After entering through the swinging doors, be prepared for a late night in this Aussie home away from home. An array of flags covers the low ceiling, Australian Football League paraphernalia adorn the walls and rock music flies from the speakers to fill the dimly lit space. A dartboard and pool table can satisfy competitive urges, but most of the clientele just pass away the hours drinking with friends or sitting at the bar watching sports on television. Mugs of Tiger beer are consumed as the manager lingers about making sure all are enjoying themselves.
If you want to hear Vietnamese folk music, this is the place. Tucked away on a back street, Cao Minh, the owner, and a famous folk singer himself, has crafted an oasis of trees, shrubs, elevated platforms, ponds and frogs. Tuesday night is the only music night, usually played to a full house. The atmosphere is warm and the musicians very talented. From the stage, which appears to be the verandah of the family home, comes a mix of love songs and the occasional revolutionary ballad for good measure. Beer, soft drinks, tea and coffee are on the menu.
This beautiful restaurant filled with dark wood and old lamps has a well-trained team of waiters. Live music features every night. The food is of a superior quality. The menu includes a number of lau dishes. In these traditional meals you cook raw seafood and meat in a soup boiling at your table. There is also a wide selection of spring rolls as well as a lotus shoot salad and sauteed spicy beef. Beers, wines and soft drinks are available.
The spectacle of an enormous, enraged buffalo rendered in blaring neon above the streets of Ho Chi Minh is quite something to behold on its own, but if you have deep pockets and an appetite for alcohol, you'll want to stop off at this bawdy watering hole for a drink and a feed, too. They're happy to serve you a hearty breakfast, lunch or dinner, but as suggested earlier, it's a bit more on the expensive side than neighboring establishments (except the Go 2 bar, opposite). That said, it has the advantage of being open 24/7, so you can show up and party hard any time you like. Thankfully the pool table and WiFi are fabulously free of charge, so long as you buy at least one drink first. -Martin English
When looking for a place to have a good time in Ho Chi Minh City, expatriates and tourists often opt for the well-known Apocalypse Now nightclub, especially after midnight. A dance floor, bar, pool table and cafe are some of the features this nightclub has to offer. The dance floor here is small and quite crowded on the weekends and the laser lights and loud techno music keep people coming. The food served in the adjacent cafe is mainly Western and the prices are quite reasonable. Mixed drinks and beer are served.
Allez Boo is especially popular among backpackers due to its location at the corner of two streets highly concentrated with budget guesthouses and restaurants. The bar has a distinctive look as the outside as well as the inside of the bar is made out of bamboo. If you do not mind waiting a little time for your food, the Vietnamese dishes as well as Western specialties such as hamburgers are excellent. Once you have had your meal you can move to the bar and enjoy a cocktail, a beer or just a soft drink.
Arena is a great location for watching the big sporting events such as World Cup soccer, formula one, cricket and rugby. This venue is conveniently located in the heart of District One and stays open late for watching special sporting events. The layout is spacious and ideal for getting a group of friends together with seating on the main floor, a bar in the back,and a big-screen television up front. The bar also has two pool tables and dart boards for patrons to enjoy, plus smaller televisions at the bar so you can watch a variety of sports. Beers on tap include Fosters on tap, Heineken, plus some other imports as well as the local beers too. - Kevin Minh
After a long day in the city, Quan nhau 04 is the perfect spot where you can enjoy a relaxed evening. The restaurant has a lovely seating area which is covered with a see-through roof and it is decorated with beautiful fresh plants. At Quan nhau 04, seafood infused soups and salads come most recommended. Here, food is served in a dramatic fashion and the portions are generous enough to satiate a healthy appetite. Complement your fare with a beer or two, and unwind while appreciating the beautiful interior of this place.
Named for the Thong Nhat Stadium nearby, Ho Chi Minh, Cafe FC Thống Nhất can be found on Đào Duy Từ, in District 10. The casual sports offers a fun, laidback and relaxed ambiance where you can catch up on the current game or just hang out with friends. There are flatscreen TVs everywhere, so you won't be missing on the action in field. While the bar program includes an assorted range of beers and spirits, the food menu offers locally favored pub grub. The prices and just right and the service is friendly, there's much to like here.
Vibe caters to Saigon's young professionals with its fashionable style and easygoing atmosphere where you can shoot a game of pool or comfortably lounge in one of the many sofas. Service here is professional, attentive, yet not overbearing. The billiard tables are high quality and the lighting is customized, adapting to the atmosphere and times of day. During the day, the setting is very airy and natural, while the night is complimented with soft ambient lighting. Vibe's atmosphere is spacious, with high ceilings and hardwood floors, a sleek bar along with pool tables to shoot a few racks with your friends.
Established in the year 2008, T&R Saigon is one of Ho Chi Minh City's most popular nightlife destinations. Attracting young crowds, this is the perfect place for a drinks night out with friends. The ambiance is divey yet lively with catchy music playing in the background, all thanks to the pub's in-house DJs. The bar is stocked with an array of international spirits and craft beer, allowing you to recharge yourself for another round of energetic dancing.
Aficionados of Gin & Tonic touring Ho Chi Minh cannot miss a visit to The Gin House. A cocktail bar boasting of gins procured from across the globe, The Gin House is known for their inventive drinks centered around the spirit it's named after. The bartenders at The Gin House are masters at their job delighting you with potent concoctions that come to your table looking a work of art. Some infused with fruits, others flavored with herbs, there's plenty to experiment here with your drinks. Live music on certain evenings, and their friendly atmosphere ensure loyal patronage for The Gin House.