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Ho Chi Minh City Nightlife

Ho Chi Minh City is awash with clubs and bars, varying from tiny, gloomy establishments to some very upmarket venues. Most of the nightlife in Ho Chi Minh City's concentrated in District 1.

Imported drinks are considerably more expensive than local ones and alcohol sold in the more exclusive places is even more expensive again. The dress code is generally very relaxed with no restrictions on jeans or trainers.

Information on Ho Chi Minh City's nightlife can be found in The Guide, published monthly by the Vietnam Economic Times (www.vneconomy.com.vn). Most tickets are available direct from the venue, but Vietnam's first ticket agency, Ticketbox (www.ticketbox.vn), sells online tickets to some events.

Bars in Ho Chi Minh City

Eon Heli Bar

The Eon Heli Bar is one of the smartest places in town - as well as one of the highest. You’ll find it on floor 52 of the Bitexco Financial Tower, which dominates the city’s skyline. The strange platform seen extending from the building is the helipad, hence the bar’s name. Drinks are a little pricey, but the views across the city are priceless. There’s a great choice of beers, spirits and cocktails, plus DJs playing on the weekend.

Address: District 1, 52, Bitexco Tower, 2, Hai Trieu, Ho Chi Minh City,
Telephone: +84 28 6291 8751
Website: http://eon51.com/eon-heli-bar/

Sky Bar

The Breeze Sky Bar may not be the trendiest place in town, but it is a laidback choice with a good selection of cold drinks on offer. Enjoy a quiet one with great views over the Saigon River from its spot on the 5th floor of the colonial Majestic Hotel, where the open terrace allows drinkers to watch the busy, intriguing river traffic, particularly the ferries crammed full of bicycles, motorbikes and people. In the evenings, observe the brightly-lit cruise boats as they glide on by.

Address: District 1, 1 Dong Khoi, Ho Chi Minh City,
Telephone: +84 28 3829 5517
Website: http://majesticsaigon.com/breeze-sky-bar/

TNR Saigon

Situated in Bui Vien, a corner of town renowned for its drunk backpackers, loud music and cheap trick scammers, TNR shines out above the rest as a place of refuge from the madness. With good music, craft beer, dim lights and a pool table, this ‘Dive Bar’ offers a chill vibe with friendly staff… the perfect antidote to the infectious Bui Vien.

 

Address: Pham Ngu Lao Ward, 57 Do Quang Dau street, Ho Chi Minh City, 700000
Telephone:
Website: https://www.facebook.com/tnrsaigon

Clubs in Ho Chi Minh City

International Tourist Club

The International Tourist Club is a well-established entertainment complex located in an annex of the New World Hotel. It’s famed for the Catwalk Club, which boasts private, hi-tech private karaoke rooms with their own DJs, a Singsation open lounge karaoke area, plus a chill out room for those looking to relax. It’s all stylised with chic, chintzy décor, some comfy sofas and chairs and an array of drinks on the menu. Check out the big hits in the Live Zone where professional singers and bands play the latest hit songs on request or have a flutter in Chats, the in-house casino that’s open 24 hours a day.

Address: District 1, New World Hotel, 76 Le Lai, Ho Chi Minh City,
Telephone: +84 28 3824 3760.
Website: http://itclubsaigon.com.vn/

Lush

This contemporary spot pumps out hip hop, electro and house music on a state of the art sound system as the preened and pretty of the Ho chi Minh City set dance away late into the night. If the action below all gets a little too much, there are sofas upstairs to chill out on, plus two garden areas and a bustling outdoor bar where ravers can still enjoy the music.

Address: District 1, 2 Ly Tu Trong, Ho Chi Minh City,
Telephone: +84 94876 7676 / +84 91863 0742
Website: https://www.facebook.com/LushSaigon/

Live music in Ho Chi Minh City

Hard Rock Café

It’s difficult to miss the location of this world famous franchise restaurant, bar and live music venue - just look for the large, neon-lit guitar on the street. Rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia adorns the walls here with clothing worn by John Lennon, Rod Steward and Jimi Hendrix. It’s the house bands and happy hours that attract repeat customers, though, as nightly music swings from retro records to contemporary tunes. The wide variety of burgers are pretty good too.

Address: District 1, Kumho Asiana Plaza, 39 Le Duan Street, Ho Chi Minh City,
Telephone: +84 28 6291 7595.
Website: http://www.hardrock.com/cafes/ho-chi-minh-city

Park Lounge

Several of the larger hotels host local and international live performers and this includes the Park Lounge in the Park Hyatt, which holds concerts each night. If you’re staying at the Park Hyatt Saigon hotel, these weekend events are more than convenient as you won’t have to travel far for a fun night out and you can be sure you’ll get back to your room safely. As one of the fancier addresses in the city, you should be dressed in your best when the DJ comes out to play.

