which includes all my travel guides throughout the country. I update it regularly with lots of fresh content.
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