World Travel Guide

City Guide  - Ho Chi Minh City  - Nightlife
Nightlife

During the Vietnam War, Ho Chi Minh City (or Saigon as it was known then) was notorious for its nightlife, but this changed dramatically after 1975 and venues were forced to close their doors. Now, however, the city is once again awash with clubs and bars, varying from tiny, gloomy establishments to some very upmarket venues. Most of the nightlife is concentrated in District 1, particularly on the streets around Dong Khoi and Hai Ba Trung, although a few good restaurants and bars are found in District 3 and Phu Nhuan District. With the absence of formal licensing hours, many are open into the early hours of the morning or until the last client leaves. Imported drinks are considerably more expensive than local ones and alcohol sold in the more upmarket places is even more expensive again. There is never any entrance fee to the bars, but nightclubs generally charge around US$5. The dress code is generally very relaxed with no restrictions on jeans or trainers.
Bars:
Perhaps one of the most famous bars is Apocalypse Now, 2C Thi Sach. Be warned it only gets going around midnight. The Gecko Bar, at 74/1A Hai Ba Trung, is a lively place with a darts board and pool table. For a quiet drink with great views over the Saigon River, try the rooftop bar at the Majestic Hotel, 1 Dong Khoi. A rather kitsch rooftop bar is to be found on top of the Rex Hotel on Nguyen Hue. Other popular places are the Blue Gecko Bar, 31 Ly Tu Trong, with a pool table and darts board, and Sheridan's Irish House at 19 Le Thanh Ton.
Casinos:
Gambling is illegal in Vietnam.
Clubs:
Clubs were slow in appearing in the city but now there is a choice, although they all play a wide variety of music, including techno, pop and retro. The Starlight Nightclub in the Oscar Hotel on Nguyen Hue and the Catwalk in the New World Hotel on Le Lai are well established. Popular with young Saigonese and ex-pats alike are Hazzards on Hai Ba Trung, Monaco on Tran Hung Dao in District 5 and Mua Rung on Ho Huan Nghiep. The largest club in Vietnam, Spaceship, opened its doors in mid-2000 on Ham Nghi.
Live music:
The Wild Horse Saloon, 8A1/D1 Thai Van Lung, has nightly live music from jazz to blues and country. Several of the international hotels have nightly performances by local and international bands, such as the Caravelle Hotel on Lam Son Square, the New World Hotel, Le Lai, the Equatorial Hotel, Tran Binh Trong, District 5, and Sofitel Plaza Saigon, Le Duan.



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