Address: District 1, 2 Lam Son, Ho Chi Minh City,
Telephone: +84 28 3824 1234.
Website: https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/vietnam/park-hyatt-saigon/saiph/dining

Sax n'Art Jazz Club

Nightly performances by saxophonist, local jazz musician and owner of the club, Tran Manh Tuan, are extremely popular because of his blend of contemporary jazz with traditional Vietnamese influences. Sax n'Art Jazz Club is a small venue with an intimate, relaxed ambience and boasts regular appearances from international guest artists. Arguably, though, the most special is when Tuan’s daughter plays alongside her father.

Address: District 1, 28 Le Loi, Ho Chi Minh City,
Telephone: +84 28 3822 8472.
Website: https://www.facebook.com/saxnart/

Classical music in Ho Chi Minh City

Opera House

The Opera House is a beautiful colonial building dating from 1899 and is home to the Ho Chi Minh City Ballet, Symphony Orchestra and Opera. It has undergone a serious upgrade recently and features a state-of-the-art light and sound system. It has regular performances and occasional shows by international classical artists and also features dance and music performances. For an exciting taste of new Vietnam, make sure you catch the fabulous AO show, a truly breathtaking performance that combines circus and dance - with a twist.

Address: District 1, 7 Lam Son Square, Ho Chi Minh City,
Telephone: +84 28 3829 9976
Website: http://www.hbso.org.vn

Dance in Ho Chi Minh City

Theatres in Ho Chi Minh City

Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theatre

Vietnam is famous for its water puppets and Ho Chi Minh City has its own water puppet theatre with daily performances that last around 50 minutes. Water puppetry originated in the Red River Delta in the north of Vietnam and was performed by rice farmers. Traditional stories and scenes are performed by the puppets accompanied by musicians wearing conventional costumes and a Vietnamese narrator. The Water Puppet Theatre is a must-see for all visitors to the city.

Address: District 1, 55bis Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, Ho Chi Minh City,
Telephone: +84 283930 2196.

Music and Dance in Ho Chi Minh City

Culture in Ho Chi Minh City

A digital image at https://illuminoto.com

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Grand Hotel

Hulking ex-Yugoslav monolith with a cavernous interior, stay at Pristina's famous Grand Hotel for a retro trip down Eastern Bloc's memory lane. Blessed with the most central location in Pristina on Nënë Tereza.

Windsor Plaza Hotel

A perfect place for those who want the comfort of a luxury hotel without the pain of paying for it. Located in Cholon, this 25-floor hotel has stunning views across the city and the rooms are large and smart with excellent facilities. The bustling streets of Ho Chi Minh City's Chinatown surround the hotel and the hotel itself has its own shopping plaza and nightclub. On request services include airport transfers, 24-hour in-room dining, a 24-hour business centre and a 24-hour multilingual concierge.

Caravelle Hotel

The Caravelle Hotel is located in the heart of the commercial and entertainment area and offers 335 large and stylish rooms. It is one of the most famous addresses in Ho Chi Minh City as it was one of the gathering places for war correspondents during the Vietnam War and the rooftop Saigon Saigon Bar is still popular for its bird's eye views of the city.

Hotel Majestic

Boasting an enviable location overlooking the fine historic monuments of the Zócalo, the 85-room Hotel Majestic has five large suites. A mirrored lobby is adorned with fountains and Mexican tiles. Choose a room overlooking the square for bird's eye views of the daily ceremonial raising of the flag at 0600. Simple décor centres on comfort with a TV, mini-bar, coffee-making facilities and rustic wood furniture. Popular terrace restaurant Terraza overlooks the Zócalo and serves basic Mexican and international food at reasonable prices.

Elios Hotel

A good-value, 3-star hotel located in the Pham Ngu Lao area, which has excellent facilities, including free wireless internet throughout. The rooms are smart and comfortable. There is a rooftop restaurant and bar with fabulous views across the city and the staff can help with tour and transport reservations.

Lavender Hotel

One of the few boutique hotels in Ho Chi Minh City, the Lavender is located behind Ben Thanh Market. As the name suggests the theme is lavender and the rooms are modern and stylish with excellent facilities. It has an excellent 8th floor restaurant and bar with outside terrace with views across the city.